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Chapter 1
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1
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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
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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
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And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And
he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. |
4
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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
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And David said unto the young man that told him, How
knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? |
6
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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
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And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called
unto me. And I answered, Here am I. |
8
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And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him,
I am an Amalekite. |
9
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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
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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
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Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and
likewise all the men that were with him: |
12
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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
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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
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And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to
stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? |
15
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And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near,
and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. |
16
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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
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And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and
over Jonathan his son: |
18
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(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use
of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) |
19
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The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how
are the mighty fallen! |
20
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. |
26
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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
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How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! |
