together with his friends； and indeed he was so cast down with
these misfortunes； that at length tears themselves failed him。 He
was also in danger of being stoned to death by his companions；
who were greatly afflicted at the captivity of their wives and
children； for they laid the blame upon him of what had happened。
But when he had recovered himself out of his grief； and had
raised up his mind to God； he desired the high priest Abiathar to
put on his sacerdotal garments； and to inquire of God； and to
prophesy to him； whether God would grant； that if he pursued
after the Amalekites； he should overtake them； and save their
wives and their children； and avenge himself on the enemies。 And
when the high priest bade him to pursue after them； he marched
apace； with his four hundred men； after the enemy； and when he
was come to a certain brook called Besor； and had lighted upon
one that was wandering about； an Egyptian by birth； who was
almost dead with want and famine； （for he had continued wandering
about without food in the wilderness three days；） he first of all
gave him sustenance； both meat and drink； and thereby refreshed
him。 He then asked him to whom he belonged； and whence he came。
Whereupon the man told him he was an Egyptian by birth； and was
left behind by his master； because he was so sick and weak that
he could not follow him。 He also informed him that he was one of
those who had burnt and plundered； not only other parts of Judea；
but Ziklag itself also。 So David made use of him as a guide to
find oat the Amalekites； and when he had overtaken them； as they
lay scattered about on the ground； some at dinner； some
disordered； and entirely drunk with wine； and in the fruition of
their spoils and their prey； he fell upon them on the sudden； and
made a great slaughter among them； for they were naked； and
expected no such thing； but had betaken themselves to drinking
and feasting； and so they were all easily destroyed。 Now some of
them that were overtaken as they lay at the table were slain in
that posture； and their blood brought up with it their meat and
their drink。 They slew others of them as they were drinking to
one another in their cups； and some of them when their full
bellies had made them fall asleep； and for so many as had time to
put on their armor； they slew them with the sword； with no less
case than they did those that were naked； and for the partisans
of David； they continued also the slaughter from the first hour
of the day to the evening； so that there were； not above four
hundred of the Amalekites left； and they only escaped by getting
upon their dromedaries and camels。 Accordingly David recovered
not only all the other spoils which the enemy had carried away；
but his wives also； and the wives of his companions。 But when
they were come to the place where they had left the two hundred
men； which were not able to follow them； but were left to take
care of the stuff； the four hundred men did not think fit to
divide among them any other parts of what they had gotten； or of
the prey； since they did not accompany them； but pretended to be
feeble； and did not follow them in pursuit of the enemy； but said
they should be contented to have safely recovered their wives；
yet did David pronounce that this opinion of theirs was evil and
unjust； and that when God had granted them such a favor； that
they had avenged themselves on their enemies； and had recovered
all that belonged to themselves； they should make an equal
distribution of what they had gotten to all； because the rest had
tarried behind to guard their stuff； and from that time this law
obtained among them； that those who guarded the stuff； should
receive an equal share with those that fought in the battle。 Now
when David was come to Ziklag； he sent portions of the spoils to
all that had been familiar with him； and to his friends in the
tribe of Judah。 And thus ended the affairs of the plundering of
Ziklag； and of the slaughter of the Amalekites。
7。 Now upon the Philistines joining battle； there followed a
sharp engagement； and the Philistine； became the conquerors； and
slew a great number of their enemies； but Saul the king of
Israel； and his sons； fought courageously； and with the utmost
alacrity； as knowing that their entire glory lay in nothing else
but dying honorably； and exposing themselves to the utmost danger
from the enemy （for they had nothing else to hope for）； so they
brought upon themselves the whole power of the enemy； till they
were encompassed round and slain； but not before they had killed
many of the Philistines Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan； and
Abinadab； and Malchisua； and when these were slain the multitude
of the Hebrews were put to flight； and all was disorder； and
confusion； and slaughter； upon the Philistines pressing in upon
them。 But Saul himself fled； having a strong body of soldiers
about him； and upon the Philistines sending after them those that
threw javelins and shot arrows； he lost all his company except a
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 Sa