own. And when David came again home and saw the
town burned he pursued after, and by the conveying of one of them of
Amalek that was left by the way sick, for to have his life he brought
David upon the host of Amalek whereas they sat and ate and drank. And
David smote on them with his meiny [company] and slew down all that he
found, and rescued his wives and all the good that they had taken, and
took much more of them. And when he was come to Ziklag, the third day
after there came one from the host of Saul, and told to David how that
Israel had lost the battle, and how they were fled, and how Saul the
king and Jonathan his son were slain. David said to the young man that
brought these tidings: How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan be dead?
And he answered it was so by adventure that I came upon the mount of
Gilboa, and Saul rested upon his spear, and the horsemen and the
chariots of the Philistines approached to himward, and he looked behind
him and saw me, and called me, and said to me: Who art thou? And I said
I am an Amalekite, and then he said: Stand upon me and slay me, for I am
full of anguish, and yet my soul is in me. And I then standing on him
slew him, knowing well that he might not live after the ruin. And I took
the diadem from his head, and the armylle from his arm, which I have
brought hither to thee, my lord. David took and rent his vestment, and
all the men that were with him, and wailed and sorrowed much the death
of Saul and Jonathan and of all the men of Israel, and fasted that day
till even. And David said to the young man: Of whence art thou? And he
said: I am the son of an Amalekite. And David said to him: Why dreadedst
thou not to put thy hand forth to slay him that is anointed of God?
David called one of his men, and bade him slay him. And he smote him and
slew him. And David said: Thy blood be on thy head! thine own mouth hath
spoken against thee, saying: I have slain Saul which was king anointed
of our Lord.

David sorrowed and bewailed much the death of Saul and of Jonathan.
After this David counselled with our Lord and demanded if he should go
in to one of the cities of Judah. And our Lord bade him go, and he asked
whither, and our Lord said: Into Hebron. Then David took his two wives
and all the men that were with him, every each with his household, and
dwelled in the towns of Hebron. And thither came the men of Judah and
anointed David king to reign upon the tribe of Judah. And Abner princ