sling and a stone; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

I SAMUEL XXIV

And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went into the cave to refresh himself.

Now David and his men were hiding in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which the Lord said unto thee, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. And David said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him! So David stayed his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. Howbeit David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had de

livered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it. The Lord judge between me and thee; but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded unto me good, whereas I have rewarded unto thee evil. And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.

THE SECOND BOOK

OF SAMUEL

II SAMUEL I

Now it came to pass as David abode in the city, 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 unto David, that he fell to the earth and did obeisance. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said, Out of the camp of Israel. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, Many of the people are fallen in the battle; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord; because they were fallen by the sword.

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

Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thine high places!

How are the mighty fallen!

Tell it not in Gath,

Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon;

Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

And the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew,
Nor rain upon you, O ye fields of death!

For there was the shield of the mighty vilely cast away,

The shield of Saul, as of one not anointed with oil.

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.

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.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet delicately,

Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel; weep and say,

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!

O Jonathan, slain upon thine high places!
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 woman.

How are the mighty fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!

II SAMUEL II

Psalm xlvi. Hosea i. Zechariah ix

Now it came to pass in those days, that Joab and his men pursued after Abner; and the battle was very sore. And when the sun went down the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from pursuing their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, the people shall no more pursue every man his brother! So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after them no more, neither fought they any more.

Thus they fled away that day from the battle, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war; even as it is written:

I will have mercy upon them,

And will save them by the Lord their God;
And will not save them by bow,

Nor by sword nor by battle,

By horses nor by horsemen.

But I will make war to cease;

And I will break the bow, and cut the

in sunder;

And burn the chariots in the fire.

And the battle bow shall be cut off;

spear

And I will speak peace unto the nations.