2 Samuel 1

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

After Saul died, David [and the men who were with him] returned to Ziklag [town] after defeating the descendants of Amalek. They stayed 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, unexpectedly a man arrived there who had come from where Saul’s army was camped. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head [to show that he was grieving]. He came to David, and prostrated himself on the ground [in front of David to show respect for him].

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

David asked him, “Where have you come from?” The man replied, “I escaped from where the Israeli army had been camped.”

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.”

David asked him, “What happened? Tell me [about the battle]!” The man replied, “The Israeli soldiers ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. And Saul and his son Jonathan (are dead/were also killed).”

5 David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

David said to the young man, “How do you know 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.

The young man replied, “It happened that I was on Gilboa Mountain [where the battle occurred], and I saw Saul, leaning on his spear. The [enemy] chariots and their drivers had come very close to Saul.

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

Saul turned around and saw me, and he called out to me. I answered him and said, ‘What do you want me to do?’

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

He replied, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I am a descendant of Amalek.’

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 over here and kill me. I am still alive, but I am enduring a lot of pain.’

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 went to him and killed him, because I knew that he was wounded very badly and would (not continue to live/soon die). I took the crown that was on his head and the band/bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them to you.”

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

Then David and all the men who were with him tore their clothes [to show that they were very sad].

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.

They mourned for Saul and his son Jonathan, and they cried and (fasted/abstained from eating food) until it was evening. They also mourned for all the army of Yahweh, and for all the Israeli people, because many of their soldiers had been killed in the battle [MTY].

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.”

Then David asked the young man who had told him [about the battle], “Where are you from?” He replied, “My father is a descendant of Amalek, but we live in Israel.”

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

David asked him, “(Why were you not afraid [that you would be punished if you] killed Saul, whom Yahweh had appointed [MTY] [to be the king]?/You should have been afraid [that you would be punished if you] killed Saul, whom Yahweh had appointed [MTY] [to be the king].) [RHQ]

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.

You yourself said, ‘I killed the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king.’ So you have caused yourself to be guilty [MTY] of causing your own death!” Then David summoned one of his soldiers and said to him, “Kill him!” So the soldier killed him by striking him [with a sword].

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.'”

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

Then David composed/wrote this sad song about Saul and Jonathan,

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 commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. [The song is called] ‘The Bow [and Arrow]’ and it has been written in the Book of Jashar:

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

“You Israeli people, your glorious [MTY] leaders have been killed on the mountains! [It is very sad that] those mighty men have died!

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.

“Do not tell it [to our enemies in the Philistia area]; do not tell to the people who live in Gath [city] what happened; do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon [city], because if you tell them, [even] the women in that area will be happy; do not allow those (pagan women/women who do not know God) to 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.

I hope/desire that there will be no rain or dew on the mountains of [the] Gilboa [area] [APO], and that no grain will grow in the fields there, because there the shield of Saul, the mighty [king], fell on the ground. No one rubbed [olive] oil on Saul’s shield;

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.

instead, it was stained with the blood of those whom he had killed, and the fat of mighty enemy soldiers was smeared on it. Jonathan [PRS] did not retreat carrying his bow [and arrows], and Saul always [defeated his enemies when he fought them] with his sword. [PRS, LIT]

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 they pleased many people. They were together [LIT] while they lived and when they died. [In battles] they were swifter than eagles and 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 Israeli women, cry about Saul; He provided beautiful scarlet/red clothes for you and he gave you gold ornaments/jewelry to fasten on those clothes.

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

“[It is very sad that] this mighty soldier has died! Jonathan has been killed on the mountains/hills.

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.

Jonathan, my dear friend, I grieve for you; you were very dear to me. You loved me in a wonderful manner; it was better than the way that a woman loves [her husband and her children].

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

“It is very sad that those mighty men have died, and their weapons are now abandoned!