Movatterモバイル変換

The Philistines and the Ark

5 WhenthePhilistinescapturedthearkofGod,theybroughtitfrom^qEbenezerto^rAshdod.2 ThenthePhilistinestookthearkofGodandbroughtitintothehouseofDagonandsetitupbeside^sDagon.3 AndwhenthepeopleofAshdodroseearlythenextday,behold,^tDagonhadfallenfacedownwardonthegroundbeforethearkoftheLord.SotheytookDagonandputhimbackinhisplace.4 Butwhentheyroseearlyonthenextmorning,behold,DagonhadfallenfacedownwardonthegroundbeforethearkoftheLord,^uandtheheadofDagonandbothhishandswerelyingcutoffonthethreshold.OnlythetrunkofDagonwaslefttohim.5 ThisiswhythepriestsofDagonandallwhoenterthehouseofDagon^vdonottreadonthethresholdofDagoninAshdodtothisday.

6 ^wThehandoftheLordwasheavyagainstthepeopleofAshdod,andheterrifiedandafflictedthemwith^xtumors,bothAshdodanditsterritory.7 AndwhenthemenofAshdodsawhowthingswere,theysaid,“ThearkoftheGodofIsraelmustnotremainwithus,forhishandishardagainstusandagainstDagonourgod.”8 Sotheysentandgatheredtogetherall^ythelordsofthePhilistinesandsaid,“WhatshallwedowiththearkoftheGodofIsrael?”Theyanswered,“LetthearkoftheGodofIsraelbebroughtaroundtoGath.”SotheybroughtthearkoftheGodofIsraelthere.9 Butaftertheyhadbroughtitaround,^zthehandoftheLordwasagainstthecity,causingaverygreatpanic,andheafflictedthemenofthecity,bothyoungandold,sothat^xtumorsbrokeoutonthem.10 SotheysentthearkofGodtoEkron.ButassoonasthearkofGodcametoEkron,thepeopleofEkroncriedout,“TheyhavebroughtaroundtousthearkoftheGodofIsraeltokillusandourpeople.”11 ^yTheysentthereforeandgatheredtogetherallthelordsofthePhilistinesandsaid,“SendawaythearkoftheGodofIsrael,andletitreturntoitsownplace,thatitmaynotkillusandourpeople.”Fortherewasadeathlypanicthroughoutthewholecity.^wThehandofGodwasveryheavythere.12 Themenwhodidnotdiewerestruckwith^xtumors,andthecryofthecitywentuptoheaven.

The Ark Returned to Israel

6 ThearkoftheLordwasinthecountryofthePhilistinessevenmonths.2 AndthePhilistinescalledforthepriestsand^athedivinersandsaid,“WhatshallwedowiththearkoftheLord?Telluswithwhatweshallsendittoitsplace.”3 Theysaid,“IfyousendawaythearkoftheGodofIsrael,donotsenditempty,butbyallmeansreturnhim^baguiltoffering.Thenyouwillbehealed,anditwillbeknowntoyouwhy^chishanddoesnotturnawayfromyou.”4 Andtheysaid,“Whatistheguiltofferingthatweshallreturntohim?”Theyanswered,“Fivegolden^dtumorsandfivegoldenmice,^eaccordingtothenumberofthelordsofthePhilistines,forthesameplaguewasonallofyouandonyourlords.5 Soyoumustmakeimagesofyour^dtumorsandimagesofyourmicethatravagetheland,^fandgiveglorytotheGodofIsrael.Perhaps^ghewilllightenhishandfromoffyou^handyourgodsandyourland.6 WhyshouldyouhardenyourheartsasⁱtheEgyptiansand^jPharaohhardenedtheirhearts?Afterhehaddealtseverelywiththem,^kdidtheynotsendthepeopleaway,andtheydeparted?7 Nowthen,takeandprepare^lanewcartandtwomilkcows^monwhichtherehasnevercomeayoke,andyokethecowstothecart,buttaketheircalveshome,awayfromthem.8 AndtakethearkoftheLordandplaceitonthecartandputinaboxatitssideⁿthefiguresofgold,whichyouarereturningtohimas^baguiltoffering.Thensenditoffandletitgoitsway9 andwatch.Ifitgoesuponthewaytoitsownland,to^oBeth-shemesh,thenitishewhohasdoneusthisgreatharm,butifnot,thenweshallknowthatitisnot^phishandthatstruckus;ithappenedtousbycoincidence.”

