“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 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!” (2 Samuel 1:1-27 AV)
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