1 Samuel 5-9
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 5
1Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and placed it beside Dagon. 3When the Ashdodites got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. 4But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left. 5For that reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who enter Dagon’s house step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He made them feel devastated and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.
7When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, 'The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, because His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.'
8So they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines to them, and said, 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' And they said, 'Have the ark of the God of Israel brought to Gath.' So they took the ark of the God of Israel away.
9After they had taken it away, the hand of the LORD was against the city, creating a very great panic; and He struck the people of the city, from the young to the old, so that tumors broke out on them.
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, 'They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!'
11Therefore they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines, and said, 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people!' For there was a deadly panic throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12And the people who did not die were struck with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
Chapter 6
1Now the ark of the LORD had been in the territory of the Philistines for seven months. 2And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, 'What are we to do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we may send it to its place.' 3And they said, 'If you are going to send the ark of the God of Israel away, do not send it empty; but you shall certainly return to Him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be revealed to you why His hand does not leave you.' 4Then they said, 'What is to be the guilt offering that we shall return to Him?' And they said, 'Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of the governors of the Philistines, since one plague was on all of you and on your governors. 5So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that are ruining the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, your gods, and your land. 6Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not let the people go, and they left? 7Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves back home, away from them. 8Then take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you return to Him as a guilt offering in a saddlebag by its side. Then send it away that it may go. 9But watch: if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done this great evil to us. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance.'
10Then the men did so: they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut in their calves at home.
11And they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the saddlebag with the gold mice and the likenesses of their tumors.
12Now the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh; they went on the same road, bellowing as they went, and did not turn off to the right or to the left. And the governors of the Philistines followed them to the border of Beth-shemesh.
13Now the people of Beth-shemesh were gathering in their wheat harvest in the valley, and they raised their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced at seeing it.
14And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stopped there where there was a large stone; and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
15And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the saddlebag that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the LORD.
16When the five governors of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day.
17Now these are the gold tumors which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron;
18and the gold mice, corresponding to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five governors, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they placed the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.
19Now He fatally struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck 50,070 men among the people, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
20And the men of Beth-shemesh said, 'Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom will He go up from us?'
21So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, 'The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to yourselves.'
Chapter 7
1And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to watch over the ark of the LORD. 2From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel mourned after the LORD.
3Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, 'If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will save you from the hand of the Philistines.'
4So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD alone.
5Then Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.'
6So they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, 'We have sinned against the LORD.' And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
7Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the governors of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, 'Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines!'
9Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
10Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel.
11And the men of Israel came out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as below Beth-car.
12Then Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, 'So far the LORD has helped us.'
13So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16And he used to go annually on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.
17Then he would make his return to Ramah, because his house was there, and there he also judged Israel; and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Chapter 8
1Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. 3His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;
5and they said to him, 'Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.'
6But the matter was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.
8Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well.
9Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of the practice of the king who will reign over them.'
10So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked him for a king.
11And he said, 'This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.
12He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
13He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.
15And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants.
16He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work.
17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.
18Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.'
19Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, 'No, but there shall be a king over us,
20so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.'
21Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the LORD’S hearing.
22And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them.' So Samuel said to the men of Israel, 'Go, every man to his city.'
Chapter 9
1Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite, a valiant mighty man. 2He had a son whose name was Saul, a young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, 'Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys.'
4So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they did not find them.
5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, 'Come, and let’s return, or else my father will stop being concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious about us.'
6But he said to him, 'Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; everything that he says definitely comes true. Now let’s go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.'
7Then Saul said to his servant, 'But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sacks and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?'
8The servant answered Saul again and said, 'Look, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way.'
9(Previously in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, 'Come, and let’s go to the seer'; for he who is called a prophet now was previously called a seer.)
10Then Saul said to his servant, 'Good idea; come, let’s go.' So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11As they went up the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water, and they said to them, 'Is the seer here?'
12They answered them and said, 'He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, because the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.
13As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now then, go up, for you will find him about this time.'
14So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.
15Now a day before Saul’s coming, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel, saying,
16'About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have considered My people, because their outcry has come to Me.'
17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, 'Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.'
18Then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and said, 'Please tell me where the seer’s house is.'
19And Samuel answered Saul and said, 'I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you everything that is on your mind.
20And as for your donkeys that wandered off three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And for whom is everything that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?'
21Saul replied, 'Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?'
22Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.
23And Samuel said to the cook, 'Serve the portion that I gave you about which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’?'
24Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and placed it before Saul. And Samuel said, 'Here is what has been reserved! Place it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people.' So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.
26And they got up early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, 'Get up, so that I may send you on your way.' So Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.
27As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, 'Speak to the servant and have him go on ahead of us and pass by; but you stand here now, so that I may proclaim the word of God to you.'
King James Version
Chapter 5
1And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
6But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
7And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
8They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.
9And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
10Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
11So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
Chapter 6
1And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place. 3And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. 4Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. 5Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. 6Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? 7Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: 8And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go. 9And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us.
10And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
11And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.
12And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.
13And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
14And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.
15And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.
16And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
17And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
18And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.
19And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
20And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
21And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
Chapter 7
1And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
9And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
13So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
17And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
Chapter 8
1And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
12And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
22And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
Chapter 9
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
13As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
14And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
21And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 5
1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, 2brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue. 3When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. 4But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. This time, Dagon's head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon's torso remained. 5That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon's threshold.
6The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod. He terrified the people of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors.
7When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of Israel's God must not stay here with us, because his hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon."
8So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, "What should we do with the ark of Israel's God? ""The ark of Israel's God should be moved to Gath," they replied. So they moved the ark of Israel's God.
9After they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.
11The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, "Send the ark of Israel's God away. Let it return to its place so it won't kill us and our people! " For the fear of death pervaded the city; God's hand was oppressing them.
12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
Chapter 6
1When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory for seven months, 2the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners and pleaded, "What should we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we can send it back to its place."
4They asked, "What guilt offering should we send back to him? "And they answered, "Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers.
5Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel's God, and perhaps he will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land.
6Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When he afflicted them, didn't they send Israel away, and Israel left?
7"Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.
8Take the ark of the Lord, place it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you're sending him as a guilt offering in a box beside the ark. Send it off and let it go its way.
9Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh, it is the Lord who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn't, we will know that it was not his hand that punished us--it was just something that happened to us by chance."
10The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen.
11Then they put the ark of the Lord on the cart, along with the box containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors.
12The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh.
13The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it.
14The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.
15The Levites removed the ark of the Lord, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord.
16When the five Philistine rulers observed this, they returned to Ekron that same day.
17As a guilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
18The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the Lord was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh today.
19God struck down the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord. He struck down seventy persons. The people mourned because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.
20The people of Beth-shemesh asked, "Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord this holy God? To whom should the ark go from here? "
2Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord.
3Samuel told them, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines."
4So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped the Lord.
5Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf."
6When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord's presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
7When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
8The Israelites said to Samuel, "Don't stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines."
9Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him.
10Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.
11Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.
12Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, "The Lord has helped us to this point."
13So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel's territory again. The Lord's hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel's life.
14The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.
16Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations.
17Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to the Lord there.
Chapter 8
1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2His firstborn son's name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. 3However, his sons did not walk in his ways--they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.
5They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have."
6When they said, "Give us a king to judge us," Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord.
7But the Lord told him, "Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.
8They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods.
9Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them."
10Samuel told all the Lord's words to the people who were asking him for a king.
11He said, "These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots.
12He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
13He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.
15He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants.
16He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best cattle, and your donkeys and use them for his work.
17He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants.
18When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you've chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won't answer you on that day."
19The people refused to listen to Samuel. "No! " they said. "We must have a king over us.
20Then we'll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles."
Chapter 9
1There was a prominent man of Benjamin named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite. 2He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man. There was no one more impressive among the Israelites than he. He stood a head taller than anyone else.
3One day the donkeys of Saul's father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys."
4Saul and his servant went through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the region of Shalishah, but they didn't find them. They went through the region of Shaalim--nothing. Then they went through the Benjaminite region but still didn't find them.
10"Good," Saul replied to his servant. "Come on, let's go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11As they were climbing the hill to the city, they found some young women coming out to draw water and asked, "Is the seer here? "
12The women answered, "Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now entered the city, because there's a sacrifice for the people at the high place today.
13As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people won't eat until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests can eat. Go up immediately--you can find him now."
14So they went up toward the city.Saul and his servant were entering the city when they saw Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place.
15Now the day before Saul's arrival, the Lord had informed Samuel,
16"At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel. He will save them from the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of my people, for their cry has come to me."
17When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, "Here is the man I told you about; he will govern my people."
19"I am the seer," Samuel answered. "Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I'll tell you everything that's in your heart.
20As for the donkeys that wandered away from you three days ago, don't worry about them because they've been found. And who does all Israel desire but you and all your father's family? "
22Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the thirty or so men who had been invited.
23Then Samuel said to the cook, "Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside."
24The cook picked up the thigh and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, "Notice that the reserved piece is set before you. Eat it because it was saved for you for this solemn event at the time I said, 'I've invited the people.' " So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25Afterward, they went down from the high place to the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.
26They got up early, and just before dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get up, and I'll send you on your way! " Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside.
27As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I'll reveal the word of God to you." So the servant went on.
New Living Translation
Chapter 5
1After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. 2They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. 3But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the LORD! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. 4But the next morning the same thing happened--Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the LORD again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. 5That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.
6Then the LORD's heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors.
7When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, 'We can't keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.'
8So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, 'What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?' The rulers discussed it and replied, 'Move it to the town of Gath.' So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath.
9But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the LORD's heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.
10So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, 'They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!'
11The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, 'Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.' For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town.
12Those who didn't die were afflicted with tumors; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.
Chapter 6
1The Ark of the LORD remained in Philistine territory seven months in all. 2Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners and asked them, 'What should we do about the Ark of the LORD? Tell us how to return it to its own country.'
4'What sort of guilt offering should we send?' they asked. And they were told, 'Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land.
5Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land.
6Don't be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.
7'Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen.
8Put the Ark of the LORD on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want.
9If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh, we will know it was the LORD who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don't, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.'
10So these instructions were carried out. Two cows were hitched to the cart, and their newborn calves were shut up in a pen.
11Then the Ark of the LORD and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart.
12And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.
13The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they saw the Ark, they were overjoyed!
14The cart came into the field of a man named Joshua and stopped beside a large rock. So the people broke up the wood of the cart for a fire and killed the cows and sacrificed them to the LORD as a burnt offering.
15Several men of the tribe of Levi lifted the Ark of the LORD and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors from the cart and placed them on the large rock. Many sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered to the LORD that day by the people of Beth-shemesh.
16The five Philistine rulers watched all this and then returned to Ekron that same day.
17The five gold tumors sent by the Philistines as a guilt offering to the LORD were gifts from the rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
18The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers. The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the LORD, still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there.
19But the LORD killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the LORD. And the people mourned greatly because of what the LORD had done.
20'Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?' they cried out. 'Where can we send the Ark from here?'
Chapter 7
1So the men of Kiriath-jearim came to get the Ark of the LORD. They took it to the hillside home of Abinadab and ordained Eleazar, his son, to be in charge of it. 2The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time--twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the LORD had abandoned them.
3Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, 'If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.'
4So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the LORD.
5Then Samuel told them, 'Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.'
6So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the LORD. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the LORD. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel's judge.)
7When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching.
8'Don't stop pleading with the LORD our God to save us from the Philistines!' they begged Samuel.
9So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the LORD as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the LORD to help Israel, and the LORD answered him.
10Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the LORD spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.
11The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.
13So the Philistines were subdued and didn't invade Israel again for some time. And throughout Samuel's lifetime, the LORD's powerful hand was raised against the Philistines.
14The Israelite villages near Ekron and Gath that the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, along with the rest of the territory that the Philistines had taken. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites in those days.
15Samuel continued as Israel's judge for the rest of his life.
16Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places.
17Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the LORD at Ramah.
Chapter 8
1As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. 3But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.
5'Look,' they told him, 'you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.'
6Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance.
7'Do everything they say to you,' the LORD replied, 'for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer.
8Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.
9Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.'
10So Samuel passed on the LORD's warning to the people who were asking him for a king.
11'This is how a king will reign over you,' Samuel said. 'The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.
12Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.
13The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.
14He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.
15He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.
16He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.
17He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
18When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the LORD will not help you.'
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel's warning. 'Even so, we still want a king,' they said.
20'We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.'
21So Samuel repeated to the LORD what the people had said,
22and the LORD replied, 'Do as they say, and give them a king.' Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.
Chapter 9
1There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel--head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.
3One day Kish's donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, 'Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.'
4So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn't find the donkeys anywhere.
8'Well,' the servant said, 'I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!'
9(In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, 'Let's go and ask the seer,' for prophets used to be called seers.)
12'Yes,' they replied. 'Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship.
13Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won't begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.'
15Now the LORD had told Samuel the previous day,
16'About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.'
19'I am the seer!' Samuel replied. 'Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I'll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way.
20And don't worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel's hopes.'
22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.
23Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor.
24So the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. 'Go ahead and eat it,' Samuel said. 'I was saving it for you even before I invited these others!' So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25When they came down from the place of worship and returned to town, Samuel took Saul up to the roof of the house and prepared a bed for him there.
26At daybreak the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, 'Get up! It's time you were on your way.' So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together.
27When they reached the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, 'Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 5
1When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.
7And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.”
8So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.
9But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them.
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.”
11They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there.
12The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
Chapter 6
1The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.” 3They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.” 4And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 6Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed? 7Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. 8And take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off and let it go its way 9and watch. If it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by coincidence.”
10The men did so, and took two milk cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home.
11And they put the ark of the LORD on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.
12And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.
13Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it.
14The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
15And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the LORD.
16And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron.
17These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron,
18and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.
19And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the LORD. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great blow.
20Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?”
21So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.”
Chapter 7
1And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the LORD. 2From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
4So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only.
5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”
6So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
7Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
10As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.
11And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.
12Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”
13So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.
15Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places.
17Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD.
Chapter 8
1When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah
5and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
8According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
9Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
10So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking for a king from him.
11He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots.
12And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants.
15He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.
16He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
17He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.
18And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”
19But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us,
20that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
21And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD.
22And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
Chapter 9
1There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.”
4And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.
5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.”
6But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.”
7Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
8The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.”
9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.)
10And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
12They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.
13As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.”
14So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.
15Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel:
16“Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.”
17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.”
18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?”
19Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.
20As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?”
21Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”
22Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons.
23And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’”
24So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
New International Version
Chapter 5
1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. 3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6The LORD's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.
7When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, 'The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.'
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, 'They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.'
11So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, 'Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.' For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy on it.
12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
Chapter 6
1When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, 'What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.'
4The Philistines asked, 'What guilt offering should we send to him?' They replied, 'Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.
5Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory to Israel's god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land.
6Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel's god dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?
7Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.
8Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way,
9but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us but that it happened to us by chance.'
10So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves.
11They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors.
12Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
13Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.
14The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
15The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.
16The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.
17These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the LORD--one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron.
18And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers--the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
19But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them.
20And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, 'Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?'
2The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time--twenty years in all. Then all the people of Israel turned back to the LORD.
3So Samuel said to all the Israelites, 'If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
4So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.
5Then Samuel said, 'Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you.'
6When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, 'We have sinned against the LORD.' Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.
7When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
8They said to Samuel, 'Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.'
9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him.
10While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.
11The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
13So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel's territory. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines.
14The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15Samuel continued as Israel's leader all the days of his life.
16From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places.
17But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD.
Chapter 8
1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel's leaders. 2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5They said to him, 'You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.'
6But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
7And the LORD told him: 'Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
8As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
9Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.'
10Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.
12Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.
15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.
16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.
17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.'
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us.
20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.'
Chapter 9
1There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. 2Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.
3Now the donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, 'Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.'
4So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.
8The servant answered him again. 'Look,' he said, 'I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.'
9(Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, 'Come, let us go to the seer,' because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)
12He is,' they answered. 'He's ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place.
13As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time."
15Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel:
16About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.'
19I am the seer,' Samuel replied. 'Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart.
20As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?'
22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited--about thirty in number.
23Samuel said to the cook, 'Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.'
25After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house.
26They rose about daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, 'Get ready, and I will send you on your way.' When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together.
27As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, 'Tell the servant to go on ahead of us'--and the servant did so--'but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.'
La Biblia de las Américas
Chapter 5
1Los filisteos tomaron el arca de Dios y la llevaron de Eben-ezer a Asdod. 2Entonces tomaron los filisteos el arca de Dios y la introdujeron en el templo de Dagón, y la pusieron junto a Dagón. 3A la mañana siguiente, cuando los de Asdod se levantaron temprano, he aquí que Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Y tomaron a Dagón y lo pusieron otra vez en su lugar. 4Pero al levantarse temprano al día siguiente, he aquí que Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Y la cabeza de Dagón y las dos palmas de sus manos estaban cortadas sobre el umbral; sólo el tronco le quedaba a Dagón. 5Por tanto, hasta hoy, ni los sacerdotes de Dagón ni ninguno de los que entran en el templo de Dagón, pisan el umbral de Dagón en Asdod.
6Y la mano del SEÑOR se hizo pesada sobre los de Asdod, y los desoló y los hirió con tumores, tanto a Asdod como a sus territorios.
7Cuando los hombres de Asdod vieron lo que les sucedía, dijeron: El arca del Dios de Israel no debe quedar con nosotros, pues su mano es dura sobre nosotros y sobre Dagón nuestro dios.
8Enviaron, pues, e hicieron venir a ellos a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, y dijeron: ¿Qué haremos con el arca del Dios de Israel? Y ellos respondieron: Que se traslade el arca del Dios de Israel a Gat. Y trasladaron el arca del Dios de Israel.
9Y sucedió que cuando la habían trasladado, la mano del SEÑOR estuvo contra la ciudad causando gran confusión ; e hirió a los hombres de la ciudad, desde el menor hasta el mayor, saliéndoles tumores.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón. Y sucedió que cuando el arca de Dios llegó a Ecrón, los ecronitas clamaron, diciendo: Han traído el arca del Dios de Israel hasta nosotros para matarnos a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.
11Enviaron, pues, y reunieron a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, y dijeron: Sacad de aquí el arca del Dios de Israel, y que vuelva a su sitio, para que no nos mate a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo. Porque había un pánico mortal por toda la ciudad; la mano de Dios se hizo muy pesada allí.
12Y los hombres que no murieron fueron heridos con tumores, y el clamor de la ciudad subió hasta el cielo.
Chapter 6
1El arca del SEÑOR estuvo en la tierra de los filisteos siete meses. 2Entonces los filisteos llamaron a los sacerdotes y a los adivinos, diciendo: ¿Qué haremos con el arca del SEÑOR? Decidnos cómo la hemos de enviar a su lugar. 3Y ellos dijeron: Si enviáis el arca del Dios de Israel, no la enviéis vacía ; sino que ciertamente devolveréis a El una ofrenda por la culpa. Entonces seréis sanados y conoceréis por qué su mano no se ha apartado de vosotros. 4Y los filisteos preguntaron: ¿Cuál será la ofrenda por la culpa que hemos de devolverle? Y ellos dijeron: Cinco tumores de oro y cinco ratones de oro conforme al número de los príncipes de los filisteos, porque la misma plaga estuvo sobre todos vosotros y sobre vuestros príncipes. 5Haréis, pues, semejanzas de vuestros tumores, y semejanzas de vuestros ratones que asolan la tierra, y daréis gloria al Dios de Israel ; quizá El aliviará su mano de sobre vosotros, de sobre vuestros dioses y de sobre vuestra tierra. 6¿Por qué entonces endurecéis vuestros corazones, como endurecieron sus corazones los egipcios y Faraón ? Cuando El los trató severamente, ¿no dejaron ir al pueblo, y se fueron ? 7Ahora pues, tomad y preparad un carro nuevo y dos vacas con crías sobre las cuales no se haya puesto yugo ; uncid las vacas al carro y llevad sus becerros a casa, lejos de ellas. 8Y tomad el arca del SEÑOR y colocadla en el carro; y poned en una caja a su lado los objetos de oro que le entregaréis como ofrenda por la culpa. Luego, dejadla ir, y que se vaya. 9Y observad: si sube por el camino de su territorio a Bet-semes, entonces El nos ha hecho este gran mal. Pero si no, entonces sabremos que no fue su mano la que nos hirió ; nos sucedió por casualidad.
10Entonces los hombres lo hicieron así; tomaron dos vacas con crías, las uncieron al carro y encerraron sus becerros en casa.
11Colocaron el arca del SEÑOR en el carro, y la caja con los ratones de oro y las semejanzas de sus tumores.
12Y las vacas tomaron el camino recto en dirección a Bet-semes ; iban por el camino, mugiendo mientras iban, y no se desviaron ni a la derecha ni a la izquierda. Y los príncipes de los filisteos las siguieron hasta el límite de Bet-semes.
13El pueblo de Bet-semes estaba segando el trigo en el valle, y alzaron sus ojos y vieron el arca, y se alegraron al verla.
14Y el carro llegó al campo de Josué el bet-semita y se detuvo allí donde había una gran piedra; y ellos partieron la madera del carro y ofrecieron las vacas en holocausto al SEÑOR.
15Los levitas bajaron el arca del SEÑOR y la caja que estaba con ella, en la cual estaban los objetos de oro, y las colocaron sobre la gran piedra ; y los hombres de Bet-semes ofrecieron holocaustos e hicieron sacrificios aquel día al SEÑOR.
16Cuando los cinco príncipes de los filisteos vieron esto, regresaron a Ecrón el mismo día.
17Estos son los tumores de oro que los filisteos entregaron como ofrenda por la culpa al SEÑOR : uno por Asdod, uno por Gaza, uno por Ascalón, uno por Gat y uno por Ecrón;
18y ratones de oro conforme al número de todas las ciudades de los filisteos que pertenecían a los cinco príncipes, tanto de ciudades fortificadas como de aldeas sin murallas. La gran piedra sobre la cual colocaron el arca del SEÑOR es testigo hasta el día de hoy en el campo de Josué el bet-semita.
19El Señor hirió a los hombres de Bet-semes porque habían mirado dentro del arca del SEÑOR. De todo el pueblo hirió a cincuenta mil setenta hombres, y el pueblo lloró porque el SEÑOR había herido al pueblo con gran mortandad.
20Y los hombres de Bet-semes dijeron: ¿Quién puede estar delante del SEÑOR, este Dios santo ? ¿Y a quién subirá al alejarse de nosotros?
21Y enviaron mensajeros a los habitantes de Quiriat-jearim, diciendo: Los filisteos han devuelto el arca del SEÑOR; descended, y subidla con vosotros.
Chapter 7
1Y vinieron los hombres de Quiriat-jearim, tomaron el arca del SEÑOR y la llevaron a la casa de Abinadab en la colina, y consagraron a Eleazar su hijo para que guardara el arca del SEÑOR. 2Y sucedió que pasó mucho tiempo, veinte años, desde el día en que el arca quedó en Quiriat-jearim; y toda la casa de Israel añoraba al SEÑOR.
