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The Second Book of Samuel
The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 1
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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 |
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 wast 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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