2 Samuel 1:1-27
1 And it came about after Saul’s death, and when David himself had returned from striking down the A·malʹek·ites,*+ that David continued to dwell at Zikʹlag+ two days.
2 And it came about on the third day that, look! a man+ was coming from the camp, from Saul, with his garments ripped apart+ and dirt upon his head;+ and it came about that when he came to David, he at once fell down to the earth+ and prostrated himself.
3 And David proceeded to say to him: “Where do you come from?” at which he said to him: “From the camp of Israel I have escaped.”
4 And David went on to say to him: “How did the matter turn out? Tell me, please.” To this he said: “The people have fled from the battle and also many of the people have fallen so that they died,+ and even Saul+ and Jonʹa·than+ his son have died.”
5 Then David said to the young man that was telling him: “How do you really know that Saul has died and also Jonʹa·than his son?”+
6 At this the young man that was telling him said: “I unexpectedly chanced to be on Mount Gil·boʹa,+ and there was Saul supporting himself upon his spear;+ and, look! the charioteers* and the mounted men had caught up with him.+
7 When he turned back and saw me, then he called me, and I said, ‘Here I am!’
8 And he went on to say to me, ‘Who are you?’ at which I said to him, ‘I am an A·malʹek·ite.’+
9 Then he said, ‘Stand, please, over me and definitely put me to death, for the cramp* has seized me, because all my soul+ is yet in me.’
10 So I stood over him and definitely put him to death,+ for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the diadem+ that was upon his head and the bracelet that was upon his arm, that I might bring them to my lord here.”
11 At this David took hold of his garments and ripped them apart,+ and so did all the men also that were with him.
12 And they began to wail and weep+ and fast+ until the evening over Saul and over Jonʹa·than his son and over the people of Jehovah* and over the house of Israel,+ because they had fallen by the sword.
13 David now said to the young man that was telling him: “Where are you from?” to which he said: “I am the son of an alien resident, an A·malʹek·ite.”+
14 Then David said to him: “How was it that you did not fear+ to thrust your hand out to bring the anointed*+ of Jehovah to ruin?”
15 With that David called one of the young men and said: “Go near. Smite him.” Accordingly he struck him down so that he died.+
16 David then said to him: “The bloodguilt for you* be upon your own head,+ because your own mouth has testified against you,+ saying, ‘I myself definitely put the anointed of Jehovah to death.’”+
17 And David proceeded to chant this dirge+ over Saul and Jonʹa·than his son+
18 and to say that the sons of Judah+ should be taught “The Bow.”+ Look! It is written in the book of Jaʹshar:*+
19 “The beauty, O Israel, is slain upon your high places.+How have the mighty men fallen!
20 Do not, YOU people, tell it in Gath;+Do not announce it in the streets of Ashʹke·lon,+For fear that the daughters of the Phi·lisʹtines may rejoice,For fear that the daughters of the uncircumcised men may exult.+
21 YOU mountains of Gil·boʹa,+ let no dew, let no rain be upon YOU, nor let there be fields of holy contributions;*+Because there the shield of mighty ones was befouled,*The shield of Saul, so that there was none anointed with oil.+
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of mighty ones,The bow of Jonʹa·than did not turn back,+And the sword of Saul would not return without success.+
23 Saul and Jonʹa·than,+ the lovable ones and the pleasant ones during their life,And in their death they were not separated.+Swifter than the eagles they were,+Mightier than the lions* they were.+
24 YOU daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,Who clothed YOU in scarlet with finery,Who put ornaments of gold upon YOUR clothing.+
25 How have the mighty ones fallen in the midst of the battle!+Jonʹa·than slain upon your high places!+
26 I am distressed over you, my brother Jonʹa·than,Very pleasant you were to me.+More wonderful was your love to me than the love from women.+
27 How have the mighty ones fallen+And the weapons of war perished!”
Footnotes
^ “The Amalekites,” Sy and five Heb. mss; MLXXVg, “Amalek.”
^ Or, “chariots.”
^ “Giddiness,” Sy; meaning is uncertain in M.
^ “Jehovah,” MSyVg; LXX, “Judah.”
^ “Anointed of.” Heb., meshiʹach; Gr., khri·stonʹ; Syr., lam·shi·cheh; Lat., chriʹstum.
^ Lit., “Your bloods.”
^ Or, “the Upright One.”
^ “Fields of firstfruits,” LXXVg.
^ Or, “rejected with loathing.”
^ “Than the lions.” Heb., me·ʼara·yohthʹ, African lions.
