Davids reaktion på budskabet om Sauls og Jonatans død
1Efter at Saul var død, og David var kommet tilbage til Ziklag fra sin sejr over amalekitterne,2ankom der et par dage senere et sendebud med nyt fra krigen. Han havde revet flænger i sit tøj og kommet jord på hovedet som tegn på sin store sorg. Han gik hen til David og kastede sig til jorden foran ham i dyb respekt.3„Hvor kommer du fra?” spurgte David. „Fra Israels hær,” svarede manden.4„Hvordan gik det?” spurgte David. „Fortæl mig om slaget!” Manden svarede: „Hele hæren flygtede over hals og hoved, og mange mænd lå sårede eller døde på slagmarken. Også Saul og hans søn Jonatan omkom.”5„Er du sikker på det?”6„Ja, jeg så med mine egne øjne, hvordan Saul på Gilboahøjen holdt sig oppe ved hjælp af sit spyd, mens fjendens stridsvogne indkredsede ham.7Da han fik øje på mig, kaldte han på mig.8‚Hvem er du?’ spurgte han. ‚Jeg er amalekit!’ svarede jeg.9‚Kom her hen og giv mig dødsstødet!’ bad han. ‚Jeg er allerede dødeligt såret.’10Så gik jeg hen og dræbte ham, for jeg kunne se, at han var så hårdt såret, at han ikke kunne overleve. Derefter tog jeg hans krone og en af hans armringe, som jeg hermed overrækker til Dem, nådige herre.”11Da David og hans mænd hørte, at Saul var død, rev de også flænger i deres tøj som tegn på sorg.12Og resten af dagen sørgede, fastede og græd de over Saul og hans søn Jonatan, ja, over alt Herrens folk og over de faldne israelitter.13David spurgte manden, som havde bragt dem budskabet: „Hvor er du fra?” Han svarede: „Jeg er en amalekit, der bor som fremmed iblandt israelitterne.”14-16„Hvordan kunne du få dig selv til at dræbe Guds salvede konge?” udbrød David. „Du har selv indrømmet, at du dræbte ham. Derfor skal du dø.” Derpå vendte David sig til en af sine mænd og sagde: „Dræb ham!”17-18David digtede nu en sørgesang om Saul og Jonatan, og han befalede at sangen, som blev kaldt „Buesangen”, skulle synges over hele Israel. Den citeres her fra „De Retskafnes Bog”:[1] (Josva 10,13)19Israels helte ligger slagne på bjergene, vore bedste krigere faldt i kampen.20Råb det ikke ud på gaden i Gat, tal ikke om det på Ashkalons torve. Filistrenes døtre vil danse af glæde, det uomskårne folk vil fryde sig.21Måtte Gilboahøjen blive ramt af tørke, måtte intet mere gro derpå. Heltenes skjolde havnede i sølet, Sauls skjold ligger ledigt hen.22Mange forblødte for Jonatans bue, Sauls sværd slog utallige ned.23Saul og Jonatan, elskede var I, selv i døden skiltes I ikke. I var hurtige som ørne på jagt, stærke som stolte løver.24Israels kvinder, sørg over Saul, som klædte jer i purpur og smykker af guld.25Vore helte faldt i kampens hede. Jonatans lig ligger henslængt på højen.26Jonatan, mit hjerte er knust, jeg elskede dig, som var du min bror! Dit venskab var noget helt specielt, mere end kærlighed fra en kvinde.27Alle vore helte er faldet, deres våben ligger ubrugte hen.
1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. (1.Sam 30,17)2And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. (Josva 7,6; 2.Sam 4,10; 2.Sam 14,4)3David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”4And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” (1.Sam 4,16)5Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”6And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. (1.Sam 31,1; 1.Krøn 10,1)7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’9And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ (Dom 9,54)10So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” (2.Kong 11,12)11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. (Josva 7,6; 2.Sam 3,31; 2.Sam 13,31)12And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. (2.Sam 3,35)13And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.”14David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” (1.Sam 12,3; 1.Sam 24,6; 1.Sam 24,10; 1.Sam 26,9; 1.Sam 31,4)15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. (2.Sam 4,10)16And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’” (Josva 2,19; 1.Sam 12,3; 2.Sam 3,29; 1.Kong 2,32; 1.Kong 2,37; Matt 27,25)
David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, (2.Sam 3,33; 2.Krøn 35,25)18and he said it[1] should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.[2] He said: (Josva 10,13)19“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! (2.Sam 1,25; 2.Sam 1,27)20Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. (2.Mos 15,20; Dom 11,34; Dom 14,3; 1.Sam 31,9; Amos 3,9; Mika 1,10)21“You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings![3] For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. (1.Sam 10,1; 1.Sam 31,1)22“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. (1.Sam 18,4)23“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. (Dom 14,18; Jer 4,13; Hab 1,8)24“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. (Ez 16,11)25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. (2.Sam 1,19)26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. (1.Sam 18,1; 1.Sam 18,3)27“How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” (2.Sam 1,25)