2 SamuelChapter 1

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¹Saul was now dead. David came back from killing the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days. ²On the third day a man came from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn, and he had dust on his head. He came to David and bowed down to the ground to honor him. ³"Where did you come from?" David asked. "I got away from Israel's camp," the man said. ⁴"What happened?" David asked. "Please tell me." "The troops ran away from the battle," the man said. "Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too." ⁵Then David spoke to the young man who brought him the news. "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" he asked. ⁶"I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa," he said. "And there was Saul, leaning on his spear. The chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him. ⁷He turned around and saw me. He called out to me. I said, 'Here I am!' ⁸He asked, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I am an Amalekite.' ⁹Then he begged me, 'Stand over me and kill me. I am in terrible pain, but I am still alive.' ¹⁰So I stood over him and killed him. I knew that after he fell he could not live. Then I took the crown that was on his head. I took the band that was on his arm. I have brought them here to you, my lord." ¹¹Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them. All the men with him did the same. ¹²They mourned and wept. They went without food until evening. They grieved for Saul and his son Jonathan. They grieved for the LORD's people and the nation of Israel. For they had been killed by the sword. ¹³David asked the young man who brought the news, "Where are you from?" "I am the son of a foreigner," he said. "I am an Amalekite." ¹⁴So David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to raise your hand to kill the LORD's anointed king?" ¹⁵Then David called one of his young men. "Go and put him to death!" he said. So the young man struck him down, and he died. ¹⁶For David had said to the Amalekite, "Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth spoke against you. You said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed king.'" ¹⁷Then David sang this sad song for Saul and his son Jonathan. ¹⁸He ordered that the people of Judah be taught this song. It is called the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar. ¹⁹"Israel, your glory lies dead on your hills.
How the mighty have fallen! ²⁰Don't tell it in Gath.
Don't spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be glad.
The daughters of those not circumcised will cheer. ²¹Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you.
May your fields grow no grain for offerings.
For there the shield of the mighty was made dirty.
It was the shield of Saul.
No one will rub it with oil again. ²²Jonathan's bow did not turn back
from the blood of the dead,
from the fat of the mighty.
Saul's sword did not come back empty. ²³Saul and Jonathan were loved and lovely in life.
In death they were not parted.
They were faster than eagles.
They were stronger than lions. ²⁴Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul.
He dressed you in fine red cloth.
He decked your clothes with gold jewelry. ²⁵How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle!
Jonathan lies dead on your hills. ²⁶I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.
You brought me such joy.
Your love for me was wonderful.
It was greater than the love of women. ²⁷How the mighty have fallen!
The weapons of war are gone!"