The Bible, King James version, Book 10: 2 Samuel
Book 10 2 Samuel
10:001:001 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;
10:001:002 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.
10:001:003 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
10:001:004 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.
10:001:005 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
10:001:006 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.
10:001:007 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
10:001:008 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
10:001:009 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.
10:001:010 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.
10:001:011 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
10:001:012 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.
10:001:013 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.
10:001:014 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
10:001:015 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
10:001:016 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.
10:001:017 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
10:001:018 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
10:001:019 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
10:001:020 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.
10:001:021 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.
10:001:022 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.
10:001:023 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.
10:001:024 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
10:001:025 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
10:001:026 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.
10:001:027 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
10:002:001 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
10:002:002 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.
10:002:003 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
10:002:004 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
10:002:005 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
10:002:006 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
10:002:007 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
10:002:008 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
10:002:009 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10:002:010 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
10:002:011 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
10:002:012 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
10:002:013 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
10:002:014 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
10:002:015 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
10:002:016 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
10:002:017 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
10:002:018 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a
