2 Kingdoms 1

1And it happened after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed for two days in Ziklag.

2And on the third day, behold, a man came from the camp of the people of Saul with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3And David said to him, 'Where have you come from?' He answered, 'I have escaped from the camp of Israel.'

4Then David said to him, 'What is this? Tell me.' And he answered, 'The people fled from the battle, but many of the people were cut down and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.'

5So David said to the young man who told him, 'How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?'

6Then the young man who told him said, 'As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

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?' So I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

9He said to me again, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for a terrible darkness has seized me, for all my life still remains in me.'

10So I stood over 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 bracelet that was on his arm, and I brought them here to my lord.'

11Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him tore their clothes.

12And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of Judah and for the house of Israel, because they were killed by the sword.

13Then David said to the young man who told him, 'Where are you from?' He answered, 'I am the son of a resident foreigner, an Amalekite.'

14So David said to him, 'How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?'

15Then David called one of the young men and said, 'Go near and deal with him!' And he struck him so that he died.

16And David said to him, 'Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth spoke against you, saying, 'I killed the Lord's anointed.' '

17Then David uttered this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

18and he told them to teach the children of Judah; indeed it is written in the Book of the Righteous:

19'Set up a monument, Israel, over the dead on the high places of your slain!

20How the mighty have fallen! Do not tell it in Gath, Do not proclaim it 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 no dew, no rain fall upon you, nor the fields of the first fruit, For in that place, the shield of the mighty was dishonored! The shield of Saul was not anointed with olive oil.

22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not return in vain, Nor in vain was the sword of Saul returned.

23'Saul and Jonathan, beloved and handsome, were not separated entirely; So beautiful in their life, That in their death, they were not separated entirely; Swifter than the eagles and more powerful than lions.

24'O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Clothing you in the scarlet linens of your world, Bringing to you the golden apparel.

25'How the mighty have fallen! O Jonathan, dying on your high places.

26I am grieved for you, my brother Jonathan; You were most pleasant to me, Your love for me was to be admired, Surpassing the love of women.

27'How the mighty have fallen, And the warriors of war perish!'