Chapter 1

  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;  

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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.  

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  And David said to him, From whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel have I escaped.  

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  And David said to him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen, and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.  

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  And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?  

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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.  

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  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here am I.  

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  And he said to me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.  

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  He said to 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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  So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.  

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  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:  

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  And they mourned and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they had fallen by the sword.  

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  And David said to 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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  And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?  

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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.  

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  And David said to 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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  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son:  

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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.)  

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  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!  

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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.  

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  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither 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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  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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  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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  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.  

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  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan thou wast slain in thy high places.  

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  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.  

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  How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!  

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