Page:JPS-1917-Universal.djvu/1092

9.27 thereof was upon them, and to them pertained the opening thereof morning by morning. And certain of them had charge of the vessels of service; for by tale were they brought in and by tale were they taken out. Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy vessels, and over the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. And some of the sons of the priests prepared the confection of the spices. And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the first-born of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were baked on griddles. And some of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath.

And these are the singers, heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers and were free from other service; for they were employed in their work day and night. These were heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, by their generations, chief men; these dwelt at Jerusalem.

And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife's name was Maacah; and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab; and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth. And Mikloth begot Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.

And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begot Micah. And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Taharea[, and Ahaz]. And Ahaz begot Jarah; and Jarah begot Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza. And Moza begot Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was in anguish by reason of the archers. Then said Saul unto his armour-bearer: 'Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and make a mock of me.' But his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it.

And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died. So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together. And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that [Israel] fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they stripped him, and took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto their idols, and to the people. And they put his armour