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 smiting the 'Amalekites, that David abode in Ziklag 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.

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 David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped 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 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 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 David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son 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 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, 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 Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

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?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

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

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.'

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

David thereupon took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and [so did] 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 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 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 unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, The son of a stranger, an 'Amalekite, am I.

14 David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to kill Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?”

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy 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, Come near, and fall upon 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 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 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.

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

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

O beauty of Israel! upon the high places slain: 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 Ashkelon; that the daughters of the Philistines may not be glad, that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not rejoice.

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', 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 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 never back, and the sword of Saul never returned 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, 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 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, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses, who put on ornaments of gold upon 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 midst of the battle! O Jonathan, on thy high places slain.

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 thee, my brother Jonathan; very dear hast thou been unto me: wonderful was thy love for me, passing the love of women.

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

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