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The Second Book of Samuel

World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version

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- Chapter 1 -

(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)
1
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,
2
on the third day, behold,(a) a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.
3
David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”
4
David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5
David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6
The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.
7
When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8
He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9
He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’
10
So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11
Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.
12
They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD,(b) and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13
David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”
14
David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15
David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.
16
David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’s anointed.’”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17
David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
18
(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
19
Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20
Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21
You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
22
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.
23
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
24
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25
How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.
26
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
27
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

Footnotes

(a)1:2 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
(b)1:12 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)
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.(a)
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.(b)
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.(c)
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.

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

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.)(d)
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.(e)
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!

Footnotes

(a)1:4 How…: Heb. What was, etc
(b)1:7 Here…: Heb. Behold me
(c)1:9 anguish…: or, my coat of mail (or, my embroidered coat) hindereth me, that my, etc
(d)1:18 of Jasher: or, of the upright
(e)1:23 pleasant: or, sweet