| 1:1 | 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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1:2 | 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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1:3 | 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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1:4 | 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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1:5 | 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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1:6 | 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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1:7 | And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me.
And I answered, Here am I. |
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1:8 | And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an
Amalekite. |
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1:9 | 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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1:10 | 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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1:11 | Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and
likewise all the men that were with him: |
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1:12 | 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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1:13 | 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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1:14 | 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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1:15 | 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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1:16 | 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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1:17 | And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over
Jonathan his son: |
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1:18 | (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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1:19 | The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are
the mighty fallen! |
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1:20 | 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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1:21 | 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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1:22 | 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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1:23 | 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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1:24 | 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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1:25 | How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O
Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. |
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1:26 | 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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1:27 | How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! |
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