3Entonces Samuel habló a toda la casa de Israel, diciendo: Si os volvéis al SEÑOR con todo vuestro corazón, quitad de entre vosotros los dioses extranjeros y las Astorets, y dirigid vuestro corazón al SEÑOR, y servidle sólo a El ; y El os librará de la mano de los filisteos.
4Los hijos de Israel quitaron los baales y las Astorets, y sirvieron sólo al SEÑOR.
5Y Samuel dijo: Reunid en Mizpa a todo Israel, y yo oraré al SEÑOR por vosotros.
6Y se reunieron en Mizpa, y sacaron agua y la derramaron delante del SEÑOR, ayunaron aquel día y dijeron allí: Hemos pecado contra el SEÑOR. Y Samuel juzgó a los hijos de Israel en Mizpa.
7Cuando los filisteos oyeron que los hijos de Israel se habían reunido en Mizpa, los príncipes de los filisteos subieron contra Israel. Cuando oyeron esto los hijos de Israel, tuvieron temor de los filisteos.
8Entonces los hijos de Israel dijeron a Samuel: No dejes de clamar al SEÑOR nuestro Dios por nosotros, para que El nos libre de la mano de los filisteos.
9Tomó Samuel un cordero de leche y lo ofreció como completo holocausto al SEÑOR ; y clamó Samuel al SEÑOR por Israel y el SEÑOR le respondió.
10Mientras Samuel estaba ofreciendo el holocausto, los filisteos se acercaron para pelear con Israel. Mas el SEÑOR tronó con gran estruendo aquel día contra los filisteos y los confundió, y fueron derrotados delante de Israel.
11Saliendo de Mizpa los hombres de Israel, persiguieron a los filisteos, hiriéndolos hasta más allá de Bet-car.
12Entonces Samuel tomó una piedra y la colocó entre Mizpa y Sen, y la llamó Eben-ezer, diciendo: Hasta aquí nos ha ayudado el SEÑOR.
13Los filisteos fueron sometidos y no volvieron más dentro de los límites de Israel. Y la mano del SEÑOR estuvo contra los filisteos todos los días de Samuel.
14Las ciudades que los filisteos habían tomado de Israel fueron restituidas a Israel, desde Ecrón hasta Gat, e Israel libró su territorio de la mano de los filisteos. Y hubo paz entre Israel y los amorreos.
15Samuel juzgó a Israel todos los días de su vida.
16Cada año acostumbraba hacer un recorrido por Betel, Gilgal y Mizpa, y juzgaba a Israel en todos estos lugares.
17Después volvía a Ramá, pues allí estaba su casa, y allí juzgaba a Israel; y edificó allí un altar al SEÑOR.
Chapter 8
1Y aconteció que cuando Samuel era ya viejo, puso a sus hijos como jueces sobre Israel. 2El nombre de su primogénito era Joel, y el nombre del segundo, Abías; éstos juzgaban en Beerseba. 3Pero sus hijos no anduvieron por los caminos de él, sino que se desviaron tras ganancias deshonestas, aceptaron sobornos y pervirtieron el derecho.
4Entonces se reunieron todos los ancianos de Israel y fueron a Samuel en Ramá,
5y le dijeron: Mira, has envejecido y tus hijos no andan en tus caminos. Ahora pues, danos un rey para que nos juzgue, como todas las naciones.
6Pero fue desagradable a los ojos de Samuel que dijeran: Danos un rey que nos juzgue. Y Samuel oró al SEÑOR.
7Y el SEÑOR dijo a Samuel: Escucha la voz del pueblo en cuanto a todo lo que te digan, pues no te han desechado a ti, sino que me han desechado a mí para que no sea rey sobre ellos.
8Así como todas las obras que han hecho desde el día en que los saqué de Egipto hasta hoy, abandonándome y sirviendo a otros dioses, así lo están haciendo contigo también.
9Ahora pues, oye su voz. Sin embargo, les advertirás solemnemente y les harás saber el proceder del rey que reinará sobre ellos.
10Entonces Samuel habló todas las palabras del SEÑOR al pueblo que le había pedido rey.
11Y dijo: Así será el proceder del rey que reinará sobre vosotros : tomará a vuestros hijos, los pondrá a su servicio en sus carros y entre su gente de a caballo, y correrán delante de sus carros.
12Nombrará para su servicio comandantes de mil y de cincuenta, y a otros para labrar sus campos y recoger sus cosechas, y hacer sus armas de guerra y pertrechos para sus carros.
13Tomará también a vuestras hijas para perfumistas, cocineras y panaderas.
14Tomará lo mejor de vuestros campos, de vuestros viñedos y de vuestros olivares y los dará a sus siervos.
15De vuestro grano y de vuestras viñas tomará el diezmo, para darlo a sus oficiales y a sus siervos.
16Tomará también vuestros siervos y vuestras siervas, vuestros mejores jóvenes y vuestros asnos, y los usará para su servicio.
17De vuestros rebaños tomará el diezmo, y vosotros mismos vendréis a ser sus siervos.
18Ese día clamaréis por causa de vuestro rey a quien escogisteis para vosotros, pero el SEÑOR no os responderá en ese día.
19No obstante, el pueblo rehusó oír la voz de Samuel, y dijeron: No, sino que habrá rey sobre nosotros,
20a fin de que seamos como todas las naciones, para que nuestro rey nos juzgue, salga delante de nosotros y dirija nuestras batallas.
21Después que Samuel escuchó todas las palabras del pueblo, las repitió a oídos del SEÑOR.
22Y el SEÑOR dijo a Samuel: Oye su voz y nómbrales un rey. Entonces Samuel dijo a los hombres de Israel: Váyase cada uno a su ciudad.
Chapter 9
1Había un hombre de Benjamín que se llamaba Cis, hijo de Abiel, hijo de Zeror, hijo de Becorat, hijo de Afía, hijo de un benjamita, un hombre poderoso e influyente. 2Y tenía un hijo que se llamaba Saúl, joven y bien parecido. No había otro más bien parecido que él entre los hijos de Israel ; de los hombros arriba sobrepasaba a cualquiera del pueblo. 3Y las asnas de Cis, padre de Saúl, se habían perdido, por lo cual dijo Cis a su hijo Saúl: Toma ahora contigo uno de los criados, levántate, y ve en busca de las asnas. 4Y Saúl pasó por la región montañosa de Efraín y recorrió la tierra de Salisa, pero no las hallaron. Luego pasaron por la tierra de Saalim, mas no estaban allí. Después atravesaron la tierra de los benjamitas, pero no las encontraron.
5Cuando llegaron a la tierra de Zuf, Saúl dijo al criado que estaba con él: Ven, regresemos, no sea que mi padre deje de preocuparse por las asnas y se angustie por nosotros.
6Y él le respondió: He aquí que hay un hombre de Dios en esta ciudad, el cual es tenido en alta estima; todo lo que él dice se cumple sin falta. Vayamos ahora, quizá pueda orientarnos acerca de la jornada que hemos emprendido.
7Entonces Saúl dijo a su criado: Pero he aquí, si vamos, ¿qué le llevaremos al hombre? Porque el pan de nuestras alforjas se ha acabado y no hay presente para llevar al hombre de Dios. ¿Qué tenemos?
8Y el criado volvió a responder a Saúl, y dijo: He aquí, tengo en mi mano la cuarta parte de un siclo de plata; se lo daré al hombre de Dios, y él nos indicará nuestro camino.
9(Antiguamente en Israel, cuando uno iba a consultar a Dios, decía: Venid, vamos al vidente; porque al que hoy se le llama profeta, antes se le llamaba vidente.)
10Entonces Saúl dijo a su criado: Bien dicho; anda, vamos. Y fueron a la ciudad donde estaba el hombre de Dios.
11Según subían por la cuesta de la ciudad, se encontraron con unas muchachas que salían a sacar agua y les dijeron: ¿Está aquí el vidente?
12Y ellas les respondieron, y dijeron: Sí, he aquí está delante de ti. Apresúrate ahora, pues hoy ha venido a la ciudad porque el pueblo tiene hoy un sacrificio en el lugar alto.
13Cuando entréis en la ciudad lo encontraréis antes que suba al lugar alto a comer, pues el pueblo no comerá hasta que él llegue, porque él tiene que bendecir el sacrificio ; después comerán los convidados. Subid ahora, que lo encontraréis enseguida.
14Ellos, pues, subieron a la ciudad. Cuando entraban a la ciudad, he aquí que Samuel salía hacia ellos para subir al lugar alto.
15Ahora bien, un día antes de la llegada de Saúl, el SEÑOR había revelado esto a Samuel diciendo :
16Mañana como a esta hora te enviaré un hombre de la tierra de Benjamín, lo ungirás para que sea príncipe sobre mi pueblo Israel, y él librará a mi pueblo de la mano de los filisteos. Porque yo he visto la aflicción de mi pueblo, pues su clamor ha llegado hasta mí.
17Cuando Samuel vio a Saúl, el SEÑOR le dijo : He aquí el hombre de quien te hablé. Este gobernará a mi pueblo.
18Entonces Saúl se acercó a Samuel en medio de la puerta y le dijo: Te ruego que me enseñes dónde está la casa del vidente.
19Respondió Samuel a Saúl y dijo: Yo soy el vidente. Sube delante de mí al lugar alto, pues hoy comerás conmigo, y por la mañana te dejaré ir y te declararé todo lo que está en tu corazón.
20En cuanto a tus asnas que se perdieron hace tres días, no te preocupes por ellas pues han sido halladas. Y ¿para quién es todo lo deseable en Israel ? ¿No es para ti y para toda la casa de tu padre?
21Saúl respondió, y dijo: ¿No soy yo benjamita, de la más pequeña de las tribus de Israel, y no es mi familia la menos importante de todas las familias de la tribu de Benjamín ? ¿Por qué, pues, me hablas de esta manera?
22Entonces Samuel tomó a Saúl y a su criado, los llevó a la sala y les dio un lugar a la cabecera de los invitados que eran unos treinta hombres.
23Y dijo Samuel al cocinero: Trae la porción que te di, de la cual te dije: “Ponla aparte.”
24Entonces el cocinero alzó el pernil con lo que estaba en él y lo colocó delante de Saúl. Y Samuel dijo: He aquí lo que estaba reservado. Ponlo delante de ti y come, porque ha sido guardado para ti hasta el momento señalado, ya que dije : He invitado al pueblo. Y Saúl comió con Samuel aquel día.
25Descendieron del lugar alto a la ciudad, y Samuel habló con Saúl en el terrado.
26Se levantaron temprano, y al romper el alba Samuel llamó a Saúl en el terrado, diciendo: Levántate, para que yo te despida. Saúl se levantó, y ambos, Saúl y Samuel, salieron a la calle.
27Mientras descendían a las afueras de la ciudad, Samuel dijo a Saúl: Di al criado que pase delante de nosotros y siga, pero tú quédate para que yo te declare la palabra de Dios.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Chapter 5
1Los Filisteos tomaron el arca de Dios y la llevaron de Ebenezer a Asdod. 2Entonces los Filisteos tomaron el arca de Dios y la introdujeron en el templo de Dagón, y la pusieron junto a Dagón. 3A la mañana siguiente, cuando los de Asdod se levantaron temprano, vieron que Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Así que tomaron a Dagón y lo pusieron otra vez en su lugar. 4Pero al levantarse temprano al día siguiente, otra vez Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Y la cabeza de Dagón y las dos palmas de sus manos estaban cortadas sobre el umbral; sólo el tronco le quedaba a Dagón. 5Por tanto, hasta hoy, ni los sacerdotes de Dagón ni ninguno de los que entran en el templo de Dagón, pisan el umbral de Dagón en Asdod.
