2.Samuel 1,1 | New International Reader’s Version

David hears that Saul has died

1 After Saul died, David returned to Ziklag. He had won the battle over the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days. 2 On 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.’ 5 David 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. 7 Then 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.’ 11 Then David tore his clothes. And all his men tore their clothes. 12 All 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. 13 David 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. 14 David asked him, ‘Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to kill the LORD’s anointed king?’ 15 Then David called for one of his men. He said, ‘Go! Strike him down!’ So he struck the man down, and the man died. 16 That’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

17 David sang a song of sadness about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 He 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. 22 The 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. 26 My 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.’

English Standard Version

David Hears of Saul’s Death

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And 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. 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And 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.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And 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. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10 So 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.” 11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And 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. 13 And 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.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And 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.’”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it* should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.* He said: 19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Tell 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. 21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings!* For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 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. 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. 24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. 26 I 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. 27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

2.Samuel 1,1 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

David hears that Saul has died

David’s song of sadness about Saul and Jonathan

David Hears of Saul’s Death

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan