2 Samuel 1

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

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag;

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.

It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.”

And David said to him, From where come you? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

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 went the matter? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

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 that told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son be 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 that told him said, As I happened by chance on mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and, see, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, 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 answered him, 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.'

He said to me again, Stand, I pray you, on me, and slay me: for anguish is come on me, because my life is yet whole 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 stood on him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and 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.

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

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that 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 they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, 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 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 that told him, From where are you? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, 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, How were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

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 called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. And he smote him that he died.

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, Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.

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

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over 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.

(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19 “Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places: how are the mighty fallen!

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.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

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.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, on you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with 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 slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

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 lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter 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.

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed on your high places.

How are the mighty fallen in the middle of the battle! O Jonathan, you were slain in 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 distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been to me: your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

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