10 Themendidso,andtooktwomilkcowsandyokedthemtothecartandshutuptheircalvesathome.11 AndtheyputthearkoftheLordonthecartandtheboxwiththegoldenmiceandtheimagesoftheirtumors.12 Andthecowswentstraightinthedirectionof^qBeth-shemeshalong^ronehighway,lowingastheywent.Theyturnedneithertotherightnortotheleft,andthelordsofthePhilistineswentafterthemasfarastheborderof^qBeth-shemesh.13 Nowthepeopleof^qBeth-shemeshwerereapingtheirwheatharvestinthevalley.Andwhentheylifteduptheireyesandsawtheark,theyrejoicedtoseeit.14 ThecartcameintothefieldofJoshuaofBeth-shemeshandstoppedthere.^sAgreatstonewasthere.AndtheysplitupthewoodofthecartandofferedthecowsasaburntofferingtotheLord.15 AndtheLevitestookdownthearkoftheLordandtheboxthatwasbesideit,inwhichwerethegoldenfigures,andsetthemupon^sthegreatstone.Andthemenof^qBeth-shemeshofferedburntofferingsandsacrificedsacrificesonthatdaytotheLord.16 Andwhen^tthefivelordsofthePhilistinessawit,theyreturnedthatdaytoEkron.

17 ThesearethegoldentumorsthatthePhilistinesreturnedasa^uguiltofferingtotheLord:oneforAshdod,oneforGaza,oneforAshkelon,oneforGath,oneforEkron,18 andthegoldenmice,accordingtothenumberofallthecitiesofthePhilistinesbelongingtothefivelords,^vbothfortifiedcitiesandunwalledvillages.^wThegreatstonebesidewhichtheysetdownthearkoftheLordisawitnesstothisdayinthefieldofJoshuaofBeth-shemesh.

19 ^xAndhestrucksomeofthemenofBeth-shemesh,becausetheylookeduponthearkoftheLord.Hestruckseventymenofthem,¹andthepeoplemournedbecausetheLordhadstruckthepeoplewithagreatblow.20 ThenthemenofBeth-shemeshsaid,^y“WhoisabletostandbeforetheLord,thisholyGod?Andtowhomshallhegoupawayfromus?”21 Sotheysentmessengerstotheinhabitantsof^zKiriath-jearim,saying,“ThePhilistineshavereturnedthearkoftheLord.Comedownandtakeituptoyou.”

7 AndthemenofKiriath-jearimcameandtookupthearkoftheLordandbroughtittothehouseof^aAbinadabonthehill.AndtheyconsecratedhissonEleazartohavechargeofthearkoftheLord.2 FromthedaythatthearkwaslodgedatKiriath-jearim,alongtimepassed,sometwentyyears,andallthehouseofIsraellamentedaftertheLord.

Samuel Judges Israel

3 AndSamuelsaidtoallthehouseofIsrael,^b“IfyouarereturningtotheLordwithallyourheart,then^cputawaytheforeigngodsandthe^dAshtarothfromamongyouand^edirectyourhearttotheLord^fandservehimonly,andhewilldeliveryououtofthehandofthePhilistines.”4 SothepeopleofIsraelputawaytheBaalsandtheAshtaroth,andtheyservedtheLordonly.

5 ThenSamuelsaid,“GatherallIsraelat^gMizpah,andIwillpraytotheLordforyou.”6 Sotheygatheredat^gMizpah^handdrewwaterandpoureditoutbeforetheLordⁱandfastedonthatdayandsaidthere,^j“WehavesinnedagainsttheLord.”AndSamueljudgedthepeopleofIsraelatMizpah.7 NowwhenthePhilistinesheardthatthepeopleofIsraelhadgatheredatMizpah,thelordsofthePhilistineswentupagainstIsrael.AndwhenthepeopleofIsraelheardofit,theywereafraidofthePhilistines.8 AndthepeopleofIsraelsaidtoSamuel,“DonotceasetocryouttotheLordourGodforus,thathemaysaveusfromthehandofthePhilistines.”9 SoSamueltookanursinglambandoffereditasawholeburntofferingtotheLord.And^kSamuelcriedouttotheLordforIsrael,andtheLordansweredhim.10 AsSamuelwasofferinguptheburntoffering,thePhilistinesdrewneartoattackIsrael.^lButtheLordthunderedwithamightysoundthatdayagainstthePhilistinesandthrewthemintoconfusion,andtheyweredefeatedbeforeIsrael.11 AndthemenofIsraelwentoutfromMizpahandpursuedthePhilistinesandstruckthem,asfarasbelowBeth-car.

