2 Samuel 1

1 Now after the death of Saul, when David, having come back from the destruction of the Amalekites, had been in Ziklag for two days;

And it came to pass after Saul was dead, that David returned from smiting Amalec, and David abode two days in Sekelac.

2 On the third day a man came from Saul's tents, with his clothing out of order and earth on his head: and when he came to David, he went down on the earth and gave him honour.

And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came from the camp, from the people of Saul, and his garments were rent, and earth [was] upon his head: and it came to pass when he went in to David, that he fell upon the earth, and did obeisance to him.

3 And David said to him, Where have you come from? And he said, I have come in flight from the tents of Israel.

And David said to him, Whence comest thou? and he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.

4 And David said to him, How did things go? Give me the news. And in answer he said, The people have gone in flight from the fight, and a great number of them are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.

And David said to him, What [is] the matter? tell me. And he said, The people fled out of the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

5 And David said to the young man who gave him the news, Why are you certain that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?

And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

6 And the young man said, I came by chance to Mount Gilboa, and I saw Saul supporting himself on his spear; and the war-carriages and horsemen overtook him.

And the young man that brought the tidings, said to him, I happened accidentally to be upon mount Gelbue; and, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, behold, the chariots and captains of horse pressed hard upon him.

7 And looking back, he saw me and gave a cry to me. And answering him I said, Here am I.

And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, [here am] I.

8 And he said to me, Who are you? And I said, I am an Amalekite.

And he said to me, Who art thou? and I said, I am an Amalekite.

9 Then he said to me, Come here to my side, and put me to death, for the pain of death has me in its grip but my life is still strong in me.

And he said to me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me, for a dreadful darkness has come upon me, for all my life [is] in me.

10 So I put my foot on him and gave him his death-blow, because I was certain that he would not go on living after his fall: and I took the crown from his head and the band from his arm, and I have them here for my lord.

So I stood over him and slew him, because I knew he would not live after he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them hither to my lord.

11 Then David gave way to bitter grief, and so did all the men who were with him:

And David laid hold of his garments, and rent them; and all the men who were with him rent their garments.

12 And till evening they gave themselves to sorrow and weeping, and took no food, weeping for Saul and for Jonathan, his son, and for the people of the Lord and for the men of Israel; because they had come to their end by the sword.

And they lamented, and wept, and fasted till evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Juda, and for the house of Israel, because they were smitten with the sword.

13 And David said to the young man who had given him the news, Where do you come from? And he said, I am the son of a man from a strange land; I am an Amalekite.

And David said to the young man who brought the tidings to him, Whence art thou? and he said, I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.

14 And David said to him, Had you no fear of stretching out your hand to put to death the one marked with the holy oil?

And David said to him, How was it thou wast not afraid to lift thy hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?

15 And David sent for one of his young men and said, Go near and put an end to him. And he put him to death.

And David called one of his young men, and said, Go and fall upon him: and he smote him, and he died.

16 And David said to him, May your blood be on your head; for your mouth has given witness against you, saying, I have put to death the man marked with the holy oil.

And David said to him, Thy blood [be] upon thine own head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain the anointed of the Lord.

17 Then David made this song of grief for Saul and Jonathan, his son:

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

18 (It is recorded in the book of Jashar for teaching to the sons of Judah) and he said:

And he gave orders to teach it the sons of Juda: behold, it is written in the book of Right.

19 The glory, O Israel, is dead on your high places! How have the great ones been made low!

Set up a pillar, O Israel, for the slain that died upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Give no news of it in Gath, let it not be said in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad, the daughters of men without circumcision will be uplifted in joy.

Tell it not in Geth, and tell it not as glad tidings in the streets of Ascalon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, you fields of death: for there the arms of the strong have been shamed, the arms of Saul, as if he had not been marked with the holy oil.

Ye mountains of Gelbue, let not dew no rain descend upon you, nor fields of first-fruits [be upon you], for there the shield of the mighty ones has been grievously assailed; the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the dead, from the fat of the strong, the bow of Jonathan was not turned back, the sword of Saul did not come back unused.

From the blood of the slain, and from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan returned not empty; and the sword of Saul turned not back empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan were loved and pleasing; in their lives and in their death they were not parted; they went more quickly than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely [were they] in their life, and in their death they were not divided: [they were] swifter than eagles, and they were stronger than lions.

24 O daughters of Israel, have sorrow for Saul, by whom you were delicately clothed in robes of red, with ornaments of gold on your dresses.

Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you with scarlet together with your adorning, who added golden ornaments to your apparel.

25 How have the great ones been made low in the fight! Jonathan is dead on your high places.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, even the slain ones upon thy high places!

26 I am full of grief for you, my brother Jonathan: very dear have you been to me: your love for me was a wonder, greater than the love of women.

I am grieved for thee, my brother Jonathan; thou wast very lovely to me; thy love to me was wonderful beyond the love of women.

27 How have the great ones been made low, and the arms of war broken!

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!