1 After the death of Saul, when David
had returned from the slaughter of the
Amalekites, and David had stayed two
days in Ziklag,
2 on the third day, behold,† a man came
out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes
torn and earth on his head. When he came
to David, he fell to the earth and showed
respect.
3 David said to him, “Where do you come
from?”
He said to him, “I have escaped out of the
camp of Israel.”
4 David said to him, “How did it go?
Please tell me.”
He answered, “The people have fled
from the battle, and many of the people
also have fallen and are dead. Saul and
Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5 David said to the young man who told
him, “How do you know that Saul and
Jonathan his son are dead?”
6 The young man who told him said, “As
I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa,
behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and
behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed
close behind him.
7 When he looked behind him, he saw me
and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8 He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered
him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me,
and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of
me because my life lingers in me.’
10 So I stood beside him and killed him,
because I was sure that he could not live
after he had fallen. I took the crown that
was on his head and the bracelet that was
on his arm, and have brought them here to
my lord.”
11 Then David took hold on his clothes
and tore them; and all the men who were
with him did likewise.
12 They mourned, 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 had fallen
by the sword.
13 David said to the young man who told
him, “Where are you from?”
He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner,
an Amalekite.”
14 David said to him, “Why were you not
afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy
the LORD’s anointed?”
15 David called one of the young men and
said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He
struck him so that he died.
16 David said to him, “Your blood be
on your head, for your mouth has testified
against you, saying, ‘I have slain the
LORD’s anointed.’ ”
17 David lamented with this lamentation
over Saul and over Jonathan his son
18 (and he commanded them to teach
the children of Judah the song of the bow;
behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
19 “Your glory, Israel, was slain on your
high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
20 Don’t tell it in Gath.
Don’t publish it in the streets of
Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised
triumph.
21 You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain on you, and
no fields of offerings;
for there the shield of the mighty was
defiled and cast away,
the shield of Saul was not anointed
with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back.
Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and
pleasant in their lives.
In their death, they were not divided.
They were swifter than eagles.
They were stronger than lions.
24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you delicately in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your
clothing.
25 How the mighty have fallen in the middle
of the battle!
Jonathan was slain on your high
places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother
Jonathan.
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was wonderful,
surpassing the love of women.
27 How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war have perished!”
† 1:2: “Behold”, from “ הִנּ͏ֵה ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
‡ 1:12: When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew יהוה“ ”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
