2 Samuel 1
David Learns of Saul's
Death |
1 |
Now it came to pass after the death of
Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amal'ekites,
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 Gilbo'a, 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 Amal'ekite.
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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.
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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. 1 Sam. 31.1-6 · 1 Chr. 10.1-6
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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 Amal'ekite.
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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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David's Lament over
Saul and Jonathan |
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: Josh. 10.13 )
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19 |
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy
high places:
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how are the mighty
fallen! |
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20 |
Tell it not in Gath,
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publish it not in the streets of
As'kelon; |
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, |
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
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21 |
Ye mountains of Gilbo'a,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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!
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O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high
places. |
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26 |
I am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan:
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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,
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and the weapons of war
perished! |
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