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Then all the wicked men and base fellows, of those who went with David, answered and said, “Because they didn’t go with us, we will not give them anything of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that he may lead them away, and depart.”

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Then David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which Yahweh has given to us, who has preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.

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Who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who tarries by the baggage: they shall share alike.”

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It was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

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When David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, “Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Yahweh.”

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He sent it to those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the South, and to those who were in Jattir,

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and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa,

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and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,

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and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Borashan, and to those who were in Athach,

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and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to stay.

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Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.

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The Philistines followed hard on Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

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The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.

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Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!” But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.

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When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.

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So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.

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When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.

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It happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

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They cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to the house of their idols, and to the people.

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They put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.

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When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul,

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all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

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They took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

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It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag;

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it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

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David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

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David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

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David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

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The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.

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When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’

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He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

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He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.’

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So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

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Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him.

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They mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

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David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

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David said to him, “How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?”

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David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and fall on him.” He struck him, so that he died.

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David said to him, “Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’”

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

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(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

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“Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

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Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

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You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

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From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

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Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

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You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

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How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places.

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I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

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How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

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It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.”

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So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

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David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron.

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The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.”

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David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.

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Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing.

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Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

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Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

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and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

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Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

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The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

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Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them 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.

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Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”

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Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

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They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

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The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

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The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.

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Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

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Then Abner looked behind him, and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is I.”

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Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

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Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?”

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However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. It happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

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But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

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The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.

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Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”

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Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.”

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So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

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Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.

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Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.

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But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, [so that] three hundred sixty men died.

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They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.

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Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

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To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

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and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

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and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

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and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

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It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.

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Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

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Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman!

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God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him;

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to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”

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He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

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Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you.”

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He said, “Good; I will make a treaty with you; but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

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David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

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Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.

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Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.

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Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.

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Now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”