12 ThenSamuel^mtookastoneandsetitupbetweenMizpahandShen¹andcalleditsnameEbenezer;²forhesaid,“TillnowtheLordhashelpedus.”13 ⁿSothePhilistinesweresubduedanddidnotagainentertheterritoryofIsrael.AndthehandoftheLordwasagainstthePhilistinesallthedaysofSamuel.14 ThecitiesthatthePhilistineshadtakenfromIsraelwererestoredtoIsrael,fromEkrontoGath,andIsraeldeliveredtheirterritoryfromthehandofthePhilistines.TherewaspeacealsobetweenIsraelandtheAmorites.

15 ^oSamueljudgedIsraelallthedaysofhislife.16 AndhewentonacircuityearbyyeartoBethel,Gilgal,andMizpah.AndhejudgedIsraelinalltheseplaces.17 Thenhewouldreturnto^pRamah,forhishomewasthere,andtherealsohejudgedIsrael.^qAndhebuiltthereanaltartotheLord.

Israel Demands a King

8 WhenSamuelbecameold,^rhemadehissonsjudgesoverIsrael.2 ThenameofhisfirstbornsonwasJoel,andthenameofhissecond,Abijah;theywerejudgesinBeersheba.3 Yethissonsdidnotwalkinhisways^sbutturnedasideaftergain.^tTheytookbribesandpervertedjustice.

4 ThenalltheeldersofIsraelgatheredtogetherandcametoSamuelat^pRamah5 andsaidtohim,“Behold,youareoldandyoursonsdonotwalkinyourways.^uNowappointforusakingtojudgeuslikeallthenations.”6 ButthethingdispleasedSamuelwhentheysaid,“Giveusakingtojudgeus.”AndSamuelprayedtotheLord.7 AndtheLordsaidtoSamuel,“Obeythevoiceofthepeopleinallthattheysaytoyou,^vfortheyhavenotrejectedyou,^wbuttheyhaverejectedmefrombeingkingoverthem.8 Accordingtoallthedeedsthattheyhavedone,fromthedayIbroughtthemupoutofEgypteventothisday,forsakingmeandservingothergods,sotheyarealsodoingtoyou.9 Nowthen,obeytheirvoice;onlyyoushallsolemnlywarnthem^xandshowthemthewaysofthekingwhoshallreignoverthem.”

Samuel’s Warning Against Kings

10 SoSamueltoldallthewordsoftheLordtothepeoplewhowereaskingforakingfromhim.11 Hesaid,^y“Thesewillbethewaysofthekingwhowillreignoveryou:^zhewilltakeyoursonsandappointthemtohischariotsandtobehishorsemenandtorunbeforehischariots.12 Andhewillappointforhimselfcommandersofthousandsandcommandersoffifties,andsome^atoplowhisgroundandtoreaphisharvest,andtomakehisimplementsofwarandtheequipmentofhischariots.13 Hewilltakeyourdaughterstobeperfumersandcooksandbakers.14 ^bHewilltakethebestofyourfieldsandvineyardsandoliveorchardsandgivethemtohisservants.15 Hewilltakethetenthofyourgrainandofyourvineyardsandgiveittohisofficersandtohisservants.16 Hewilltakeyourmaleservantsandfemaleservantsandthebestofyouryoungmen¹andyourdonkeys,andputthemtohiswork.17 Hewilltakethetenthofyourflocks,andyoushallbehisslaves.18 Andinthatdayyouwillcryoutbecauseofyourking,whomyouhavechosenforyourselves,^cbuttheLordwillnotansweryouinthatday.”

TheLord Grants Israel’s Request

19 ButthepeoplerefusedtoobeythevoiceofSamuel.Andtheysaid,“No!Butthereshallbeakingoverus,20 ^dthatwealsomaybelikeallthenations,andthatourkingmayjudgeusandgooutbeforeusandfightourbattles.”21 AndwhenSamuelhadheardallthewordsofthepeople,herepeatedthemintheearsoftheLord.22 AndtheLordsaidtoSamuel,^e“Obeytheirvoiceandmakethemaking.”SamuelthensaidtothemenofIsrael,“Goeverymantohiscity.”

Saul Chosen to Be King

9 TherewasamanofBenjaminwhosenamewas^fKish,thesonofAbiel,sonofZeror,sonofBecorath,sonofAphiah,aBenjaminite,amanofwealth.2 AndhehadasonwhosenamewasSaul,^gahandsomeyoungman.TherewasnotamanamongthepeopleofIsraelmorehandsomethanhe.^hFromhisshouldersupwardhewastallerthananyofthepeople.

3 NowthedonkeysofKish,Saul’sfather,werelost.SoKishsaidtoSaulhisson,“Takeoneoftheyoungmenwithyou,andarise,goandlookforthedonkeys.”4 AndhepassedthroughⁱthehillcountryofEphraimandpassedthroughthelandof^jShalishah,buttheydidnotfindthem.AndtheypassedthroughthelandofShaalim,buttheywerenotthere.ThentheypassedthroughthelandofBenjamin,butdidnotfindthem.

