2 Samuel 1

And it happened after the death of Saul that David returned from striking Amalek. And David remained in Ziklag two days.

And it happened on the third day that, behold, a man came from the camp, from with Saul, and his clothes were torn, and dirt {was} on his head. And it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. \*

And David said to him, “Where from this are you coming?” \* And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” \*

And David said to him, “How was the matter? Declare to me, please.” \* And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and also many from the people had fallen and died, and also Saul and Jonathan his son had died. \*

And David said to the young man, the one declaring to him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son died?” \*

And the young man, the one declaring to him, said, “Happening to be, I happened to be on the mountain of Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the masters of the horsemen had overtaken him.

And he turned behind him, and he saw me. And he called to me, and I said, ‘Behold me.’ \*

And he said to me, ‘Who {are} you?’ \* And I said to him, ‘I {am} an Amalekite.’ \*

And he said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, for my life {is} still whole in me.’ \*

So I stood over him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his having fallen. And I took the crown that {was} on his head and the band that {was} on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” \*

And David seized his clothes and tore them, and also all of the men who {were} with him.

And they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of God and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. \*

And David said to the young man declaring to him, “Where from this {are} you?” \* And he said, “I {am} the son of a man, a foreigner, an Amalekite.” \*

And David said to him, “How did you not fear to stretch out your hand to destroy the anointed of God?” \*

And David called to one of the young men, and he said, “Approach, attack him!” And he struck him, and he died.

And David said to him, “Your blood {is} on your head, for your mouth answered against you, saying, ‘I myself killed the anointed of God.’” \*

Then David lamented this lamentation for Saul and for Jonathan his son.

And he said to teach the sons of Judah “The Bow.” Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar: \*

“The splendor of Israel {is} slain on your high places! \* How the mighty have fallen!

May they not declare {it} in Gath, may they not proclaim {it} in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. \*

Mountains in Gilboa, {may} not dew and {may} not rain {be} upon you, nor fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was loathed, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. \*

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn itself back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

Saul and Jonathan {were} being loved and delightful in their lives, and in their death they were not separated. \* They were swifter than eagles, they were mightier than lions.

Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, the one having clothed you {in} scarlet with delights, the one having put an ornament of gold on your clothing. \*

How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan {is} slain on your high places.

It is narrow to me concerning you, my brother Jonathan! You were very pleasant to me. \* Your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.

How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!” \*