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;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 the young men, and said, Come near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that 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 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 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 said, That the children of Judah should be taught the bow; behold it is written in the book of Yashar.

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

O beauty of Israel! upon the high places slain: 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 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, 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.

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

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 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, on thy high places slain.

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

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