II Samuel 1

The Report of Saul’s Death

1 Now it came to pass after the *Gen. 50:10death of Saul, when David had returned from *1 Sam. 31:6the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that *1 Sam. 30:1, 17, 26a man came from Saul’s camp *2 Sam. 4:10with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he *1 Sam. 4:12fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3 And David said to him, "Where have you come from?"

So he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."

4 Then David said to him, *1 Sam. 25:23"How did the matter go? Please tell me."

And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and *1 Sam. 4:16; 31:3Jonathan his son are dead also."

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

6 Then the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance tobe on *1 Sam. 31:2Mount Gilboa, there was *1 Sam. 31:1Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 Now 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?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ 10 So I stood over him and *1 Sam. 31:2–4killed 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 have brought them here to my lord."

11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and *Judg. 9:54; 2 Kin. 11:12tore them, and sodid all the men who were with him. 12 And they *2 Sam. 3:31; 13:31mourned and wept and *2 Sam. 3:31fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the *1 Sam. 31:13people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 Then David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?"

And he answered, "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite."

14 So David said to him, "How *2 Sam. 6:21was it you were not *Num. 12:8afraid to *1 Sam. 31:4put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?" 15 Then *1 Sam. 24:6; 26:9David called one of the young men and said, "Go near, and execute him!" And he struck him so that he died. 16 So David said to him, *2 Sam. 4:10, 12"Your blood is on your own head, for *1 Sam. 26:9; 2 Sam. 3:28; 1 Kin. 2:32–37your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ "

The Song of the Bow

17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18 *2 Sam. 1:10; Luke 19:22and he told them to teach the children of Judah theSongof the Bow; indeed itis written *1 Sam. 31:3in the Book of Jasher:

19 "The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!

*Josh. 10:13How the mighty have fallen!

20 *2 Sam. 1:27Tell it not in Gath,

Proclaim it not in the streets of *1 Sam. 27:2; 31:8–13; Mic. 1:10Ashkelon—

Lest *1 Sam. 6:17; Jer. 25:20the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

Lest the daughters of *Ex. 15:20; Judg. 11:34; 1 Sam. 18:6the uncircumcised triumph.

21 "O *1 Sam. 31:4mountains of Gilboa,

*1 Sam. 31:1Lettherebe no dew nor rain upon you,

Nor fields of offerings.

For the shield of the mighty is cast away there!

The shield of Saul, not *Ezek. 31:15anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain,

From the fat of the mighty,

*1 Sam. 10:1The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,

And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23 "Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,

And in their *Deut. 32:42; 1 Sam. 18:4death they were not divided;

They were swifter than eagles,

They were *1 Sam. 31:2–4stronger than lions.

24 "O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;

Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 "How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!

Jonathan was slain in your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;

You have been very pleasant to me;

*Judg. 14:18Your love to me was wonderful,

Surpassing the love of women.

27 "How*1 Sam. 18:1–4; 19:2; 20:17 the mighty have fallen,

And the weapons of war perished!"