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still； and to whom they would go。 Now there was a certain village
of the tribe of Judah； the name of which was Bethshemesh； and to
that village did the kine go； and though there was a great and
good plain before them to proceed in； they went no farther； but
stopped the cart there。 This was a sight to those of that
village； and they were very glad； for it being then summer…time；
and all the inhabitants being then in the fields gathering in
their fruits； they left off the labors of their hands for joy； as
soon as they saw the ark； and ran to the cart； and taking the ark
down； and the vessel that had the images in it； and the mice；
they set them upon a certain rock which was in the plain； and
when they had offered a splendid sacrifice to God； and feasted；
they offered the cart and the kine as a burnt…offering： and when
the lords of the Philistines saw this； they returned back。
4。 But now it was that the wrath of God overtook them； and struck
seventy persons of the village of Bethshemesh dead； who； not
being priests； and so not worthy to touch the ark； had approached
to it。 Those of that village wept for these that had thus
suffered； and made such a lamentation as was naturally to be
expected on so great a misfortune that was sent from God； and
every one mourned for his own relation。 And since they
acknowledged themselves unworthy of the ark's abode with them；
they sent to the public senate of the Israelites； and informed
them that the ark was restored by the Philistines； which when
they knew； they brought it away to Kirjathjearim； a city in the
neighborhood of Bethshemesh。 In this city lived one Abinadab； by
birth a Levite； and who was greatly commended for his righteous
and religious course of life； so they brought the ark to his
house； as to a place fit for God himself to abide in； since
therein did inhabit a righteous man。 His sons also ministered to
the Divine service at the ark； and were the principal curators of
it for twenty years； for so many years it continued in
Kirjathjearim； having been but four months with the Philistines。
CHAPTER 2。
The Expedition Of The Philistines Against The Hebrews And The
Hebrews' Victory Under The Conduct Of Samuel The Prophet； Who Was
Their General。
1。 Now while the city of Kirjathjearim had the ark with them； the
whole body of the people betook themselves all that time to offer
prayers and sacrifices to God； and appeared greatly concerned and
zealous about his worship。 So Samuel the prophet； seeing how
ready they were to do their duty； thought this a proper time to
speak to them； while they were in this good disposition； about
the recovery of their liberty； and of the blessings that
accompanied the same。 Accordingly he used such words to them as
he thought were most likely to excite that inclination； and to
persuade them to attempt it： 〃O you Israelites；〃 said he； 〃to
whom the Philistines are still grievous enemies； but to whom God
begins to be gracious； it behooves you not only to be desirous of
liberty； but to take the proper methods to obtain it。 Nor are you
to be contented with an inclination to get clear of your lords
and masters； while you still do what will procure your
continuance under them。 Be righteous then； and cast wickedness
out of your souls； and by your worship supplicate the Divine
Majesty with all your hearts； and persevere in the honor you pay
to him； for if you act thus； you will enjoy prosperity； you will
be freed from your slavery； and will get the victory over your
enemies： which blessings it is not possible you should attain；
either by weapons of war； or by the strength of your bodies； or
by the multitude of your assistants； for God has not promised to
grant these blessings by those means； but by being good and
righteous men； and if you will be such； I will be security to you
for the performance of God's promises。〃 When Samuel had said
thus； the multitude applauded his discourse； and were pleased
with his exhortation to them； and gave their consent to resign
themselves up to do what was pleasing to God。 So Samuel gathered
them together to a certain city called Mizpeh； which； in the
Hebrew tongue； signifies a watch…tower； there they drew water；
and poured it out to God； and fasted all day； and betook
themselves to their prayers。
2。 This their assembly did not escape the notice of the
Philistines： so when they had learned that so large a company had
met together； they fell upon the Hebrews with a great army and
mighty forces； as hoping to assault them when they did not expect
it； nor were prepared for it。 This thing affrighted the Hebrews；
and put them into disorder and terror； so they came running to
Samuel； and said that their souls were sunk by their fears； and
by the former defeat they had received； and 〃that thence it was
that we lay still； lest we should excite the power of our enemies
against us。 Now while thou hast brought us hither to offer up our
prayers and sacrifices； and take oaths ＇to be obedient＇； our
enemies are making an expedition against us； while we are naked
and unarmed； wherefore we have no other hope of deliverance but
that by thy means； and by the assistance God shall afford us upon
thy prayers to him； we shall obtain deliverance from the
Philistines。〃 Hereupon Samuel bade them be of good cheer； and
promised them that God would assist them； and taking a sucking
lamb； he sacrificed it for the multitude； and besought God to
hold his protecting hand over them when they should fight with
the Philistines； and not to overlook them； nor suffer them to
come under a second misfortune。 Accordingly God hearkened to his
prayers； and accepting their sacrifice with a gracious intention；
and such as was disposed to assist them； he granted them victory
and power over their enemies。 Now while the altar had the
sacrifice of God upon it； and had not yet consumed it wholly by
its sacred fire； the enemy's army marched out of their camp； and
was put in order of battle； and this in hope that they should be
conquerors； since the Jews （5） were caught in distressed
circumstances； as neither having their weapons with them； nor
being assembled there in order to fight。 But things so fell out；
that they would hardly have been credited though they had been
foretold by anybody： for； in the first place； God disturbed their
enemies with an earthquake； and moved the ground under them to
such a degree； that he caused it to tremble； and made them to
shake； insomuch that by its trembling； he made some unable to
keep their feet； and made them fall down； and by opening its
chasms； he caused that others should be hurried down into them；
after which he caused such a noise of thunder to come among them；
and made fiery lightning shine so terribly round about them； that
it was ready to burn their faces； and he so suddenly shook their
weapons out of their hands； that he made them fly and return home
naked。 So Samuel with the multitude pursued them to Bethcar； a
place so called； and there he set up a stone as a boundary of
their victory and their enemies' flight； and called it the Stone
of Power； as a signal of that power God had given them against
their enemies。
3。 So the Philistines； after this stroke； made no more
expeditions against the Israelites； but lay still out of fear；
and out of remembrance of what had befallen them； and what
courage the Philistines had formerly against the Hebrews； that；
after this victory； was transferred to the Hebrews。 Samuel also
made an expedition against the Philistines； and slew many of
them； and entirely humbled their proud hearts； and took from them
that country； which； when they were formerly conquerors in
battle； they had cut off from the Jews； which was the country
that extended from the borders of Gath to the city of Ekron： but
the remains of the Canaanites were at this time in friendship
with the Israelites。
CHAPTER 3。
How Samuel When He Was So Infirm With Old Age That He Could Not
Take Care Of The Public Affairs Intrusted Them To His Sons； And
How Upon The Evil Administration Of The Government By Them The
Multitude Were So Angry； That They Required To Have A King To
Govern Them； Although Samuel Was Much Displeased Thereat。
1。 But Samuel the prophet； when he had ordered the affairs of the
people after a convenient manner； and had appointed a city for
every district of them； he commanded them to come to such cities；
to have the controversies that they had one with another
determined in them； he himself going over those cities twice in a
year； and doing them justice； and by that means he kept them in
very good order for a long time。
2。 But afterwards he found himself oppressed with old age； and
not able to do what he used to do； so he committed the government
and the care of the multitude to his sons； … the elder of whom
was called Joel； and the name of the younger was Abiah。 He also
enjoined them to reside and judge the people； the one at the city
of Bethel； and the other at Beersheba； and divided the people
into districts that should be under the jurisdiction of each of
them。 Now these men afford us an evident example and
demonstration how some children are not of the like dispositions
with thei