2 Samuel 1

1-2 Shortly after Saul died, David returned to Ziklag from his rout of the Amalekites. Three days later a man showed up unannounced from Saul's army camp.

3  Disheveled and obviously in mourning, he fell to his knees in respect before David. David asked, "What brings you here?"
He answered, "I've just escaped from the camp of Israel."

4  "So what happened?" said David. "What's the news?"
He said, "The Israelites have fled the battlefield, leaving a lot of their dead comrades behind. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead."

5  David pressed the young soldier for details: "How do you know for sure that Saul and Jonathan are dead?"

6-8  "I just happened by Mount Gilboa and came on Saul, badly wounded and leaning on his spear, with enemy chariots and horsemen bearing down hard on him. He looked behind him, saw me, and called me to him. 'Yes sir,' I said, 'at your service.' He asked me who I was, and I told him, 'I'm an Amalekite.'"

9  "Come here," he said, "and put me out of my misery. I'm nearly dead already, but my life hangs on."

10  "So I did what he asked—I killed him. I knew he wouldn't last much longer anyway. I removed his royal headband and bracelet, and have brought them to my master. Here they are."

11-12  In lament, David ripped his clothes to ribbons. All the men with him did the same. They wept and fasted the rest of the day, grieving the death of Saul and his son Jonathan, and also the army of God and the nation Israel, victims in a failed battle.

13  Then David spoke to the young soldier who had brought the report: "Who are you, anyway?"
"I'm from an immigrant family—an Amalekite."

14-15  "Do you mean to say," said David, "that you weren't afraid to up and kill God's anointed king?" Right then he ordered one of his soldiers, "Strike him dead!" The soldier struck him, and he died.

16  "You asked for it," David told him. "You sealed your death sentence when you said you killed God's anointed king."

17-18  Then David sang this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, and gave orders that everyone in Judah learn it by heart. Yes, it's even inscribed in The Book of Jashar.19-21 Oh, oh, Gazelles of Israel, struck down on your hills, the mighty warriors—fallen, fallen! Don't announce it in the city of Gath, don't post the news in the streets of Ashkelon. Don't give those coarse Philistine girls one more excuse for a drunken party! No more dew or rain for you, hills of Gilboa, and not a drop from springs and wells, For there the warriors' shields were dragged through the mud, Saul's shield left there to rot.22 Jonathan's bow was bold— the bigger they were the harder they fell. Saul's sword was fearless— once out of the scabbard, nothing could stop it.23 Saul and Jonathan—beloved, beautiful! Together in life, together in death. Swifter than plummeting eagles, stronger than proud lions.24-25 Women of Israel, weep for Saul. He dressed you in finest cottons and silks, spared no expense in making you elegant. The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen in the middle of the fight! Jonathan—struck down on your hills!26 O my dear brother Jonathan, I'm crushed by your death. Your friendship was a miracle-wonder, love far exceeding anything I've known— or ever hope to know.27 The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen. And the arms of war broken to bits.

2 Samuel 1

David Learns of the Deaths of Saul and Jonathan

1 After the death of Saul,s when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites,s he stayed at Ziklags for two days.

2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.s When he approached David, the mant threw himself to the ground.t
3 David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”4 David inquired, “How were things going?t Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle and many of themt fell dead.t Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!”5 David said to the young mant who was telling him this, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”s6 The young man who was telling him thiss said, “I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him.7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, ‘Here I am!’8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’ms an Amalekite.’9 He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off!t I’m very dizzy,t even though I’m still alive.’t

10 So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn’t live in such a condition.t Then I took the crown which was on his head and thes bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.”s
11 David then grabbed his own clothess and tore them, as did all the men who were with him.

12 They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.
13 David said to the young man who told this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.”t14 David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”15 Then David called one of the soldierst and said, “Come here and strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died.

16 David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the Lord’s anointed to death.’”

David’s Tribute to Saul and Jonathan

17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.

18 (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.”t Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.)s

19 The beautys of Israel lies slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!

20 Don’t report it in Gath,
don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,s
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!

21 O mountains of Gilboa,
may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings!s
For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled;t
the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.s

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors,
the bow of Jonathan was not turned away.
The sword of Saul never returnedt empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly lovedt during their lives,
and not even in their deaths were they separated.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlets as well as jewelry,
who put gold jewelry on your clothes.

25 How the warriors have fallen
in the midst of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your high places!

26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan!
You were very dear to me.
Your love was more special to me than the love of women.

27 How the warriors have fallen!
The weapons of wars are destroyed!