2Samuel:1

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* Now it came to pass after the death of Saul , when David was returned from smiting the ‘Amalekites , that David abode in Ziklag two days . * And it came 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 it happened , when he came to David , that he fell to the earth , and prostrated himself . * And David said unto him , From where comest thou ? And he said unto him , Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped . * And David said unto him , What took place there ? I pray thee , tell me . And he said , That the people are fled from the battle , and that also many of the people are fallen and have died ; and that also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead . * And David said unto the young man that told him , How knowest thou that Saul is dead as also Jonathan his son ? * And the young man that told him said , I happened entirely by chance to be upon mount Gilboa ’, when , behold , there was Saul leaning upon his spear ; and , lo , the chariots and horsemen had overtaken him . * And he turned round , and he saw me , and called unto me , And I said , Here am I . * And he said unto me , Who art thou ! And I answered him , An ‘Amalekite am I . * And he said unto me , Place thyself , I pray thee , by me , and slay me ; for a mortal tremor hath seized on me , although my life is yet whole in me . * So I placed myself by him , and slew him , because I was sure that he could not live after his fall ; and I took the crown that was upon his head , and the bracelet that was on his arm , and I have brought them unto my lord hither . * David thereupon took hold of his clothes , and rent them ; and likewise all the men that were with him : * And they lamented , and wept , and fasted until the evening , 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 . * And David said unto the young man that told him , Whence art thou ? And he said , The son of a stranger , an ‘Amalekite , am I . * And David said unto him , How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lord ’s anointed ? * And David called one of the young men , and said , Come near , and fall upon him . And he smote him that he died . * And David said unto him , Thy blood is upon thy own head ; for thy mouth hath testified against thee , saying , I myself have slain the Lord ’s anointed . * And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son : * And he said , That the children of Judah should be taught the bow ; behold it is written in the book of Yashar . * O beauty of Israel ! upon the high places slain : how are the mighty fallen ! * Tell it not in Gath , publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon ; that the daughters of the Philistines may not be glad , that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not rejoice . * O mountains of Gilboa ’, no dew , nor rain be upon you , nor fields of offerings ; for there the shield of the mighty was stained , the shield of Saul , as though it had not been anointed with oil . * From the blood of the slain , from the fat of the mighty , the bow of Jonathan turned never back , and the sword of Saul never returned empty . * Saul and Jonathan , the beloved and the dear in their lives , were even in their death not divided : more than eagles were they swift , more than lions were they strong . * O daughters of Israel , weep for Saul , who clothed you in scarlet , with beautiful dresses , who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel . * How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle ! O Jonathan , on thy high places slain . * I am distressed for thee , my brother Jonathan ; very dear hast thou been unto me : wonderful was thy love for me , passing the love of women . * How are the mighty fallen , and lost the instruments of war !

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