2 Samuel 1

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag.

2 on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.

Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.

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 to him, “I have fled from the camp 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. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

And David said to him: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”

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

And David said to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”

6 The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.

And the youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to him.

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

And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”

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

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

9 He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’

And he said to me: “Stand over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is in me.”

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

And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

11 Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.

Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who were with him.

12 They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and 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 evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

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

And David said to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”

14 David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?”

And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”

15 David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.

And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and he died.

16 David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’”

And David said to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’”

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

Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.

18 (and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

(And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:

19 “Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?

20 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may exult.

21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

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

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.

25 How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

How could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.

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

How could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”