6Y la mano del SEÑOR se hizo pesada sobre los de Asdod, y los desoló y los hirió con tumores, tanto a Asdod como a sus territorios.
7Cuando los hombres de Asdod vieron lo que les sucedía, dijeron: “El arca del Dios de Israel no debe quedar con nosotros, pues su mano es dura sobre nosotros y sobre Dagón nuestro dios.”
8Así que enviaron a buscar e hicieron venir a todos los príncipes de los Filisteos, y les dijeron: “¿Qué haremos con el arca del Dios de Israel?” “Que se traslade el arca del Dios de Israel a Gat,” respondieron ellos. Y trasladaron el arca del Dios de Israel.
9Pero después que la habían trasladado, la mano del SEÑOR estuvo contra la ciudad causando gran confusión; e hirió a los hombres de la ciudad, desde el menor hasta el mayor, saliéndoles tumores.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón. Y sucedió que cuando el arca de Dios llegó a Ecrón, los Ecronitas clamaron y dijeron: “Han traído el arca del Dios de Israel hasta nosotros para matarnos a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.”
11Por tanto, mandaron a reunir a todos los príncipes de los Filisteos, y les dijeron: “Saquen de aquí el arca del Dios de Israel, y que vuelva a su sitio, para que no nos mate a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.” Porque había un pánico mortal por toda la ciudad; la mano de Dios se hizo muy pesada allí.
12Y los hombres que no murieron fueron heridos con tumores, y el clamor de la ciudad subió hasta el cielo.
Chapter 6
1El arca del SEÑOR había estado siete meses en la tierra de los Filisteos. 2Entonces los Filisteos llamaron a los sacerdotes y a los adivinos y les preguntaron: “¿Qué haremos con el arca del SEÑOR? Dígannos cómo la hemos de enviar a su lugar.” 3Y ellos contestaron: “Si envían el arca del Dios de Israel, no la envíen vacía; sino que ciertamente devolverán a Dios una ofrenda por la culpa. Entonces serán sanados y sabrán por qué Su mano no se ha apartado de ustedes.”
4Y los Filisteos preguntaron: “¿Cuál será la ofrenda por la culpa que Le hemos de devolver?” Y ellos dijeron: “Cinco tumores de oro y cinco ratones de oro conforme al número de los príncipes de los Filisteos, porque la misma plaga estuvo sobre todos ustedes y sobre sus príncipes.
5Harán, pues, semejanzas de sus tumores, y semejanzas de sus ratones que asolan la tierra, y darán gloria al Dios de Israel. Tal vez El alivie Su mano de sobre ustedes, de sobre sus dioses y de sobre su tierra.
6¿Por qué entonces endurecen sus corazones, como endurecieron sus corazones los Egipcios y Faraón? Cuando El los trató severamente, ¿no dejaron ir al pueblo, y ellos se fueron?
7Ahora pues, tomen y preparen un carro nuevo y dos vacas con crías sobre las cuales no se haya puesto ningún yugo. Aten las vacas al carro y lleven sus becerros a casa, lejos de ellas.
8Tomen el arca del SEÑOR y colóquenla en el carro; y pongan en una caja a su lado los objetos de oro que Le entregarán como ofrenda por la culpa. Luego, déjenla ir, y que se vaya.
9Y observen bien: si sube por el camino de su territorio a Bet Semes, entonces El nos ha hecho este gran mal. Pero si no, entonces sabremos que no fue Su mano la que nos hirió; nos sucedió por casualidad.”
10Entonces los hombres lo hicieron así. Tomaron dos vacas con crías, las ataron al carro y encerraron sus becerros en casa.
11Colocaron el arca del SEÑOR en el carro, y la caja con los ratones de oro y las semejanzas de sus tumores.
12Y las vacas tomaron el camino recto en dirección a Bet Semes. Iban por el camino, mugiendo mientras iban, y no se desviaron ni a la derecha ni a la izquierda. Los príncipes de los Filisteos las siguieron hasta el límite de Bet Semes.
13El pueblo de Bet Semes estaba segando el trigo en el valle, y alzaron sus ojos y al ver el arca, se alegraron al verla.
14El carro llegó al campo de Josué el Bet Semita y se detuvo allí donde había una gran piedra; y ellos partieron la madera del carro y ofrecieron las vacas en holocausto al SEÑOR.
15Los Levitas bajaron el arca del SEÑOR y la caja que estaba con ella, en la cual estaban los objetos de oro, y las colocaron sobre la piedra grande. Entonces los hombres de Bet Semes ofrecieron holocaustos e hicieron sacrificios aquel día al SEÑOR.
16Cuando los cinco príncipes de los Filisteos vieron esto, regresaron a Ecrón el mismo día.
17Estos son los tumores de oro que los Filisteos entregaron como ofrenda por la culpa al SEÑOR: uno por Asdod, uno por Gaza, uno por Ascalón, uno por Gat y uno por Ecrón;
18y ratones de oro conforme al número de todas las ciudades de los Filisteos que pertenecían a los cinco príncipes, tanto de ciudades fortificadas como de aldeas sin murallas. La piedra grande sobre la cual colocaron el arca del SEÑOR es testigo hasta el día de hoy en el campo de Josué el Bet Semita.
19El Señor hirió a los hombres de Bet Semes porque habían mirado dentro del arca del SEÑOR. De todo el pueblo hirió a 50,070 hombres, y el pueblo lloró porque el SEÑOR había herido al pueblo con gran mortandad.
20Y los hombres de Bet Semes dijeron: “¿Quién puede estar delante del SEÑOR, este Dios santo? ¿Y a quién subirá al alejarse de nosotros?”
21Entonces enviaron mensajeros a los habitantes de Quiriat Jearim y le dijeron: “Los Filisteos han devuelto el arca del SEÑOR; desciendan, y llévenla con ustedes.”
Chapter 7
1Los hombres vinieron de Quiriat Jearim, tomaron el arca del SEÑOR y la llevaron a la casa de Abinadab en la colina, y consagraron a Eleazar su hijo para que guardara el arca del SEÑOR. 2Pero pasó mucho tiempo, veinte años, desde el día en que el arca quedó en Quiriat Jearim; y toda la casa de Israel añoraba al SEÑOR.
3Entonces Samuel habló a toda la casa de Israel: “Si es que ustedes se vuelven al SEÑOR con todo su corazón, entonces quiten de entre ustedes los dioses extranjeros y a Astarot, y dirijan su corazón al SEÑOR, y sírvanle sólo a El; y El los librará de la mano de los Filisteos.”
4Los Israelitas quitaron a los Baales y a Astarot, y sirvieron sólo al SEÑOR.
5Y Samuel dijo: “Reúnan en Mizpa a todo Israel, y yo oraré al SEÑOR por ustedes.”
6Se reunieron los Israelitas en Mizpa, y sacaron agua y la derramaron delante del SEÑOR, ayunaron aquel día y dijeron allí: “Hemos pecado contra el SEÑOR.” Y Samuel juzgó a los Israelitas en Mizpa.
7Cuando los Filisteos oyeron que los Israelitas se habían reunido en Mizpa, los príncipes de los Filisteos subieron contra Israel. Cuando oyeron esto los Israelitas, tuvieron temor de los Filisteos.
8Entonces los Israelitas dijeron a Samuel: “No dejes de clamar al SEÑOR nuestro Dios por nosotros, para que El nos libre de la mano de los Filisteos.”
9Tomó Samuel un cordero de leche y lo ofreció como completo holocausto al SEÑOR; y clamó Samuel al SEÑOR por Israel y el SEÑOR le respondió.
10Mientras Samuel estaba ofreciendo el holocausto, los Filisteos se acercaron para pelear con Israel. Pero el SEÑOR tronó con gran estruendo aquel día contra los Filisteos y los confundió, y fueron derrotados delante de Israel.
11Saliendo de Mizpa los hombres de Israel, persiguieron a los Filisteos, hiriéndolos hasta más allá de Bet Car.
12Entonces Samuel tomó una piedra y la colocó entre Mizpa y Sen, y la llamó Ebenezer (Piedra de Ayuda) y dijo: “Hasta aquí nos ha ayudado el SEÑOR.”
13Los Filisteos fueron sometidos y no volvieron más dentro de los límites de Israel. Y la mano del SEÑOR estuvo contra los Filisteos todos los días de Samuel.
14Las ciudades que los Filisteos habían tomado de Israel fueron restituidas a Israel, desde Ecrón hasta Gat, e Israel libró su territorio de la mano de los Filisteos. Y hubo paz entre Israel y los Amorreos.
15Samuel juzgó a Israel todos los días de su vida.
16Cada año acostumbraba hacer un recorrido por Betel, Gilgal y Mizpa, y juzgaba a Israel en todos estos lugares.
17Después volvía a Ramá, pues allí estaba su casa, y allí juzgaba a Israel; y edificó allí un altar al SEÑOR.
Chapter 8
1Cuando Samuel ya era viejo, puso a sus hijos como jueces sobre Israel. 2El nombre de su primogénito era Joel, y el nombre del segundo, Abías; éstos juzgaban en Beerseba. 3Pero sus hijos no anduvieron en los caminos de su padre, sino que se desviaron tras ganancias deshonestas, aceptaron sobornos y pervirtieron el derecho.
4Entonces se reunieron todos los ancianos de Israel y fueron a Samuel en Ramá,
5y le dijeron: “Mira, has envejecido y tus hijos no andan en tus caminos. Ahora pues, danos un rey para que nos juzgue, como todas las naciones.”
6Pero fue desagradable a los ojos de Samuel que dijeran: “Danos un rey que nos juzgue.” Y Samuel oró al SEÑOR.
7Y el SEÑOR dijo a Samuel: “Escucha la voz del pueblo en cuanto a todo lo que te digan, pues no te han desechado a ti, sino que Me han desechado a Mí para que Yo no sea rey sobre ellos.
8Así como todas las obras que han hecho desde el día en que los saqué de Egipto hasta hoy, abandonándome y sirviendo a otros dioses, así lo están haciendo contigo también.
9Ahora pues, oye su voz. Sin embargo, les advertirás solemnemente y les harás saber el proceder del rey que reinará sobre ellos.”
10Entonces Samuel habló todas las palabras del SEÑOR al pueblo que le había pedido rey.
11Y dijo: “Así será el proceder del rey que reinará sobre ustedes: tomará a sus hijos, los pondrá a su servicio en sus carros y entre su gente de a caballo, y correrán delante de sus carros reales.
12El rey nombrará para su servicio jefes de mil y de cincuenta, y a otros para labrar sus campos y recoger sus cosechas, y hacer sus armas de guerra y pertrechos para sus carros.
13También tomará a sus hijas para perfumistas, cocineras y panaderas.
14Les tomará lo mejor de sus campos, de sus viñedos y de sus olivares y se los dará a sus siervos.
15De su grano y de sus viñas tomará el diezmo, para darlo a sus oficiales y a sus siervos.
16Les tomará también sus siervos y sus siervas, sus mejores jóvenes y sus asnos, y los usará para su servicio.
