CHAP. XXXI.

SAUL WITH ISRAEL CONQUERED.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the Israelites fled before them, and fell on mount Gilboa. 2. Then the Philistines pressed hard upon Saul and his sons, and slew Jonathan, and Aminadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul's sons. 3. For the battle went sore against Saul; and the archers hit him, and wounded him sore. 4. Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through, lest the uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and insult me. But his armour-bearer being sore afraid, would not; therefore Saul took a sword and rushed on it. 5. When his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he rushed likewise on his sword, and died with him. 6. So Saul, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all his men, died that day together.

7. Now the Israelitish men on the other side of the valley of Jezreel, and they beyond Jordan, seeing that the Israelites fled, and that Saul, and his sons, were dead, forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8. And on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on mount Gilboa. 9. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent thro all the land of the Philistines, and to publish it in their idols' house, and among the people. 10. They put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth; and they hung up his body by the wall of Beth-shan

11. Now the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead hearing what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12. All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took Saul's body, and those of his sons, from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13. They took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

THE SECOND BOOK

OF THE

KING S.

CHAP I.

DAVID'S FINE LYRIC ELEGY ON SAUL'S DEATH.

AFTER Saul's death, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and abode two days in Ziklag; 2. And on the third day, lo, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes rent, and earth on his head; and coming to David, he fell down, doing homage. 3. Then David said, Whence comest thou? And he said, From the camp of Israel I am escaped. 4. Then David said to him, How went matters, tell me I pray thee? Then he answered, The people fled from the battle, and many lie dead; and Saul, and Jonathan his son, are dead also. 5. Then David said to him, How knowest thou that Saul, and Jonathan his son, are dead? 6. The young man said, As I was by chance on mount Gilboa, Saul leaned on his spear, and lo the charioteers and horsemen closely pursued him. 7. And looking behind him he saw me, and called me; 8. And said to me, Who art thou? and I answered him, An Amalekite. 9. He said to me again, Stop, I pray thee, and slay me; for I am so grievously wounded, that

I cannot live. 10. So I stoped, and slew him, because I was sure he could not live after what had befallen him: I then took the crown from his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord. 11. Then David rent his clothes, as 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 Eternal's people, the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13. Then David said to the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am a stranger, an Amalekite. 14. Then David said to him, Wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Eternal's anointed? 15. Then David called one of the young men, and said, Go and dispatch him. So he smote him to death. 16. For David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Eternal's anointed.

17. Now David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and Jonathan his son; 18.The measure of which he ordered to be taught to the people of Ju dah, Behold it is written in the book of Jasher, (songs on virtuous heroes). 19.0 ornament of Israel, pierced on thine own mountains, How are the migh ty fallen! 20. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the Philistines' daugh ters rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21. Ye mountains of Gilboa, on you be neither dew, nor rain, nor first fruit-offerings of fields; seeing there the shiek of the mighty is vile. ly cast away, the shield of Saul, the armour of the anointed with oil. 22. From the blood of the bold, from the havock of the brave, the bow of Jonathan was never held back, the sword of Sad never returned in vain. 23. Saul and Jonathan joined in their life by mutual love, were not disjoined at their death; they were swifter than eagles, they were

stronger than lions. 21. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in delightful scar. let; who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25. How are the mighty fallen in the battle! O Jonathan, pierced on thine own mountains. 26. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very dear hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. 27. Ah! how are the mighty fallen! how perished the weapons of war!

CHAP. II.

DAVID IS MADE KING OF JUDAI

AFTER this, David enquired of the Eternal, saying, Shall I go hence into any of the cities of Judah? Then the Eternal said to him, Go. Then David said, Whither shall I go? And he said, To He, bron. 2. So David went thither, with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail, Nabal's widow, the Carmelite. 3. David brought also his men with him, each with his household, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4. The men of Judah then came, and there anointed David king ov er Judah. They told David that the men of Jabesh-Gilead buried Saul.

5. Then David sent messengers to them, saying, Blessed be ye of the Eternal for shewing this kindness to your lord Saul, and Jonathan, having buried him. 6. May the Eternal shew true kindness to you; and I also will requite you with kindness. 7. Only take courage, and be ye valiant; for since Saul is dead, Judali's tribe hath anointed me king over them.

8. But Abner, Ner's son, captain of Saul's host, brought Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, over to Mahanaim; 9. And made him king over Gilead, and the Asherites, and Jezreel, and Ephraim, and Benjamin, and all Israel. 10. Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty

years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years; but Judah's tribe followed David. 11. David reigned at Hebron over Judah seven years and six months.

12. Abner, Ner's son, and the servants of Ishbosheth, Saul's son, went from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13. And Joab, Zeruiah's son, with David's servants, met them at the pond of Gibeon; and posted the one on the one side, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14. Then Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and prelude our engagement. And Joab said, so be it. 15. Then twelve for Benjamin, and Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, arose, and twelve of David's servants. 16. And every one caught his antagonist by the head, and thrust his sword into his side; so they all fell toge ther; hence that place is called the Field of Strug lers; it is by Gibeon. 17. The battle was very se vere that day; but Abner, with the men of Israel, were beaten by David's servants.

But

18. Three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. 19. Asahel pursued Abner. 20. Then Abner looking behind him, said, Art thou Asahel, And he answered, I am. 21. Then Abner said, Turn aside to thy right, or thy left, and seize one of the young men, and take his armour. Asahel would not turn aside from pursuing him. 22. But Abner said again to Asahel, Turn away from pursuing me; why should I smite thee to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? 23. Still he refused to turn aside: So Abner, with the point of the spear, turned back, smote him under the fifth rib, so that the spear came thro' behind him; so he fell down and died there; and all that came to the place stopt there. 24. But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner: but the sun's light departed when they came to the hill of Ammah, opposite Giah, by the wilderness of Gibeon.