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Rh :Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
 * Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
 * Ye mountains of Gilboa,
 * Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,
 * Neither fields of choice fruits;
 * For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away,
 * The shield of Saul, 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, the lovely and the pleasant
 * In their lives, even 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, with other delights,
 * Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
 * How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!


 * Jonathan upon thy high places is slain!
 * I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan;
 * Very pleasant hast thou been unto me;
 * Wonderful was thy love to me,
 * Passing the love of women.
 * How are the mighty fallen,
 * And the weapons of war perished!

And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the, saying: 'Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?' And the said unto him: 'Go up.' And David said: 'Whither shall I go up?' And He said: 'Unto Hebron.' So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and they there anointed David king over the house of Judah.

And they told David, saying: 'The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.' And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them: 'Blessed be ye of the, that ye have shown this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the show kindness and truth unto you; and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be ye valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.'

Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth 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. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to