17De sus rebaños tomará el diezmo, y ustedes mismos vendrán a ser sus siervos.
18Ese día clamarán por causa de su rey a quien escogieron para ustedes, pero el SEÑOR no les responderá en ese día.”
19No obstante, el pueblo rehusó oír la voz de Samuel, y dijeron: “No, sino que habrá rey sobre nosotros,
20a fin de que seamos como todas las naciones, para que nuestro rey nos juzgue, salga delante de nosotros y dirija nuestras batallas.”
21Después que Samuel escuchó todas las palabras del pueblo, las repitió a oídos del SEÑOR.
22Y el SEÑOR dijo a Samuel: “Escúchalos y nómbrales un rey.” Entonces Samuel dijo a los hombres de Israel: “Váyase cada uno a su ciudad.”
Chapter 9
1Había un hombre de Benjamín que se llamaba Cis, hijo de Abiel, hijo de Zeror, hijo de Becorat, hijo de Afía, hijo de un Benjamita, un hombre poderoso e influyente. 2Tenía un hijo que se llamaba Saúl, joven y bien parecido. No había nadie más bien parecido que él entre los Israelitas; de los hombros arriba sobrepasaba a cualquiera del pueblo. 3Las asnas de Cis, padre de Saúl, se habían perdido, por lo cual Cis dijo a su hijo Saúl: “Toma ahora contigo uno de los criados, levántate, y ve en busca de las asnas.” 4Saúl pasó por la región montañosa de Efraín y recorrió la tierra de Salisa, pero no las hallaron. Luego pasaron por la tierra de Saalim, pero no estaban allí. Después atravesaron la tierra de los Benjamitas, pero tampoco las encontraron.
5Cuando llegaron a la tierra de Zuf, Saúl dijo al criado que estaba con él: “Ven, regresemos, no sea que mi padre deje de preocuparse por las asnas y se angustie por nosotros.”
6El criado le respondió: “Mira, en esta ciudad hay un hombre de Dios, el cual es tenido en alta estima; todo lo que él dice se cumple sin falta. Vayamos ahora, quizá pueda orientarnos acerca de la jornada que hemos emprendido.”
7Entonces Saúl dijo a su criado: “Pero, si vamos, ¿qué le llevaremos al hombre? Porque el pan de nuestras alforjas se ha acabado y no hay presente para llevar al hombre de Dios. ¿Qué tenemos?”
8Y el criado volvió a responder a Saúl: “Aquí tengo la cuarta parte de un siclo (unos tres gramos) de plata; se lo daré al hombre de Dios, y él nos indicará nuestro camino.”
9(Antiguamente en Israel, cuando uno iba a consultar a Dios, decía: “Vengan, vamos al vidente;” porque al que hoy se le llama profeta, antes se le llamaba vidente.)
10Entonces Saúl dijo a su criado: “Bien dicho; anda, vamos.” Y fueron a la ciudad donde estaba el hombre de Dios.
11Según subían por la cuesta de la ciudad, se encontraron con unas muchachas que salían a sacar agua y les preguntaron: “¿Está aquí el vidente?”
12Y ellas les respondieron: “Sí, él va delante de ustedes. Apresúrense ahora, pues ha venido a la ciudad porque el pueblo tiene hoy un sacrificio en el lugar alto.
13Cuando entren en la ciudad lo encontrarán antes que suba al lugar alto a comer, pues el pueblo no comerá hasta que él llegue, porque él tiene que bendecir el sacrificio; después comerán los convidados. Suban ahora, que lo encontrarán enseguida.”
14Ellos, pues, subieron a la ciudad. Cuando entraban a la ciudad, Samuel salía hacia ellos para subir al lugar alto.
15Ahora bien, un día antes de la llegada de Saúl, el SEÑOR había revelado esto a Samuel:
16“Mañana como a esta hora te enviaré un hombre de la tierra de Benjamín, lo ungirás para que sea príncipe sobre Mi pueblo Israel, y él librará a Mi pueblo del dominio de los Filisteos. Porque Yo he visto la aflicción de Mi pueblo, pues su clamor ha llegado hasta Mí.”
17Cuando Samuel vio a Saúl, el SEÑOR le dijo: “Este es el hombre de quien te hablé. El gobernará a Mi pueblo.”
18Entonces Saúl se acercó a Samuel en medio de la puerta y le dijo: “Le ruego que me enseñe dónde está la casa del vidente.”
19Respondió Samuel a Saúl: “Yo soy el vidente. Sube delante de mí al lugar alto, pues hoy comerás conmigo, y por la mañana te dejaré ir y te declararé todo lo que está en tu corazón.
20En cuanto a tus asnas que se perdieron hace tres días, no te preocupes por ellas pues han sido halladas. Y ¿para quién es todo lo deseable en Israel? ¿No es para ti y para toda la casa de tu padre?”
21Saúl respondió: “¿No soy yo Benjamita, de la más pequeña de las tribus de Israel, y no es mi familia la menos importante de todas las familias de la tribu de Benjamín? ¿Por qué, pues, me habla de esta manera?”
22Entonces Samuel tomó a Saúl y a su criado, los llevó a la sala y les dio un lugar a la cabecera de los invitados, que eran unos treinta hombres.
23Y Samuel dijo al cocinero: “Trae la porción que te di, de la cual te dije: ‘Ponla aparte.’”
24Entonces el cocinero alzó el pernil con lo que estaba en él y lo colocó delante de Saúl. Y Samuel dijo: “Esto es lo que estaba reservado. Ponlo delante de ti y come, porque ha sido guardado para ti hasta el momento señalado, ya que dije: He invitado al pueblo.” Y Saúl comió con Samuel aquel día.
25Cuando descendieron del lugar alto a la ciudad, Samuel habló con Saúl en el terrado.
26Se levantaron temprano, y al romper el alba Samuel llamó a Saúl en el terrado y le dijo: “Levántate, para que yo te despida.” Saúl se levantó, y ambos, Saúl y Samuel, salieron a la calle.
27Mientras descendían a las afueras de la ciudad, Samuel dijo a Saúl: “Dile al criado que pase delante de nosotros y siga, pero tú quédate para que yo te declare la palabra de Dios.”
Nueva Versión Internacional
Chapter 5
1Después de capturar el arca de Dios, los filisteos la llevaron de Ebenezer a Asdod 2y la pusieron junto a la estatua de Dagón, en el templo de ese dios. 3Al día siguiente, cuando los habitantes de Asdod se levantaron, vieron que la estatua de Dagón estaba tirada en el suelo, boca abajo, frente al arca del SEÑOR. Así que la levantaron y la colocaron en su sitio. 4Pero, al día siguiente, cuando se levantaron, volvieron a encontrar la estatua tirada en el suelo, boca abajo, frente al arca del SEÑOR. Sobre el umbral estaban su cabeza y sus dos manos, separadas del tronco. 5Por eso, hasta el día de hoy, ninguno de los que entran en el templo de Dagón en Asdod, incluso los sacerdotes, pisan el umbral.
6Entonces el SEÑOR descargó su mano sobre la población de Asdod y sus alrededores, y los azotó con tumores.
7La gente de Asdod reconoció lo que estaba pasando, y declaró: «El arca del Dios de Israel no puede quedarse en medio nuestro, porque ese dios ha descargado su mano sobre nosotros y contra nuestro dios Dagón».
8Así que convocaron a todos los jefes filisteos y les preguntaron: ?¿Qué vamos a hacer con el arca del Dios de Israel? ?Trasladen el arca del Dios de Israel a la ciudad de Gat —respondieron los jefes. Y así lo hicieron.
9Pero, después de que la trasladaron, el SEÑOR castigó a esa ciudad, afligiendo con una erupción de tumores a sus habitantes, desde el más pequeño hasta el mayor. Eso provocó un pánico horrible.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón, pero, tan pronto como entró el arca en la ciudad, sus habitantes se pusieron a gritar: «¡Nos han traído el arca del Dios de Israel para matarnos a todos!»
11Por eso convocaron a todos los jefes filisteos y protestaron: «¡Llévense el arca del Dios de Israel! ¡Devuélvanla a su lugar de origen, para que no nos mate a nosotros y a todos los nuestros!» Y es que el terror de la muerte se había apoderado de la ciudad, porque Dios había descargado su mano sobre ese lugar.
12Los que no murieron fueron azotados por tumores, de modo que los gritos de la ciudad llegaban hasta el cielo.
4?¿Y qué le debemos ofrecer? —preguntaron los filisteos. ?Cinco figuras de oro en forma de tumor —respondieron aquellos— y otras cinco en forma de rata, conforme al número de jefes filisteos, pues la misma plaga los ha azotado a ustedes y a sus jefes.
5Así que hagan imágenes de los tumores y de las ratas que han devastado el país, y den honra al Dios de Israel. Tal vez suavice su castigo contra ustedes, sus dioses y su tierra.
6¿Por qué se van a obstinar, como lo hicieron los egipcios bajo el faraón? ¿No es cierto que Dios tuvo que hacerles daño para que dejaran ir a los israelitas?
7»Ahora manden a construir una carreta nueva. Escojan también dos vacas con cría y que nunca hayan llevado yugo. Aten las vacas a la carreta, pero encierren los becerros en el establo.
8Tomen luego el arca del SEÑOR y pónganla en la carreta. Coloquen una caja junto al arca, con los objetos de oro que van a entregarle a Dios como ofrenda compensatoria. Luego dejen que la carreta se vaya sola,
9y obsérvenla. Si se va en dirección de Bet Semes, su propio territorio, eso quiere decir que el SEÑOR es quien nos ha causado esta calamidad tan terrible. Pero, si la carreta se desvía para otro lugar, sabremos que no fue él quien nos hizo daño, sino que todo ha sido por casualidad».
10Así lo hicieron. Tomaron dos vacas con cría y las ataron a la carreta, pero encerraron los becerros en el establo.
11Además, en la carreta pusieron el arca del SEÑOR y la caja que contenía las figuras de ratas y de tumores de oro.
12¡Y las vacas se fueron mugiendo por todo el camino, directamente a Bet Semes! Siguieron esa ruta sin desviarse para ningún lado. Los jefes de los filisteos se fueron detrás de la carreta, hasta llegar al territorio de Bet Semes.
13Los habitantes de Bet Semes, que estaban en el valle cosechando el trigo, alzaron la vista y, al ver el arca, se llenaron de alegría.
14La carreta llegó hasta el campo de Josué de Bet Semes, donde había una gran piedra, y allí se detuvo. Entonces la gente del pueblo usó la madera de la carreta como leña, y ofreció las vacas en holocausto al SEÑOR.
15Los levitas que habían descargado la carreta pusieron el arca del SEÑOR sobre la gran piedra, junto con la caja que contenía las figuras de oro. Aquel día los habitantes de Bet Semes ofrecieron holocaustos y sacrificios al SEÑOR.
16Los cinco jefes filisteos vieron todo esto, y regresaron a Ecrón ese mismo día.
17Las figuras de oro en forma de tumor, que los filisteos entregaron al SEÑOR como ofrenda compensatoria, correspondían a cada una de estas ciudades: Asdod, Gaza, Ascalón, Gat y Ecrón.
18Así mismo, el número de las ratas de oro correspondía al de las ciudades filisteas que pertenecían a los cinco jefes, tanto las ciudades fortificadas como las aldeas sin murallas. Y la gran piedra donde depositaron el arca del SEÑOR permanece hasta el día de hoy, como testimonio, en el campo de Josué de Bet Semes.
