2 Samuel 1
David Learns About Saul’s Death
1 Now Saul was dead. After David had defeated the Amalekites, he returned to Ziklag and stayed there two days.
2 On the third day a young man from Saul’s camp came to Ziklag. To show his sadness, his clothes were torn and he had dirt on his head. He came and bowed facedown on the ground before David.
3 David asked him, “Where did you come from?”
The man answered, “I escaped from the Israelite camp.”
4 David asked him, “What happened? Please tell me!”
The man answered, “The people have run away from the battle, and many of them have fallen and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also.”
5 David asked him, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The Philistine chariots and the men riding in them were coming closer to Saul.
7 When he looked back and saw me, he called to me. I answered him, ‘Here I am!’
8 “Then Saul asked me, ‘Who are you?’
“I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 “Then Saul said to me, ‘Please come here and kill me. I am badly hurt and am almost dead already.’
10 “So I went over and killed him. He had been hurt so badly I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my master.”
11 Then David tore his clothes to show his sorrow, and all the men with him did also.
12 They were very sad and cried and fasted until evening. They cried for Saul and his son Jonathan and for all the people of the Lord and for all the Israelites who had died in the battle.
David Orders the Amalekite Killed
13 David asked the young man who brought the report, “Where are you from?”
The young man answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”
14 David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s appointed king?”
15 Then David called one of his men and told him, “Go! Kill the Amalekite!” So the Israelite killed him.
16 David had said to the Amalekite, “You are responsible for your own death. You confessed by saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s appointed king.’ ”
David’s Song About Saul and Jonathan
17 David sang a funeral song about Saul and his son Jonathan,
18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this song. It is called “The Bow,” and it is written in the Book of Jashar:
19 “Israel, your leaders have been killed on the hills. How the mighty have fallen in battle!
20 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t announce it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the Philistine women will be happy. The daughters of the Philistines will rejoice.
21 “May there be no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa, and may their fields produce no grain,
because there the mighty warrior’s shield was dishonored. Saul’s shield will no longer be rubbed with oil.
22 Jonathan’s bow did not fail to kill many soldiers.
Saul’s sword did not fail to wound many strong men.
23 “We loved Saul and Jonathan and enjoyed them while they lived. They are together even in death.
They were faster than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
24 “You daughters of Israel, cry for Saul. Saul clothed you with red dresses and put gold decorations on them.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan is dead on Gilboa’s hills.
26 I cry for you, my brother Jonathan. I enjoyed your friendship so much.
Your love to me was wonderful, better than the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war are gone.”
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!