2 Samuel 1

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from smiting the 'Amalekites, that David abode in Ziklag two days.

2 On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.

3 “Where have you come from?” David asked. “I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied.

And David said unto him, From where comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

And David said unto him, What took place there? I pray thee, tell me. And he said, That the people are fled from the battle, and that also many of the people are fallen and have died; and that also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

5 Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul is dead as also Jonathan his son?

6 “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.

And the young man that told him said, I happened entirely by chance to be upon mount Gilboa', when, behold, there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen had overtaken him.

7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’

And he turned round, and he saw me, and called unto me, And I said, Here am I.

8 ‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

And he said unto me, Who art thou! And I answered him, An 'Amalekite am I.

9 Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’

And he said unto me, Place thyself, I pray thee, by me, and slay me; for a mortal tremor hath seized on me, although my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

So I placed myself by him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them unto my lord hither.

11 Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.

David thereupon took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and [so did] likewise all the men that were with him:

12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

And they lamented, and wept, and fasted until the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, The son of a stranger, an 'Amalekite, am I.

14 So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

15 Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.

And David called one of the young men, and said, Come near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16 For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

And David said unto him, Thy blood is upon thy own head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I myself have slain the Lord's anointed.

17 Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

18 and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:

And he said, That the children of Judah should be taught the bow; behold it is written in the book of Yashar.

19 “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

O beauty of Israel! upon the high places slain: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; that the daughters of the Philistines may not be glad, that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not rejoice.

21 O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

O mountains of Gilboa', no dew, nor rain be upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was stained, the shield of Saul, as though it had not been anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned never back, and the sword of Saul never returned empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the dear in their lives, were even in their death not divided: more than eagles were they swift, more than lions were they strong.

24 O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.

O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, on thy high places slain.

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very dear hast thou been unto me: wonderful was thy love for me, passing the love of women.

27 How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!”

How are the mighty fallen, and lost the instruments of war!