1After Saul died, David returned to Ziklag. He had won the battle over the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days.2On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp. His clothes were torn. He had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to show him respect.3‘Where have you come from?’ David asked him. He answered, ‘I’ve escaped from Israel’s camp.’4‘What happened?’ David asked. ‘Tell me.’ He said, ‘Israel’s men ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.’5David spoke to the young man who brought him the report. He asked him, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?’6‘I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,’ the young man said. ‘Saul was there too. He was leaning on his spear. The enemy chariots and chariot drivers had almost caught up with him.7Then he turned round and saw me. He called out to me. I said, “What do you want me to do?”8‘He asked me, “Who are you?” ‘ “An Amalekite”, I answered.9‘Then he said to me, “Stand here by me and kill me! I’m close to death, but I’m still alive.”10‘So I stood beside him and killed him. I did it because I knew that after he had lost the battle he would be killed anyway. So I took the crown that was on his head. I also took his armband. I’ve brought them here to you. You are my master.’11Then David tore his clothes. And all his men tore their clothes.12All of them were filled with sadness. They mourned over the whole nation of Israel. They didn’t eat anything until evening. That’s because Saul and Jonathan and the LORD’s army had been killed by swords.13David spoke to the young man who had brought him the report. He asked, ‘Where are you from?’ ‘I’m the son of an outsider, an Amalekite,’ he answered.14David asked him, ‘Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to kill the LORD’s anointed king?’15Then David called for one of his men. He said, ‘Go! Strike him down!’ So he struck the man down, and the man died.16That’s because David had said to him, ‘Anything that happens to you will be your own fault. What your own mouth has spoken is a witness against you. You said, “I killed the LORD’s anointed king.” ’
David’s song of sadness about Saul and Jonathan
17David sang a song of sadness about Saul and his son Jonathan.18He ordered that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is a song that is played on a stringed instrument. It is written down in the Book of Jashar. David sang,19‘Israel, a gazelle lies dead on your hills. Your mighty men have fallen.20‘Don’t announce it in Gath. Don’t tell it in the streets of Ashkelon. If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be glad. The daughters of men who haven’t been circumcised will be joyful.21‘Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you. May no showers fall on your hillside fields. The shield of the mighty king wasn’t respected there. The shield of Saul lies there. It isn’t rubbed with oil anymore.22The bow of Jonathan didn’t turn back. The sword of Saul didn’t return without being satisfied. They spilled the blood of their enemies. They killed mighty men.23‘When they lived, Saul and Jonathan were loved and respected. When they died, they were not parted. They were faster than eagles. They were stronger than lions.24‘Daughters of Israel, mourn over Saul. He dressed you in the finest clothes. He decorated your clothes with ornaments of gold.25‘Your mighty men have fallen in battle. Jonathan lies dead on your hills.26My brother Jonathan, I’m filled with sadness because of you. You were very special to me. Your love for me was wonderful. It was more wonderful than the love of women.27‘Israel’s mighty men have fallen. Their weapons of war are broken.’
2 Samuel 1
English Standard Version
David Hears of Saul’s Death
1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. (1Sa 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. (Jos 7:6; 2Sa 4:10; 2Sa 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.” (1Sa 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. (1Sa 31:1; 1Ch 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.’ (Jud 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.” (2Ki 11:12)11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. (Jos 7:6; 2Sa 3:31; 2Sa 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. (2Sa 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?” (1Sa 12:3; 1Sa 24:6; 1Sa 24:10; 1Sa 26:9; 1Sa 31:4)15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. (2Sa 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.’” (Jos 2:19; 1Sa 12:3; 2Sa 3:29; 1Ki 2:32; 1Ki 2:37; Mt 27:25)
David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, (2Sa 3:33; 2Ch 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: (Jos 10:13)19“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! (2Sa 1:25; 2Sa 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. (Ex 15:20; Jud 11:34; Jud 14:3; 1Sa 31:9; Am 3:9; Mic 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. (1Sa 10:1; 1Sa 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. (1Sa 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. (Jud 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. (Eze 16:11)25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. (2Sa 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. (1Sa 18:1; 1Sa 18:3)27“How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” (2Sa 1:25)