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but not till late in the evening。 They also took a great deal of
prey and cattle； and killed them； and ate them with their blood。
This was told to the king by the scribes； that the multitude were
sinning against God as they sacrificed； and were eating before
the blood was well washed away； and the flesh was made clean。
Then did Saul give order that a great stone should be rolled into
the midst of them； and he made proclamation that they should kill
their sacrifices upon it； and not feed upon the flesh with the
blood； for that was not acceptable to God。 And when all the
people did as the king commanded them； Saul erected an altar
there； and offered burnt…offerings upon it to God （14） This was
the first altar that Saul built。
5。 So when Saul was desirous of leading his men to the enemy's
camp before it was day； in order to plunder it； and when the
soldiers were not unwilling to follow him； but indeed showed
great readiness to do as he commanded them； the king called
Ahitub the high priest； and enjoined him to know of God whether
he would grant them the favor and permission to go against the
enemy's camp； in order to destroy those that were in it。 And when
the priest said that God did not give any answer； Saul replied；
〃And not without some cause does God refuse to answer what we
inquire of him； while yet a little while ago he declared to us
all that we desired beforehand； and even prevented us in his
answer。 To be sure there is some sin against him that is
concealed from us； which is the occasion of his silence。 Now I
swear by him himself； that though he that hath committed this sin
should prove to be my own son Jonathan； I will slay him； and by
that means will appease the anger of God against us； and that in
the very same manner as if I were to punish a stranger； and one
not at all related to me； for the same offense。〃 So when the
multitude cried out to him so to do； he presently set all the
rest on one side； and he and his son stood on the other side； and
he sought to discover the offender by lot。 Now the lot appeared
to fall upon Jonathan himself。 So when he was asked by his father
what sin he had been guilty of； and what he was conscious of in
the course of his life that might be esteemed instances of guilt
or profaneness； his answer was this； 〃O father； I have done
nothing more than that yesterday； without knowing of the curse
and oath thou hadst denounced； while I was in pursuit of the
enemy； I tasted of a honey…comb。〃 But Saul sware that he would
slay him； and prefer the observation of his oath before all the
ties of birth and of nature。 And Jonathan was not dismayed at
this threatening of death； but； offering himself to it generously
and undauntedly； he said； 〃Nor do I desire you； father； to spare
me： death will be to me very acceptable； when it proceeds from
thy piety； and after a glorious victory； for it is the greatest
consolation to me that I leave the Hebrews victorious over the
Philistines。〃 Hereupon all the people were very sorry； and
greatly afflicted for Jonathan； and they sware that they would
not overlook Jonathan； and see him die； who was the author of
their victory。 By which means they snatched him out of the danger
he was in from his father's curse； while they made their prayers
to God also for the young man； that he would remit his sin。
6。 So Saul； having slain about sixty thousand of the enemy；
returned home to his own city； and reigned happily： and he also
fought against the neighboring nations； and subdued the
Ammonites； and Moabites； and Philistines； and Edomites； and
Amalekites； as also the king of Zobah。 He had three male
children； Jonathan； and Isui； and Melchishua； with Merab and
Michal his daughters。 He had also Abner； his uncle's son； for the
captain of his host： that uncle's name was Ner。 Now Ner； and Kish
the father of Saul； were brothers。 Saul had also a great many
chariots and horsemen； and against whomsoever he made war he
returned conqueror； and advanced the affairs of the Hebrews to a
great degree of success and prosperity； and made them superior to
other nations； and he made such of the young men as were
remarkable for tallness and comeliness the guards of his body。
CHAPTER 7。
Saul's War With The Amalekites； And Conquest Of Them。
1。 Now Samuel came unto Saul； and said to him； that he was sent
by God to put him in mind that God had preferred him before all
others； and ordained him king； that he therefore ought to be
obedient to him； and to submit to his authority； as considering；
that though he had the dominion over the other tribes； yet that
God had the dominion over him； and over all things。 That
accordingly God said to him； that 〃because the Amalekites did the
Hebrews a great deal of mischief while they were in the
wilderness； and when； upon their coming out of Egypt； they were
making their way to that country which is now their own； I enjoin
thee to punish the Amalekites； by making war upon them； and when
thou hast subdued them； to leave none of them alive； but to
pursue them through every age； and to slay them； beginning with
the women and the infants； and to require this as a punishment to
be inflicted upon them for the mischief they did to our
forefathers； to spare nothing； neither asses nor other beasts；
nor to reserve any of them for your own advantage and possession；
but to devote them universally to God； and； in obedience to the
commands of Moses； to blot out the name of Amalek entirely。〃 （15）
2。 So Saul promised to do what he was commanded； and supposing
that his obedience to God would be shown； not only in making war
against the Amalekites； but more fully in the readiness and
quickness of his proceedings； he made no delay； but immediately
gathered together all his forces； and when he had numbered them
in Gilgal； he found them to be about four hundred thousand of the
Israelites； besides the tribe of Judah； for that tribe contained
by itself thirty thousand。 Accordingly； Saul made an irruption
into the country of the Amalekites； and set many men in several
parties in ambush at the river； that so he might not only do them
a mischief by open fighting； but might fall upon them
unexpectedly in the ways； and might thereby compass them round
about； and kill them。 And when he had joined battle with the
enemy； he beat them； and pursuing them as they fled； he destroyed
them all。 And when that undertaking had succeeded； according as
God had foretold； he set upon the cities of the Amalekites； he
besieged them； and took them by force； partly by warlike
machines； partly by mines dug under ground； and partly by
building walls on the outsides。 Some they starved out with
famine； and some they gained by other methods； and after all； he
betook himself to slay the women and the children； and thought he
did not act therein either barbarously or inhumanly； first；
because they were enemies whom he thus treated； and； in the next
place； because it was done by the command of God； whom it was
dangerous not to obey。 He also took Agag； the enemies' king；
captive； … the beauty and tallness of whose body he admired so
much； that he thought him worthy of preservation。 Yet was not
this don