his weapons, and sent them abroad into the land of the Philistines, to proclaim in the house of their idols, and among the people.

And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth, but they hanged his body upon the wall of Bethsan.

And they that were at Jabesh in Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12. And they arose, which were men of valour, and went all night, and took the dead bodies of Saul and of his sons from the wall of Bethsan, and brought them to Jabesh, and burned them there.

And they took their bones, and buried them under the tree of Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
Text of the unrevised Luther Bible 1545:
DeepL English Translation
[Processed by BackToLuther. German text published here.]
The Second Book of Samuel (2 Samuel) ^
Chapter 1
David’s song of mourning over the death of Saul and Jonathan.

After the death of Saul, when David was come again from the battle of Amalek, and abode two days in Ziklag,

And, behold, on the third day there came a man of the host of Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground, and worshipped.

And David said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the host of Israel am I escaped.

And David said unto him, Tell me how it is. And he said, The people are fled from the battle, and much people are fallen: and Saul is dead, and Jonathan his son.

And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

And the young man that told him said: I came to mount Gilboa, and, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear, and the chariots and horsemen pursued after him.

And he turned, and saw me, and called unto me. And I said, Here am I.

And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I said unto him, I am an Amalekite.

And he said unto me, Come near me, and slay me: for I am afflicted round about, and my life is yet in me.

And I came unto him, and slew him; for I knew well that he could not live after his fall: and I took the crown from off his head, and the bracelet from off his arm, and brought it unto thee, my lord.

And David took hold of his garments, and rent them, and all the men that were with him.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, over Saul, and over Jonathan his son, and over the LORD’S people, and over the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said: I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

And David said unto him, How art thou not afraid to lay thine hand upon the LORD’S
anointed to destroy him?

And David said unto one of his young men, Come near, and smite him. And he smote him, and he died.

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head: for thy mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the LORD’S anointed.

And David lamented this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son.

And commanded that the children of Judah should be taught the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of the righteous:

The noblest of Israel are slain in thy high places. How are the mighty fallen!

Declare it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the street of Asklon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised be glad.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, neither let
there be any ground for heave offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is cut off, the shield of Saul, as though it were not anointed with oil.

The bow of Jonathan hath never failed, and the sword of Saul hath never returned empty of the blood of the slain, and of the fat of the mighty.

Saul and Jonathan, lovely and sweet in their life, are not parted in death; lighter than eagles, and stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you cleanly with raisin paint, and adorned you with jewels of gold upon your garments.

How are the mighty fallen in the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.

I am sorry for thee, my brother Jonathan. I have had great joy and delight in thee; thy love hath been more strange unto me than woman’s love is.

How have the heroes fallen, and the valiant perished!
(2 Samuel)
Chapter 2
Anointing of David as king. Ishbosheth’s rebellion.

And it came to pass after this, that David asked the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither? And he said, To Hebron.

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

And David brought up the men that were with him, every man with his household, and dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

And the men of Judah came and anointed David there king over the house of Judah. And it was told David that they of Jabesh in Gilead had buried Saul,

And he sent messengers unto them, saying, Blessed be ye unto the LORD, that ye have shewed such mercy unto your LORD Saul, and have buried him.

The LORD therefore have mercy upon you, and faithfulness; and I will do you good also, because ye have done these things.

Let your hands therefore be stayed, and be joyful: for your lord Saul is dead, and the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

And Abner the son of Ner, which was captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth Saul’s son, and brought him to Mahanaim;

And made him king over Gilead, and over Asuri, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

And 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 kept David.

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

And Abner the son of Ner went out of the army to Gibeon, he and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul;

And Joab the son of Zeruiah went out with the servants of David, and met together at the pool of Gibeon, and lay down these on this side of the pool, and those on that side.

And Abner said unto Joab, Let the lads arise, and play before us. And Joab said, It is well.

And they arose, and went their number, twelve of Benjamin, for the part of Ishbosheth Saul’s son, and twelve of the servants of David.

And every man took the other by the head, and thrust in his side his sword, and fell together.
Wherefore the place is called: Helkath-hazurim, which is at Gibeon.

And there was a very sore battle that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were smitten before the servants of David.

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was light of foot, as a deer in the field;

And he pursued after Abner, and departed not to the right hand or to the left hand of Abner.

And Abner turned, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he said, Yea.

And Abner said unto him, Lift thee up either on thy right hand, or on thy left; and take for thee one of the lads, and take him his armour. But Asahel would not depart from him.

And Abner said unto Asahel, Lift thee up from me. Why wilt thou that I should smite thee to the ground? and how shall I lift up my face before Joab thy brother?

But he refused to depart. And Abner thrust him behind him with a spear into his belly, and the spear went out behind him: and he fell there, and died before him. And whosoever came to the place where Asahel lay dead stood still.

And Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner until the going down of the sun. And they came to the hill of Amma, which is before Giah, by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon, 25. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became a company, and stood upon the top of a hill.

And Abner called unto Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour without end? Knowest thou not that hereafter there shall be more mourning? How long wilt thou not tell the people, that they may depart from their brethren?

And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst said so this morning, the people would have desisted every man from his brother.

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

And Abner and his men went all that night over the plain, and passed over Jordan, and walked through all Bithron, and came into the camp.

And Joab turned from Abner, and gathered all the people together: and there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men, and Asahel.

But the servants of David had smitten among Benjamin and the men of Abner, that three hundred and threescore men were left dead.

And they raised up Asahel, and buried him in his father’s sepulchre in Bethlehem: and Joab and his men went all night, that the light might break upon them. And the light was kindled in Hebron.
(2 Samuel)
Chapter 3
Abner killed by Joab.

And there was a long battle