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1 Now
it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the
slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2 It came
even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from
Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when
he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 And
David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the
camp of Israel
am I escaped.
4 And
David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he
answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also
are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5 And
David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and
Jonathan his son be dead?
6 And the
young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount
Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon
his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 And when
he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am
I.
8 And he
said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an
Amalekite.
9 And he
said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come
upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I
stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after
that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the
bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11 Then
David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were
with him:
12 And
they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his
son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel;
because they were fallen by the sword.
13 And
David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he
answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14 And
David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to
destroy the LORD'S anointed?
15 And
David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him.
And he smote him that he died.
16 And
David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath
testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.
17 And
David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18 (Also
he bade them teach the children of Judah
the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19 The
beauty of Israel
is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20 Tell it
not in Gath, publish it not
in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest
the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 Ye mountains
of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon
you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast
away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with
oil.
22 From
the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned
not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23 Saul
and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death
they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than
lions.
24 Ye
daughters of Israel,
weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put
on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25 How
are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast
slain in thine high places.
26 I am
distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 How
are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
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