5 WhentheycametothelandofZuph,Saulsaidtohisservant¹whowaswithhim,“Come,letusgoback,^klestmyfatherceasetocareaboutthedonkeysandbecomeanxiousaboutus.”6 Buthesaidtohim,“Behold,thereis^lamanofGodinthiscity,andheisamanwhoisheldinhonor;^mallthathesayscomestrue.Sonowletusgothere.Perhapshecantellusthewayweshouldgo.”7 ThenSaulsaidtohisservant,“Butifwego,ⁿwhatcanwebringtheman?Forthebreadinoursacksisgone,andthereisnopresenttobringtothemanofGod.Whatdowehave?”8 TheservantansweredSaulagain,“Here,Ihavewithmeaquarterofashekel²ofsilver,andIwillgiveittothemanofGodtotellusourway.”9 (FormerlyinIsrael,whenaman^owenttoinquireofGod,hesaid,“Come,letusgototheseer,”fortoday’s“prophet”wasformerlycalledaseer.)10 AndSaulsaidtohisservant,“Wellsaid;come,letusgo.”SotheywenttothecitywherethemanofGodwas.

11 Astheywentupthehilltothecity,^ptheymetyoungwomencomingouttodrawwaterandsaidtothem,“Istheseerhere?”12 Theyanswered,“Heis;behold,heisjustaheadofyou.Hurry.Hehascomejustnowtothecity,becausethepeople^qhaveasacrificetodayon^rthehighplace.13 Assoonasyouenterthecityyouwillfindhim,beforehegoesuptothehighplacetoeat.Forthepeoplewillnoteattillhecomes,sincehemustblessthesacrifice;afterwardthosewhoareinvitedwilleat.Nowgoup,foryouwillmeethimimmediately.”14 Sotheywentuptothecity.Astheywereenteringthecity,theysawSamuelcomingouttowardthemonhiswayuptothehighplace.

15 NowthedaybeforeSaulcame,^stheLordhad^trevealedtoSamuel:16 “TomorrowaboutthistimeIwillsendtoyouamanfromthelandofBenjamin,^uandyoushallanointhimtobeprince³overmypeopleIsrael.HeshallsavemypeoplefromthehandofthePhilistines.^vForIhaveseen⁴mypeople,becausetheircryhascometome.”17 WhenSamuelsawSaul,theLordtoldhim,^w“HereisthemanofwhomIspoketoyou!Heitiswhoshallrestrainmypeople.”18 ThenSaulapproachedSamuelinthegateandsaid,“Tellmewhereisthehouseoftheseer?”19 SamuelansweredSaul,“Iamtheseer.Goupbeforemetothehighplace,fortodayyoushalleatwithme,andinthemorningIwillletyougoandwilltellyouallthatisonyourmind.20 ^xAsforyourdonkeysthatwerelostthreedaysago,donotsetyourmindonthem,fortheyhavebeenfound.AndforwhomisallthatisdesirableinIsrael?Isitnotforyouandforallyourfather’shouse?”21 Saulanswered,“AmInotaBenjaminite,^yfromtheleastofthetribesofIsrael?^zAndisnotmyclanthehumblestofalltheclansofthetribeofBenjamin?Whythenhaveyouspokentomeinthisway?”

22 ThenSamueltookSaulandhisyoungmanandbroughtthemintothehallandgavethemaplaceattheheadofthosewhohadbeeninvited,whowereaboutthirtypersons.23 AndSamuelsaidtothecook,“BringtheportionIgaveyou,ofwhichIsaidtoyou,‘Putitaside.’”24 Sothecooktookup^athelegandwhatwasonitandsetthembeforeSaul.AndSamuelsaid,“See,whatwaskeptissetbeforeyou.Eat,becauseitwaskeptforyouuntilthehourappointed,thatyoumighteatwiththeguests.”⁵

SoSaulatewithSamuelthatday.25 Andwhentheycamedownfromthehighplaceintothecity,abedwasspreadforSaul^bontheroof,andhelaydowntosleep.⁶26 Thenatthebreakofdawn⁷SamuelcalledtoSaulontheroof,“Up,thatImaysendyouonyourway.”SoSaularose,andbothheandSamuelwentoutintothestreet.

27 Astheyweregoingdowntotheoutskirtsofthecity,SamuelsaidtoSaul,“Telltheservanttopassonbeforeus,andwhenhehaspassedon,stophereyourselfforawhile,thatImaymakeknowntoyouthewordofGod.”