2 Samuel 1

1 It happened after the death of Saul, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and he stayed two days in Ziklag.

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

2 It happened on the third day, that, look, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and paid homage.

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.

3 David said to him, "Where do you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped out of the camp of Israel."

And David said to him, Where have you come from? And he said, I have come in flight from the tents 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; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."

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.

5 David said to the young man who had told him this, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"

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

6 Then the young man replied, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning on his spear. And look, the chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him.

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.

7 When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

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

8 He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

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

9 He said to me, 'Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, yet there is life in me still.'

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.

10 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. Then 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."

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.

11 Then David grabbed his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.

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

12 They mourned, and 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.

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.

13 David said to the young man who had told him, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite."

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.

14 David said to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"

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?

15 David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him." He struck him, so that he died.

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.

16 David said to him, "Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.'"

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.

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

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

18 and said it should be taught to the people of Judah. Look, it is written in the book of Jashar.

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

19 "Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places. How the mighty have fallen.

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

20 Do not tell it in Gath. Do not publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised celebrate.

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.

21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was dishonored. The shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

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.

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

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.

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely, not separated. Lovely in their life, and in their death they were not separated. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

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.

24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

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.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle. Jonathan is slain on your high places.

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

26 I grieve for you, my brother. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love for me was a wonder, more than the love of women.

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.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished."

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