19Algunos hombres de ese lugar se atrevieron a mirar dentro del arca del SEÑOR, y Dios los mató. Fueron setenta los que perecieron. El pueblo hizo duelo por el terrible castigo que el SEÑOR había enviado,
20y los habitantes de Bet Semes dijeron: «El SEÑOR es un Dios santo. ¿Quién podrá presentarse ante él? ¿Y a dónde podremos enviar el arca para que no se quede entre nosotros?»
21Así que mandaron este mensaje a los habitantes de Quiriat Yearín: «Los filisteos han devuelto el arca del SEÑOR; vengan y llévensela».
2El arca permaneció en Quiriat Yearín durante mucho tiempo. Pasaron veinte años, y todo el pueblo de Israel buscaba con ansiedad al SEÑOR.
3Por eso Samuel le dijo al pueblo: «Si ustedes desean volverse al SEÑOR de todo corazón, desháganse de los dioses extranjeros y de las imágenes de Astarté. Dedíquense totalmente a servir solo al SEÑOR, y él los librará del poder de los filisteos».
4Así que los israelitas echaron fuera a los ídolos de Baal y a las imágenes de Astarté, y sirvieron solo al SEÑOR.
5Luego Samuel ordenó: «Reúnan a todo Israel en Mizpa para que yo ruegue al SEÑOR por ustedes».
6Cuando los israelitas se reunieron en Mizpa, sacaron agua y la derramaron ante el SEÑOR. También ayunaron durante el día, y públicamente confesaron: «Hemos pecado contra el SEÑOR». Fue en Mizpa donde Samuel comenzó a gobernar a los israelitas.
7Cuando los filisteos se enteraron de que los israelitas se habían reunido en Mizpa, los jefes filisteos marcharon contra Israel. Al darse cuenta de esto, los israelitas tuvieron miedo de los filisteos
8y le dijeron a Samuel: «No dejes de clamar al SEÑOR por nosotros, para que nos salve del poder de los filisteos».
9Samuel tomó entonces un cordero pequeño y lo ofreció en holocausto al SEÑOR. Luego clamó al SEÑOR en favor de Israel, y el SEÑOR le respondió.
10Mientras Samuel ofrecía el sacrificio, los filisteos avanzaron para atacar a Israel. Pero aquel día el SEÑOR lanzó grandes truenos contra los filisteos. Esto creó confusión entre ellos, y cayeron derrotados ante los israelitas.
11Entonces los israelitas persiguieron a los filisteos desde Mizpa hasta más allá de Bet Car, matándolos por el camino.
12Después Samuel tomó una piedra, la colocó entre Mizpa y Sen, y la llamó Ebenezer, «El SEÑOR no ha dejado de ayudarnos».
13Durante toda la vida de Samuel, el SEÑOR manifestó su poder sobre los filisteos. Estos fueron subyugados por los israelitas y no volvieron a invadir su territorio.
14Fue así como los israelitas recuperaron las ciudades que los filisteos habían capturado anteriormente, desde Ecrón hasta Gat, y libraron todo ese territorio del dominio de los filisteos. También hubo paz entre Israel y los amorreos.
15Samuel siguió gobernando a Israel toda su vida.
16Todos los años recorría las ciudades de Betel, Guilgal y Mizpa, y atendía los asuntos del país en esas regiones.
17Luego regresaba a Ramá, donde residía, y desde allí gobernaba a Israel. También allí erigió un altar al SEÑOR.
Chapter 8
1Cuando Samuel entró en años, puso a sus hijos como gobernadores de Israel, 2con sede en Berseba. El hijo mayor se llamaba Joel, y el segundo, Abías. 3Pero ninguno de los dos siguió el ejemplo de su padre, sino que ambos se dejaron guiar por la avaricia, aceptando sobornos y pervirtiendo la justicia.
4Por eso se reunieron los ancianos de Israel y fueron a Ramá para hablar con Samuel.
5Le dijeron: «Tú has envejecido ya, y tus hijos no siguen tu ejemplo. Mejor danos un rey que nos gobierne, como lo tienen todas las naciones».
6Cuando le dijeron que querían tener un rey, Samuel se disgustó. Entonces se puso a orar al SEÑOR,
7pero el SEÑOR le dijo: «Hazle caso al pueblo en todo lo que te diga. En realidad, no te han rechazado a ti, sino a mí, pues no quieren que yo reine sobre ellos.
8Te están tratando del mismo modo que me han tratado a mí desde el día en que los saqué de Egipto hasta hoy. Me han abandonado para servir a otros dioses.
9Así que hazles caso, pero adviérteles claramente de cómo el rey va a gobernarlos».
11Les explicó: ?Así es cómo el rey va a gobernarlos: Les quitará a sus hijos para que se hagan cargo de los carros militares y de la caballería, y para que le abran paso al carro real.
12Los hará comandantes y capitanes, y los pondrá a labrar y a cosechar, y a fabricar armamentos y pertrechos.
13También les quitará a sus hijas para emplearlas como perfumistas, cocineras y panaderas.
14Se apoderará de sus mejores campos, viñedos y olivares, y se los dará a sus ministros,
15y a ustedes les exigirá una décima parte de sus cosechas y vendimias para entregársela a sus funcionarios y ministros.
16Además, les quitará sus criados y criadas, y sus mejores bueyes y asnos, de manera que trabajen para él.
17Les exigirá una décima parte de sus rebaños, y ustedes mismos le servirán como esclavos.
18Cuando llegue aquel día, clamarán por causa del rey que hayan escogido, pero el SEÑOR no les responderá.
19El pueblo, sin embargo, no le hizo caso a Samuel, sino que protestó: ?¡De ninguna manera! Queremos un rey que nos gobierne.
20Así seremos como las otras naciones, con un rey que nos gobierne y que marche al frente de nosotros cuando vayamos a la guerra.
Chapter 9
1Había un hombre de la tribu de Benjamín, muy respetado, cuyo nombre era Quis hijo de Abiel, hijo de Zeror, hijo de Becorat, hijo de Afía, también benjaminita. 2Quis tenía un hijo llamado Saúl, que era buen mozo y apuesto como ningún otro israelita, tan alto que los demás apenas le llegaban al hombro.
3En cierta ocasión se extraviaron las burras de su padre Quis, y este le dijo a Saúl: «Toma a uno de los criados y ve a buscar las burras».
4Saúl y el criado se fueron y cruzaron la sierra de Efraín, hasta pasar por la región de Salisá, pero no las encontraron. Pasaron también por la región de Salín, y después por el territorio de Benjamín, pero tampoco allí las encontraron.
12?Sí, está más adelante —contestaron ellas—. Dense prisa, que acaba de llegar a la ciudad, y el pueblo va a ofrecer un sacrificio en el santuario del cerro.
13Cuando entren en la ciudad lo encontrarán, si llegan antes de que suba al santuario para comer. La gente no empezará a comer hasta que él llegue, pues primero tiene que bendecir el sacrificio, y luego los invitados comerán. Así que vayan de inmediato, que hoy mismo lo van a encontrar.
15Un día antes de que Saúl llegara, el SEÑOR le había hecho esta revelación a Samuel:
16«Mañana, a esta hora, te voy a enviar un hombre de la tierra de Benjamín. Lo ungirás como gobernante de mi pueblo Israel, para que lo libre del poder de los filisteos. Me he compadecido de mi pueblo, pues sus gritos de angustia han llegado hasta mí».
17Cuando Samuel vio a Saúl, el SEÑOR le dijo: «Ahí tienes al hombre de quien te hablé; él gobernará a mi pueblo».
24El cocinero sacó un pernil entero, y se lo sirvió a Saúl. Entonces Samuel dijo: ?Ahí tienes lo que estaba reservado para ti. Come, pues antes de invitar a los otros, tu ración ya había sido apartada para esta ocasión. Así fue como Saúl comió aquel día con Samuel.
25Luego bajaron del santuario a la ciudad, y Samuel conversó con Saúl en la azotea de su casa.
Reina-Valera 1960
Chapter 5
1Cuando los filisteos capturaron el arca de Dios, la llevaron desde Eben-ezer a Asdod. 2Y tomaron los filisteos el arca de Dios, y la metieron en la casa de Dagón, y la pusieron junto a Dagón. 3Y cuando al siguiente día los de Asdod se levantaron de mañana, he aquí Dagón postrado en tierra delante del arca de Jehová; y tomaron a Dagón y lo volvieron a su lugar. 4Y volviéndose a levantar de mañana el siguiente día, he aquí que Dagón había caído postrado en tierra delante del arca de Jehová; y la cabeza de Dagón y las dos palmas de sus manos estaban cortadas sobre el umbral, habiéndole quedado a Dagón el tronco solamente. 5Por esta causa los sacerdotes de Dagón y todos los que entran en el templo de Dagón no pisan el umbral de Dagón en Asdod, hasta hoy.
6Y se agravó la mano de Jehová sobre los de Asdod, y los destruyó y los hirió con tumores en Asdod y en todo su territorio.
7Y viendo esto los de Asdod, dijeron: No quede con nosotros el arca del Dios de Israel, porque su mano es dura sobre nosotros y sobre nuestro dios Dagón.
8Convocaron, pues, a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, y les dijeron: ¿Qué haremos del arca del Dios de Israel? Y ellos respondieron: Pásese el arca del Dios de Israel a Gat. Y pasaron allá el arca del Dios de Israel.
9Y aconteció que cuando la habían pasado, la mano de Jehová estuvo contra la ciudad con gran quebrantamiento, y afligió a los hombres de aquella ciudad desde el chico hasta el grande, y se llenaron de tumores.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón. Y cuando el arca de Dios vino a Ecrón, los ecronitas dieron voces, diciendo: Han pasado a nosotros el arca del Dios de Israel para matarnos a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.
11Y enviaron y reunieron a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, diciendo: Enviad el arca del Dios de Israel, y vuélvase a su lugar, y no nos mate a nosotros ni a nuestro pueblo; porque había consternación de muerte en toda la ciudad, y la mano de Dios se había agravado allí.
12Y los que no morían, eran heridos de tumores; y el clamor de la ciudad subía al cielo.
Chapter 6
1Estuvo el arca de Jehová en la tierra de los filisteos siete meses. 2Entonces los filisteos, llamando a los sacerdotes y adivinos, preguntaron: ¿Qué haremos del arca de Jehová? Hacednos saber de qué manera la hemos de volver a enviar a su lugar. 3Ellos dijeron: Si enviáis el arca del Dios de Israel, no la enviéis vacía, sino pagadle la expiación; entonces seréis sanos, y conoceréis por qué no se apartó de vosotros su mano. 4Y ellos dijeron: ¿Y qué será la expiación que le pagaremos? Ellos respondieron: Conforme al número de los príncipes de los filisteos, cinco tumores de oro, y cinco ratones de oro, porque una misma plaga ha afligido a todos vosotros y a vuestros príncipes. 5Haréis, pues, figuras de vuestros tumores, y de vuestros ratones que destruyen la tierra, y daréis gloria al Dios de Israel; quizá aliviará su mano de sobre vosotros y de sobre vuestros dioses, y de sobre vuestra tierra. 6¿Por qué endurecéis vuestro corazón, como los egipcios y Faraón endurecieron su corazón? Después que los había tratado así, ¿no los dejaron ir, y se fueron? 7Haced, pues, ahora un carro nuevo, y tomad luego dos vacas que críen, a las cuales no haya sido puesto yugo, y uncid las vacas al carro, y haced volver sus becerros de detrás de ellas a casa. 8Tomaréis luego el arca de Jehová, y la pondréis sobre el carro, y las joyas de oro que le habéis de pagar en ofrenda por la culpa, las pondréis en una caja al lado de ella; y la dejaréis que se vaya. 9Y observaréis; si sube por el camino de su tierra a Bet-semes, él nos ha hecho este mal tan grande; y si no, sabremos que no es su mano la que nos ha herido, sino que esto ocurrió por accidente.
