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; |
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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. |
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3:
And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said
unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. |
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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. |
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5: And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest
thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? |
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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. |
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7: And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me.
And I answered, Here am I. |
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8: And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an
Amalekite. |
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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. |
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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. |
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11: Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and
likewise all the men that were with him: |
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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. |
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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. |
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14: And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch
forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? |
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15: And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and
fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. |
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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. |
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17: And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over
Jonathan his son: |
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18: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the
bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) |
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19: The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are
the mighty fallen! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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25: How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O
Jonathan, thou was slain in thine high places. |
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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. |
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27: How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
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