¹⁶ Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.

²⁰ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.^(A)

Mourning for the Pierced One

¹⁰ And I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that, when they look on the one^[a] whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly over him as one weeps over a firstborn.^(A)

⁶ For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”^(A)

²⁶ But the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because compassion for her son burned within her, “Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!” The other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.”^(A)

⁴ Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.

¹⁶ When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.^(A)

⁹ The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud.^(A)

⁴ When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept.