2 Samuel 1

1 Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag.

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 Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.

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 to him, “I have fled from the camp 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: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”

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 youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”

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 youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to 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 turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”

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

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

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

9 And he said to me: “Stand over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is 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 And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, 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, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with 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 they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over 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 said to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”

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, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”

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

15 And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, 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 And David said to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’”

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 mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.

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

18 (And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:

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

19 The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?

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

20 Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may 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, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been 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 strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, 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, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, 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 over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.

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 could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?

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

26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.

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 could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”

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