2 Samuel 1

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days.

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 On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he came to David he lay facedown on the ground and prostrated himself.

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 did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped from 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, “Please tell me how things went.” He answered, “The people fled from the battle. Many have fallen and many are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”

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, “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 The young man replied, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there Saul was leaning on his spear, and chariots and riders were about to catch up with 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 Saul turned around and saw me and called out 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 over me and kill me, for great suffering has taken hold of me, but life is still in me.'

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 over him and killed him, because I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and brought them here to you, my master.”

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 tore his clothes, 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, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of Yahweh, 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, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner in the land, 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, “Why were you not afraid to kill Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?”

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 and kill him.” So that man went and struck him down, and the Amalekite 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 Then David said to the dead Amalekite, “Your blood is on your head because your own mouth has testified against you and said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed king.'”

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 Then David sung this funeral song about Saul and Jonathan his son.

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

18 He commanded the people to teach this Song of the Bow to the sons of Judah, which has been 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 dead, killed 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 proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the daughters of the Philistines may not rejoice, so that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not 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 Mountains of Gilboa, let there not be dew or rain on you, nor fields giving grain for offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled. The shield of Saul is 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 those who have been killed, from the bodies of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul 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 were loved and gracious in 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 in scarlet as well as jewels, and 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 the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed on your high places.

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

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, exceeding 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 the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

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