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few。 As for himself； he fought with great bravery； and when he
had received so many wounds； that he was not able to bear up nor
to oppose any longer； and yet was not able to kill himself； he
bade his armor…bearer draw his sword； and run him through； before
the enemy should take him alive。 But his armor…bearer not daring
to kill his master； he drew his own sword； and placing himself
over against its point； he threw himself upon it； and when he
could neither run it through him； nor； by leaning against it；
make the sword pass through him； he turned him round； and asked a
certain young man that stood by who he was； and when he
understood that he was an Amalekite； he desired him to force the
sword through him； because he was not able to do it with his own
hands； and thereby to procure him such a death as he desired。
This the young man did accordingly； and he took the golden
bracelet that was on Saul's arm； and his royal crown that was on
his head； and ran away。 And when Saul's armor…bearer saw that he
was slain； he killed himself； nor did any of the king's guards
escape； but they all fell upon the mountain called Gilboa。 But
when those Hebrews that dwelt in the valley beyond Jordan； and
those who had their cities in the plain； heard that Saul and his
sons were fallen； and that the multitude about them were
destroyed； they left their own cities； and fled to such as were
the best fortified and fenced； and the Philistines； finding those
cities deserted； came and dwelt in them。
8。 On the next day； when the Philistines came to strip their
enemies that were slain； they got the bodies of Saul and of his
sons； and stripped them； and cut off their heads； and they sent
messengers all about their country； to acquaint them that their
enemies were fallen； and they dedicated their armor in the temple
of Astarte； but hung their bodies on crosses at the walls of the
city Bethshun； which is now called Scythepolls。 But when the
inhabitants of Jabesh…Gilead heard that they had dismembered the
dead bodies of Saul and of his sons； they deemed it so horrid a
thing to overlook this barbarity； and to suffer them to be
without funeral rites； that the most courageous and hardy among
them （and indeed that city had in it men that were very stout
both in body and mind） journeyed all night； and came to Bethshun；
and approached to the enemy's wall； and taking down the bodies of
Saul and of his sons； they carried them to Jabesh； while the
enemy were not able enough nor bold enough to hinder them；
because of their great courage。 So the people of Jabesh wept all
in general； and buried their bodies in the best place of their
country； which was named Areurn； and they observed a public
mourning for them seven days； with their wives and children；
beating their breasts； and lamenting the king and his sons；
without either tasting meat or drink （29） ＇till the evening。＇
9。 To this his end did Saul come； according to the prophecy of
Samuel； because he disobeyed the commands of God about the
Amalekites； and on the account of his destroying the family of
Ahimelech the high priest； with Ahimelech himself； and the city
of the high priests。 Now Saul； when he had reigned eighteen years
while Samuel was alive； and after his death two ＇and twenty＇；
ended his life in this manner。
BOOK VII。
Containing The Interval Of Forty Years。
From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David。
CHAPTER 1。
How David Reigned Over One Tribe At Hebron While The Son Of Saul
Reigned Over The Rest Of The Multitude； And How； In The Civil War
Which Then Arose Asahel And Abner Were Slain。
1。 This fight proved to be on the same day whereon David was come
back to Ziklag； after he had overcome the Amalekites。 Now when he
had been already two days at Ziklag； there came to him the man
who slew Saul； which was the third day after the fight。 He had
escaped out of the battle which the Israelites had with the
Philistines； and had his clothes rent； and ashes upon his head。
And when he made his obeisance to David； he inquired of him
whence he came。 He replied； from the battle of the Israelites；
and he informed him that the end of it was unfortunate； many ten
thousands of the Israelites having been cut off； and Saul；
together with his sons； slain。 He also said that he could well
give him this information； because he was present at the victory
gained over the Hebrews； and was with the king when he fled。 Nor
did he deny that he had himself slain the king； when he was ready
to be taken by the enemy； and he himself exhorted him to do it；
because； when he was fallen on his sword； his great wounds had
made him so weak that he was not able to kill himself。 He also
produced demonstrations that the king was slain； which were the
golden bracelets that had been on the king's arms； and his crown；
which he had taken away from Saul's dead body； and had brought
them to him。 So David having no longer any room to call in
question the truth of what he said； but seeing most evident marks
that Saul was dead； he rent his garments； and continued all that
day with his companions in weeping and lamentation。 This grief
was augmented by the consideration of Jonathan； the son of Saul；
who had been his most faithful friend； and the occasion of his
own deliverance。 He also demonstrated himself to have such great
virtue； and such great kindness for Saul； as not only to take his
death to heart； though he had been frequently in danger of losing
his life by his means； but to punish him that slew him； for when
David had said to him that he was become his own accuser； as the
very man who had slain the king； and when he had understood that
he was the son of an Amalekite； he commanded him to be slain。 He
also committed to writing some lamentations and funeral
commendations of Saul and Jonathan； which have continued to my
own age。
2。 Now when David had paid these honors to the king； he left off
his mourning； and inquired of God by the prophet which of the
cities of the tribe of Judah he would bestow upon him to dwell
in； who answered that he bestowed upon him Hebron。 So he left
Ziklag； and came to Hebron； and took with him his wives； who were
in number two； and his armed men； whereupon all the people of the
forementioned tribe came to him； and ordained him their king。 But
when he heard that the inhabitants of Jabesh…gilead had buried
Saul and his sons ＇honorably＇； he sent to them and commended
them； and took what they had done kindly； and promised to make
them amends for their care of those that were dead； and at the
same time he informed them that the tribe of Judah had chosen him
for their king。
3。 But as soon as Abner； the son of Ner； who was general of
Saul's army； and a very active man； and good…natured； knew that
the king； and Jonathan； and his two other sons； were fallen in
the battle； he made haste into the camp； and taking away with him
the remaining son of Saul； whose name was Ishbosheth； he passed
over to the land beyond Jordan； and ordained him the king of the
whole multitude； excepting the tribe of Judah； and made his royal
seat in a place called in our own language Mahanaim； but in the
language of the Grecians； The Camps； from whence Abner made haste
with a select body of soldiers； to fight with such of the tribe
of Judah as were disposed to it； for he was angry that this tribe
had set up David for their king。 But Joab； whose father was Suri；
and his mother Zeruiah； David's sister； who was general of
David's army； met him； according to David's appointment。 He had
with him his brethren； Abistiai and Asahel； as also all David's
armed men。 Now when he met Abner at a certain fountain； in the
city of Gibeon； he prepared to fight。 And when Abner said to him；
that he had a mind to know which of them had the more valiant
soldiers； it was agreed between them that twelve soldiers of each
side should fight together。 So those that were chosen out by both
the generals for this fight came between the two armies； and
throwing their lances one against the other； they drew their
swords； and catching one another by the head； they held one
another fast； and ran each other's swords into their sides and
groins； until they all； as it were by mutual agreement； perished
together。 When these were fallen down dead； the rest of the army
came to a sore battle； and Abner's men were beaten； and when they
were beaten； Joab did not leave off pursuing them； but he pressed
upon them； and excited the soldiers to follow them close； and not
to grow weary of killing them。 His brethren also pursued them
with great alacrity； especially the younger； Asahel； who was the
most eminent of them。 He was very famous for his swiftness of
foot； for he could not only be too hard for men； but is reported
to have overrun a horse； when they had a race together。 This
Asahel ran violently after Abner； and would not turn in the least
out of the straight way； either to the one side or to the other。
Hereupon Abner turned back； and attempted artfully to avoid his
violence。 Sometimes he bade him leave off the pursuit； and take
the armor of one of his soldiers； and sometimes； when he could
not persuade him so to do； he exhorted him to restrain himself；
an