The FarAboveAll translation of the Old Testament from the Masoretic Hebrew and Aramaic (WLC). See details on www.FarAboveAll.com.

Version 0.33.105, 15 February 2024

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2 Samuel
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2 Samuel Chapter 1

1And it came to pass after Saul's death that David returned from attacking the Amalekites, and David stayed in Ziklag for two days. 2And it came to pass on the third day that there was a man who had come from Saul's camp, whose clothes were torn, and there was soil on his head, and when he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. 3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from Israel's camp.” 4Then David asked him, “What happened? Do please tell me.” And he said that the people had fled from the battle and that many of the people had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son had also died. 5Then David asked the lad who had told him, “How did you come to know that Saul and Jonathan his son died?” 6And the lad who was informing him said, “Completely by chance I was on Mount Gilboa when I saw Saul leaning on his spear, while the chariot fleet and the horsemen were hotly pursuing him. 7And he turned round and saw me, and he called for me, and I said, ‘Here I am.’ 8Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I said to him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9Then he said to me, ‘Come up to me please and kill me, for a seizure has taken hold of me, although my life is still in me.’ 10So I went up to him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his incident, and I took the crown which was on his head and the bangle which was on his arm, and I have brought them to my lord here.” 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. 12And they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening, for Saul and Jonathan his son, and for the Lord's people, and for the house of Israel, for they had fallen by the sword. 13Then David asked the lad who was informing him, “Where are you from?” And he said, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.” 14And David said to him, “How come you did not fear to stretch out your hand to dispatch the Lord's anointed?” 15And David called one of the lads and said, “Come up and strike him.” And he struck him, and he died. 16Then David said to him, “May your blood be on your head, for your mouth testified against you, when you said, ‘I have killed the Lord's anointed.’ ” 17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18and he gave the order to teach the sons of Judah archery – look, it is written in the Book of the Upright –

19“The gazelle – Israel – lies slain on your heights.

How the mighty have fallen!

20Do not report it in Gath,

Do not proclaim it in the open places of Ashkelon,

Lest the daughters of the Philistines should rejoice,

Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised should exult.

21May there be no dew on the mountains of Gilboa,

And may there be no rain on you,

Nor on the fields for heave-offerings,

For there the shield of heroes was abandoned

– The shield of Saul without the one anointed with oil.

22From the blood of the slain,

From the fat of the heroes,

Jonathan's bow did not shrink,

And Saul's sword did not return empty.

23Saul and Jonathan were loved and were delightful in their lives,

And they did not part in their death.

They were swifter than eagles;

They were stronger than lions.

24O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,

Who clothed you in scarlet with delights,

Who set ornaments of gold on your clothing.

25How the heroes have fallen in the midst of the battle!

Jonathan was slain on your heights.

26I am distressed about you, my brother Jonathan.

You were very much a source of pleasure to me.

Your love for me was more wondrous

Than the love of women.

27How the heroes have fallen

And the weapons of war have perished!”

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