1 Saul morrera e David voltou para Ziclague após ter derrotado os amalequitas. Três dias mais tarde, apareceu-lhe um homem, vindo do exército israelita, com a roupa rasgada e com terra na cabeça, em sinal de consternação. Chegando-se junto de David inclinou-se até à terra em atitude de profundo respeito.3 Donde vens tu?, perguntou David.Do exército de Israel, replicou o homem.4 Que foi que aconteceu? Como é que correu o combate? O homem respondeu: Todos fugiram em debandada. Milhares foram mortos e feridos no campo da batalha. Saul e Jónatas também morreram.5 E como sabes tu que eles foram mortos?, exigiu David.6 Porque chegando por acaso ao monte de Gilboa, vi Saul inclinado contra a sua lança e a cavalaria mais os carros de combate do inimigo apertando a luta contra a posição em que ele se encontrava. Saul, olhando para trás, reparou em mim, gritou-me para que fosse ter com ele e perguntou-me: 'Quem és tu?' - 'Sou amalequita11 David e os seus homens rasgaram a roupa que tinham vestida, em manifestação de tristeza, ao ouvirem aquelas notícias. Choraram, lamentaram-se, jejuaram todo o dia por Saul e pelo seu filho Jónatas, assim como pelo povo do Senhor e pelos homens de Israel que tinham morrido naquele dia.13 David disse àquele que lhe trouxera as notícias: Donde és tu? Eu sou amalequita.14 E como te atreveste tu a matar o rei escolhido por Deus? E David, dirigindo-se a um dos seus mancebos: Mata-o! O rapaz atravessou-o com a sua espada e ele morreu. Foste vítima da tua própria condenação, disse David, porque confessaste, tu mesmo, ter morto o rei ungido de Deus.17 David compôs então uma elegia à memória de Saul e de Jónatas, mandando que fosse cantada através de todo o Israel. É este o texto, tal como está no Livro do Justo:19 Ó Israel, aqueles que eram para ti o teu orgulho e a tua alegria jazem mortos sobre as colinas. Morreram poderosos heróis!20 Não contes isso aos filisteus, para que não rejubilem. Esconde-o das cidades de Gate e de Asquelom,para que povos pagãos não venham a rir-se triunfamente.21 Ó monte Gilboa, que não caia mais chuva,nem orvalho sequer, sobre ti;que não cresçam searas nas tuas vertentes. Porque foi aí que o escudo dos heróis foi tristemente arrojado ao chão; o escudo de Saul, não mais ungido com óleo.22 Tanto Saul como Jónatas eram capazes de liquidaros seus mais fortes inimigos; nunca regressavam da batalha de mãos vazias.23 Como eram amados! Eram pessoas admiráveis!Tanto Saul como seu filho! Sempre estiveram juntos, tanto na vida como na morte! Eram mais velozes do que águias, mais fortes do que leões.24 Por isso agora, mulheres de Israel, chorem por Saul. Ele enriqueceu-vos, vestiu-vos de finas roupas e deu-vos belos adornos.25 Foram valentes heróis que morreram no campo da batalha. Jónatas foi morto sobre a colina.26 Como eu choro por ti, meu irmão Jónatas; como eu te amava! O teu amor tinha mais profundidade para mimdo que o amor de uma mulher.27 Foram valentes homens que cairam. Despojados das suas armas, morreram!

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;2 It came even to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.3 And David said to him, From whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel have I escaped.4 And David said to him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen, and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.5 And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here am I.8 And he said to me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.9 He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that 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 that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.14 And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.16 And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son:18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither rain upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been 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 were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan thou wast slain in thy high places.26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.27 How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!