10Y aquellos hombres lo hicieron así; tomando dos vacas que criaban, las uncieron al carro, y encerraron en casa sus becerros.
11Luego pusieron el arca de Jehová sobre el carro, y la caja con los ratones de oro y las figuras de sus tumores.
12Y las vacas se encaminaron por el camino de Bet-semes, y seguían camino recto, andando y bramando, sin apartarse ni a derecha ni a izquierda; y los príncipes de los filisteos fueron tras ellas hasta el límite de Bet-semes.
13Y los de Bet-semes segaban el trigo en el valle; y alzando los ojos vieron el arca, y se regocijaron cuando la vieron.
14Y el carro vino al campo de Josué de Bet-semes, y paró allí donde había una gran piedra; y ellos cortaron la madera del carro, y ofrecieron las vacas en holocausto a Jehová.
15Y los levitas bajaron el arca de Jehová, y la caja que estaba junto a ella, en la cual estaban las joyas de oro, y las pusieron sobre aquella gran piedra; y los hombres de Bet-semes sacrificaron holocaustos y dedicaron sacrificios a Jehová en aquel día.
16Cuando vieron esto los cinco príncipes de los filisteos, volvieron a Ecrón el mismo día.
17Éstos fueron los tumores de oro que pagaron los filisteos en expiación a Jehová: por Asdod uno, por Gaza uno, por Ascalón uno, por Gat uno, por Ecrón uno.
18Y los ratones de oro fueron conforme al número de todas las ciudades de los filisteos pertenecientes a los cinco príncipes, así las ciudades fortificadas como las aldeas sin muro. La gran piedra sobre la cual pusieron el arca de Jehová está en el campo de Josué de Bet-semes hasta hoy.
19Entonces Dios hizo morir a los hombres de Bet-semes, porque habían mirado dentro del arca de Jehová; hizo morir del pueblo a cincuenta mil setenta hombres. Y lloró el pueblo, porque Jehová lo había herido con tan gran mortandad.
20Y dijeron los de Bet-semes: ¿Quién podrá estar delante de Jehová el Dios santo? ¿A quién subirá desde nosotros?
21Y enviaron mensajeros a los habitantes de Quiriat-jearim, diciendo: Los filisteos han devuelto el arca de Jehová; descended, pues, y llevadla a vosotros.
Chapter 7
1Vinieron los de Quiriat-jearim y llevaron el arca de Jehová, y la pusieron en casa de Abinadab, situada en el collado; y santificaron a Eleazar su hijo para que guardase el arca de Jehová. 2Desde el día que llegó el arca a Quiriat-jearim pasaron muchos días, veinte años; y toda la casa de Israel lamentaba en pos de Jehová.
3Habló Samuel a toda la casa de Israel, diciendo: Si de todo vuestro corazón os volvéis a Jehová, quitad los dioses ajenos y a Astarot de entre vosotros, y preparad vuestro corazón a Jehová, y sólo a él servid, y os librará de la mano de los filisteos.
4Entonces los hijos de Israel quitaron a los baales y a Astarot, y sirvieron sólo a Jehová.
5Y Samuel dijo: Reunid a todo Israel en Mizpa, y yo oraré por vosotros a Jehová.
6Y se reunieron en Mizpa, y sacaron agua, y la derramaron delante de Jehová, y ayunaron aquel día, y dijeron allí: Contra Jehová hemos pecado. Y juzgó Samuel a los hijos de Israel en Mizpa.
7Cuando oyeron los filisteos que los hijos de Israel estaban reunidos en Mizpa, subieron los príncipes de los filisteos contra Israel; y al oír esto los hijos de Israel, tuvieron temor de los filisteos.
8Entonces dijeron los hijos de Israel a Samuel: No ceses de clamar por nosotros a Jehová nuestro Dios, para que nos guarde de la mano de los filisteos.
9Y Samuel tomó un cordero de leche y lo sacrificó entero en holocausto a Jehová; y clamó Samuel a Jehová por Israel, y Jehová le oyó.
10Y aconteció que mientras Samuel sacrificaba el holocausto, los filisteos llegaron para pelear con los hijos de Israel. Mas Jehová tronó aquel día con gran estruendo sobre los filisteos, y los atemorizó, y fueron vencidos delante de Israel.
11Y saliendo los hijos de Israel de Mizpa, siguieron a los filisteos, hiriéndolos hasta abajo de Bet-car.
12Tomó luego Samuel una piedra y la puso entre Mizpa y Sen, y le puso por nombre Eben-ezer, diciendo: Hasta aquí nos ayudó Jehová.
13Así fueron sometidos los filisteos, y no volvieron más a entrar en el territorio de Israel; y la mano de Jehová estuvo contra los filisteos todos los días de Samuel.
14Y fueron restituidas a los hijos de Israel las ciudades que los filisteos habían tomado a los israelitas, desde Ecrón hasta Gat; e Israel libró su territorio de mano de los filisteos. Y hubo paz entre Israel y el amorreo.
15Y juzgó Samuel a Israel todo el tiempo que vivió.
16Y todos los años iba y daba vuelta a Bet-el, a Gilgal y a Mizpa, y juzgaba a Israel en todos estos lugares.
17Después volvía a Ramá, porque allí estaba su casa, y allí juzgaba a Israel; y edificó allí un altar a Jehová.
Chapter 8
1Aconteció que habiendo Samuel envejecido, puso a sus hijos por jueces sobre Israel. 2Y el nombre de su hijo primogénito fue Joel, y el nombre del segundo, Abías; y eran jueces en Beerseba. 3Pero no anduvieron los hijos por los caminos de su padre, antes se volvieron tras la avaricia, dejándose sobornar y pervirtiendo el derecho.
4Entonces todos los ancianos de Israel se juntaron, y vinieron a Ramá para ver a Samuel,
5y le dijeron: He aquí tú has envejecido, y tus hijos no andan en tus caminos; por tanto, constitúyenos ahora un rey que nos juzgue, como tienen todas las naciones.
6Pero no agradó a Samuel esta palabra que dijeron: Danos un rey que nos juzgue. Y Samuel oró a Jehová.
7Y dijo Jehová a Samuel: Oye la voz del pueblo en todo lo que te digan; porque no te han desechado a ti, sino a mí me han desechado, para que no reine sobre ellos.
8Conforme a todas las obras que han hecho desde el día que los saqué de Egipto hasta hoy, dejándome a mí y sirviendo a dioses ajenos, así hacen también contigo.
9Ahora, pues, oye su voz; mas protesta solemnemente contra ellos, y muéstrales cómo les tratará el rey que reinará sobre ellos.
10Y refirió Samuel todas las palabras de Jehová al pueblo que le había pedido rey.
11Dijo, pues: Así hará el rey que reinará sobre vosotros: tomará vuestros hijos, y los pondrá en sus carros y en su gente de a caballo, para que corran delante de su carro;
12y nombrará para sí jefes de miles y jefes de cincuentenas; los pondrá asimismo a que aren sus campos y sieguen sus mieses, y a que hagan sus armas de guerra y los pertrechos de sus carros.
13Tomará también a vuestras hijas para que sean perfumadoras, cocineras y amasadoras.
14Asimismo tomará lo mejor de vuestras tierras, de vuestras viñas y de vuestros olivares, y los dará a sus siervos.
15Diezmará vuestro grano y vuestras viñas, para dar a sus oficiales y a sus siervos.
16Tomará vuestros siervos y vuestras siervas, vuestros mejores jóvenes, y vuestros asnos, y con ellos hará sus obras.
17Diezmará también vuestros rebaños, y seréis sus siervos.
18Y clamaréis aquel día a causa de vuestro rey que os habréis elegido, mas Jehová no os responderá en aquel día.
19Pero el pueblo no quiso oír la voz de Samuel, y dijo: No, sino que habrá rey sobre nosotros;
20y nosotros seremos también como todas las naciones, y nuestro rey nos gobernará, y saldrá delante de nosotros, y hará nuestras guerras.
21Y oyó Samuel todas las palabras del pueblo, y las refirió en oídos de Jehová.
22Y Jehová dijo a Samuel: Oye su voz, y pon rey sobre ellos. Entonces dijo Samuel a los varones de Israel: Idos cada uno a vuestra ciudad.
Chapter 9
1Había un varón de Benjamín, hombre valeroso, el cual se llamaba Cis, hijo de Abiel, hijo de Zeror, hijo de Becorat, hijo de Afía, hijo de un benjamita. 2Y tenía él un hijo que se llamaba Saúl, joven y hermoso. Entre los hijos de Israel no había otro más hermoso que él; de hombros arriba sobrepasaba a cualquiera del pueblo.
3Y se habían perdido las asnas de Cis, padre de Saúl; por lo que dijo Cis a Saúl su hijo: Toma ahora contigo alguno de los criados, y levántate, y ve a buscar las asnas.
4Y él pasó el monte de Efraín, y de allí a la tierra de Salisa, y no las hallaron. Pasaron luego por la tierra de Saalim, y tampoco. Después pasaron por la tierra de Benjamín, y no las encontraron.
5Cuando vinieron a la tierra de Zuf, Saúl dijo a su criado que tenía consigo: Ven, volvámonos; porque quizá mi padre, abandonada la preocupación por las asnas, estará acongojado por nosotros.
6Él le respondió: He aquí ahora hay en esta ciudad un varón de Dios, que es hombre insigne; todo lo que él dice acontece sin falta. Vamos, pues, allá; quizá nos dará algún indicio acerca del objeto por el cual emprendimos nuestro camino.
7Respondió Saúl a su criado: Vamos ahora; pero ¿qué llevaremos al varón? Porque el pan de nuestras alforjas se ha acabado, y no tenemos qué ofrecerle al varón de Dios. ¿Qué tenemos?
8Entonces volvió el criado a responder a Saúl, diciendo: He aquí se halla en mi mano la cuarta parte de un siclo de plata; esto daré al varón de Dios, para que nos declare nuestro camino.
9(Antiguamente en Israel cualquiera que iba a consultar a Dios, decía así: Venid y vamos al vidente; porque al que hoy se llama profeta, entonces se le llamaba vidente.)
10Dijo entonces Saúl a su criado: Dices bien; anda, vamos. Y fueron a la ciudad donde estaba el varón de Dios.
11Y cuando subían por la cuesta de la ciudad, hallaron unas doncellas que salían por agua, a las cuales dijeron: ¿Está en este lugar el vidente?
12Ellas, respondiéndoles, dijeron: Sí; helo allí delante de ti; date prisa, pues, porque hoy ha venido a la ciudad en atención a que el pueblo tiene hoy un sacrificio en el lugar alto.
13Cuando entréis en la ciudad, le encontraréis luego, antes que suba al lugar alto a comer; pues el pueblo no comerá hasta que él haya llegado, por cuanto él es el que bendice el sacrificio; después de esto comen los convidados. Subid, pues, ahora, porque ahora le hallaréis.
14Ellos entonces subieron a la ciudad; y cuando estuvieron en medio de ella, he aquí Samuel venía hacía ellos para subir al lugar alto.
