The Second Book of Samuel
1
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!”