reth the man
to be slain who pretended he had killed Saul.

1:1. Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from
the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg.

1:2. And on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul's
camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he
came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored.

1:3. And David said to him: From whence comest thou? And he said to him:
I am fled out of the camp of Israel.

1:4. And David said unto him: What is the matter that is come to pass?
tell me: He said: The people are fled from the battle, and many of the
people are fallen and dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are
slain.

1:5. And David said to the young man that told him: How knowest thou
that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead?

1:6. And the young man that told him, said: I came by chance upon mount
Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen
drew nigh unto him,

1:7. And looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I
answered, Here am I.

1:8. And he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an
Amalecite.

1:9. And he said to me: Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come
upon me, and as yet my whole life is in me.

1:10. So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not
live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the
bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to thee, my
lord.

I killed him... This story of the young Amalecite was not true, as may
easily be proved by comparing it with the last chapter of the foregoing
book.

1:11. Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and likewise
all the men that were with him.

1:12. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, and
for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house
of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

1:13. And David said to the young man that told him: Whence art thou? He
answered: I am the son of a stranger of Amalec.

1:14. David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to
kill the Lord's anointed?

1:15. And David calling one of his servants, said: Go near and fall upon
him. And he struck him so that he died.

1:16. And David said to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own
mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord's
anointed.

1:17. An