2 Samuel 1:1-27
1 And after Saul’s death David, coming back from defeating the ʽAmalekites, stayed at Siklag two days.
2 And on the third day in came a man from the army, from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head; and on coming to David he threw himself down on the ground and did him reverence.
3 And David said to him “Where do you come from?” and he told him “From the Israelite army; I am one that got away.”
4 And David said to him “What was it that happened? tell me.” And he said that the people had been routed in the battle, and that many of the people had fallen and were dead; and that Saul and his sons were dead.
5 And David said to the young man who brought him the report “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 And the young man who brought the report said “I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboaʽ, and found Saul supporting himself on his spear, and the chariotry and cavalry overtaking him;
7 and he turned and looked behind him and saw me, and called to me, and I said ‘Here I am’;
8 and he said to me ‘Who are you?’ and I said to him ‘I am an ʽAmalekite.’
9 And he said to me ‘Come and stand over me and give me my death; for I have been taken with dizziness while my life was still all in me.’
10 So I stood, over him and gave him his death—for I knew he could not live after he had fallen—and took the diadem that was on his head and an armlet that was on his arm, and brought them to your highness.”
11 And David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men that were with him;
12 and they wailed and wept and fasted till evening over Saul and over his son Jonathan and over Jehovah’s people and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 And David said to the young man who had brought him the report “Where are you from?” and he said “I am the son of an ʽAmalekite immigrant.”
14 And David said to him “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to make away with Jehovah’s anointed?”
15 And David called one of the men and said “Come and cut him down”; and he stabbed him to death.
16 And David said to him “Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth testified against you, saying ‘It was I who gave Jehovah’s anointed his death.’”
17 And David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan:
18 * To teach the sons of Judah. N.B. Written in the Book of the Upright.
19 Israel, the antelope is speared on thy heights:how have champions fallen!
20 Do not tell of it in Gath, do not give out the news inthe streets of Ashkelon,lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21 * Mountains in Gilboaʽ, may there never be dew norrain on you, mountains of death;for champions’ shields were left uncared-forthere, Saul’s shield unanointed with oil.
22 From blood of the slain, from the fat of champions,Jonathan’s bow never drew back,and Saul’s spear came never empty home.
23 Saul and Jonathan, the loved and the winsome, werenot separated in their life and in their death;swifter than vultures they were, more stalwart than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, whoclothed you in scarlet with luxury,who topped your clothing with golden jewelry.
25 * How have champions fallen amid the battle!Jonathan is speared on thy heights.
26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; thouwast to me very winsome,wonderful in thy love to me beyond the love of women.
27 How have champions fallen and weapons of war been lost!
Footnotes
^ 1:18 Var. of Judah. Bow. N.B. Written
^ 1:21 Var. on you, and fields of contributions; for champions’
^ 1:25 Conj. Jonathan, in thy death my heart is thrust through.
