2 Samuel

After Saul's death, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David stayed in Ziklag for two days.

On the third day, a man arrived from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he reached David, he bowed down to the ground in respect.

David asked him, 'Where have you come from?' He answered, 'I have escaped from the camp of Israel.'

David said to him, 'What happened? Please, tell me.' He answered, 'The people have fled from the battle, and many have fallen and died. Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.'

David asked the young man who told him this, 'How do you know for sure that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?'

The young man replied, 'I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, while the chariots and horsemen were closing in on him.'

When he looked behind him and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, 'I am here.'

He asked me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

He said to me again, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for I am in the grip of deathly anguish, yet my life is still within me.'

So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure he could not survive after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.

Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them in grief; and all the men with him did the same.

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

David asked the young man, 'Where are you from?' He answered, 'I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.'

David asked him, 'Weren't you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?'

David called one of his young men and said, 'Go, strike him down!' So he struck him and he died.

David said to him, 'Your blood is on your own head; for your own mouth testified against you, saying, "I have killed the LORD's anointed."'

David lamented with this mourning song over Saul and Jonathan his son.

(He also ordered that the people of Judah be taught 'The Song of the Bow', which is recorded in the Book of Jashar.)

Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

Do not tell it in Gath; do not publish it in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though it had not been anointed with oil.

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

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with other delights, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, slain on your high places.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very pleasant to me; your love for me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!