15Y un día antes que Saúl viniese, Jehová había revelado al oído de Samuel, diciendo:
16Mañana a esta misma hora yo enviaré a ti un varón de la tierra de Benjamín, al cual ungirás por príncipe sobre mi pueblo Israel, y salvará a mi pueblo de mano de los filisteos; porque yo he mirado a mi pueblo, por cuanto su clamor ha llegado hasta mí.
17Y luego que Samuel vio a Saúl, Jehová le dijo: He aquí éste es el varón del cual te hablé; éste gobernará a mi pueblo.
18Acercándose, pues, Saúl a Samuel en medio de la puerta, le dijo: Te ruego que me enseñes dónde está la casa del vidente.
19Y Samuel respondió a Saúl, diciendo: Yo soy el vidente; sube delante de mí al lugar alto, y come hoy conmigo, y por la mañana te despacharé, y te descubriré todo lo que está en tu corazón.
20Y de las asnas que se te perdieron hace ya tres días, pierde cuidado de ellas, porque se han hallado. Mas ¿para quién es todo lo que hay de codiciable en Israel, sino para ti y para toda la casa de tu padre?
21Saúl respondió y dijo: ¿No soy yo hijo de Benjamín, de la más pequeña de las tribus de Israel? Y mi familia ¿no es la más pequeña de todas las familias de la tribu de Benjamín? ¿Por qué, pues, me has dicho cosa semejante?
22Entonces Samuel tomó a Saúl y a su criado, los introdujo a la sala, y les dio lugar a la cabecera de los convidados, que eran unos treinta hombres.
23Y dijo Samuel al cocinero: Trae acá la porción que te di, la cual te dije que guardases aparte.
24Entonces alzó el cocinero una espaldilla, con lo que estaba sobre ella, y la puso delante de Saúl. Y Samuel dijo: He aquí lo que estaba reservado; ponlo delante de ti y come, porque para esta ocasión se te guardó, cuando dije: Yo he convidado al pueblo. Y Saúl comió aquel día con Samuel.
Biblia del Jubileo
Chapter 5
1Y los filisteos, tomada el arca de Dios, la trajeron desde Eben-ezer a Asdod. 2Y tomaron los filisteos el arca de Dios, y la metieron en la casa de Dagón, y la pusieron junto a Dagón. 3Y el siguiente día los de Asdod se levantaron de mañana, y he aquí Dagón postrado en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR; y tomaron a Dagón, y lo volvieron a su lugar. 4Y volviéndose a levantar de mañana el siguiente día, he aquí que Dagón había caído postrado en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR; y la cabeza de Dagón, y las dos palmas de sus manos estaban cortadas sobre el umbral, habiéndole quedado a Dagón el tronco solamente. 5Por esta causa los sacerdotes de Dagón, y todos los que en el templo de Dagón entran, no pisan el umbral de Dagón en Asdod, hasta hoy. 6Pero se agravó la mano del SEÑOR sobre los de Asdod, y los destruyó, y los hirió con hemorroides en Asdod y en todos sus términos. 7Y viendo esto los de Asdod, dijeron: No quede con nosotros el arca del Dios de Israel, porque su mano es dura sobre nosotros, y sobre nuestro dios Dagón. 8Enviaron, pues, a juntar a sí todos los príncipes de los filisteos, y dijeron: ¿Qué haremos del arca del Dios de Israel? Y ellos respondieron: Pásese el arca del Dios de Israel a Gat. Y pasaron allá el arca del Dios de Israel. 9Y aconteció que cuando la hubieron pasado, la mano del SEÑOR fue contra la ciudad con gran quebrantamiento; e hirió a los hombres de aquella ciudad desde el chico hasta el grande, que se llenaron de hemorroides. 10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón. Y cuando el arca de Dios vino a Ecrón, los ecronitas dieron voces diciendo: Han pasado a mí el arca del Dios de Israel por matarme a mí y a mi pueblo. 11Y enviaron a juntar todos los príncipes de los filisteos, diciendo: Despachad el arca del Dios de Israel, y vuélvase a su lugar, y no me mate a mí ni a mi pueblo; porque había quebrantamiento de muerte en toda la ciudad, y la mano de Dios se había allí agravado. 12Y los que no morían, eran heridos de hemorroides; y el clamor de la ciudad subía al cielo.Chapter 6
1Y estuvo el arca del SEÑOR en la tierra de los filisteos siete meses. 2Entonces los filisteos, llamando a los sacerdotes y adivinos, preguntaron: ¿Qué haremos del arca del SEÑOR? Declaradnos cómo la hemos de volver a enviar a su lugar. 3Y ellos dijeron: Si enviáis el arca del Dios de Israel, no la enviéis vacía; mas le pagaréis la expiación; y entonces seréis sanos, y conoceréis por qué no se apartó de vosotros su mano. 4Y ellos dijeron: ¿Y qué será la expiación que le pagaremos? Y ellos respondieron: Conforme al número de los príncipes de los filisteos, cinco hemorroides de oro, y cinco ratones de oro, porque la misma plaga que todos tienen, tienen también vuestros príncipes. 5Haréis, pues, las formas de vuestras partes posteriores con vuestras hemorroides, y las formas de vuestros ratones que destruyen la tierra, y daréis gloria al Dios de Israel; por ventura aliviará su mano de sobre vosotros, y de sobre vuestros dioses, y de sobre vuestra tierra. 6Mas ¿por qué endurecéis vuestro corazón, como los egipcios y Faraón endurecieron su corazón? Después que los hubo así tratado, ¿no los dejaron que se fuesen, y se fueron? 7Haced, pues, ahora un carro nuevo, y tomad luego dos vacas que críen, a las cuales no haya sido puesto yugo, y uncid las vacas al carro, y haced volver de detrás de ellas sus becerros a casa. 8Tomaréis luego el arca del SEÑOR, y la pondréis sobre el carro; y poned en una caja al lado de ella las alhajas de oro que le pagáis en expiación; y la dejaréis que se vaya. 9Y mirad; si sube por el camino de su término a Bet-semes, él nos ha hecho este mal tan grande; y si no, seremos ciertos que su mano no nos hirió, nos ha sido accidente. 10Y aquellos varones lo hicieron así; tomando dos vacas que criaban, las uncieron al carro, y encerraron en casa sus becerros. 11Luego pusieron el arca del SEÑOR sobre el carro, y la caja con los ratones de oro y con las formas de sus hemorroides. 12Y las vacas se encaminaron por el camino de Bet-semes, e iban por un mismo camino andando y bramando, sin apartarse ni a diestra ni a siniestra; y los príncipes de los filisteos fueron tras ellas hasta el término de Bet-semes. 13Y los de Bet-semes segaban el trigo en el valle; y alzando sus ojos vieron el arca, y se regocijaron cuando la vieron. 14Y el carro vino al campo de Josué bet-semita, y paró allí porque allí había una gran piedra; y ellos cortaron la madera del carro, y ofrecieron las vacas en holocausto al SEÑOR. 15Y los levitas bajaron el arca del SEÑOR, y la caja que estaba junto a ella, en la cual estaban las alhajas de oro, y las pusieron sobre aquella gran piedra; y los varones de Bet-semes sacrificaron holocaustos y mataron víctimas al SEÑOR en aquel día. 16Lo cual viendo los cinco príncipes de los filisteos, se volvieron a Ecrón el mismo día. 17Estas pues son las hemorroides de oro que pagaron los filisteos al SEÑOR en expiación: por Asdod una, por Gaza una, por Ascalón una, por Gat una, por Ecrón una; 18y ratones de oro conforme al número de todas las ciudades de los filisteos pertenecientes a los cinco príncipes, desde las ciudades fuertes hasta las aldeas sin muro; y hasta la gran piedra sobre la cual pusieron el arca del SEÑOR, piedra que está en el campo de Josué, bet-semita hasta hoy. 19Entonces hirió Dios de los de Bet-semes, porque habían mirado el arca del SEÑOR; hirió en el pueblo setenta varones y cincuenta mil hombres. Y el pueblo puso luto, porque el SEÑOR había herido el pueblo de tan gran plaga. 20Y dijeron los de Bet-semes: ¿Quién podrá estar delante del SEÑOR el Dios santo? ¿Y a quién subirá desde nosotros? 21Y enviaron mensajeros a los de Quiriat-jearim, diciendo: Los filisteos han vuelto el arca del SEÑOR; descended, pues, y llevadla a vosotros.Chapter 7
1Y vinieron los de Quiriat-jearim, y llevaron el arca del SEÑOR, y la metieron en casa de Abinadab, en Gabaa; y santificaron a Eleazar su hijo, para que guardase el arca del SEÑOR. 2Y aconteció que desde el día que llegó el arca a Quiriat-jearim pasaron mucho días, veinte años; y toda la casa de Israel se lamentaba en pos del SEÑOR.
3Y habló Samuel a toda la casa de Israel, diciendo: Si de todo vuestro corazón os volvéis al SEÑOR, quitad los dioses ajenos y a Astarot de entre vosotros, y preparad vuestro corazón al SEÑOR, y servid a él sólo, y él os librará de mano de los filisteos.
4Entonces los hijos de Israel quitaron a los baales y a Astarot, y sirvieron sólo al SEÑOR.
5Y Samuel dijo: Juntad a todo Israel en Mizpa, y yo oraré por vosotros al SEÑOR.
6Y juntándose en Mizpa, sacaron agua, y la derramaron delante del SEÑOR, y ayunaron aquel día, y dijeron allí: Contra el SEÑOR hemos pecado. Y juzgó Samuel a los hijos de Israel en Mizpa.
7Y oyendo los filisteos que los hijos de Israel estaban reunidos en Mizpa, subieron los príncipes de los filisteos contra Israel. Lo cual cuando oyeron los hijos de Israel, tuvieron temor de los filisteos.
8Y dijeron los hijos de Israel a Samuel: No ceses de clamar por nosotros al SEÑOR nuestro Dios, que nos guarde de mano de los filisteos.
9Y Samuel tomó un cordero de leche, y lo sacrificó entero al SEÑOR en holocausto; y clamó Samuel al SEÑOR por Israel, y el SEÑOR le oyó.
10Y aconteció que estando Samuel sacrificando el holocausto, los filisteos llegaron para pelear con los hijos de Israel. Mas el SEÑOR tronó aquel día con gran estruendo sobre los filisteos, y los quebrantó, y fueron vencidos delante de Israel.
11Y saliendo los hijos de Israel de Mizpa, siguieron a los filisteos, hiriéndolos hasta abajo de Bet-car.
12Tomó luego Samuel una piedra, y la puso entre Mizpa y Sen, y le puso por nombre Eben-ezer, diciendo: Hasta aquí nos ayudó el SEÑOR.
13Fueron, pues, los filisteos humillados, que no vinieron más al término de Israel; y la mano del SEÑOR fue contra los filisteos todo el tiempo de Samuel.
14Y fueron restituidas a los hijos de Israel las ciudades que los filisteos habían tomado a los israelitas, desde Ecrón hasta Gat, con sus términos; e Israel las libró de mano de los filisteos. Y hubo paz entre Israel y el amorreo.
15Y juzgó Samuel a Israel todo el tiempo que vivió.
16Y todos los años iba y daba vuelta a Bet-el, y a Gilgal, y a Mizpa, y juzgaba a Israel en todos estos lugares.
17Volvía después a Ramá, porque allí estaba su casa, y allí también juzgaba a Israel; y edificó allí un altar al SEÑOR.
