1Now after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and had spent two days in Ziklag;
2On the third day, a man came out of Saul’s camp with his clothes torn, and dirt on his head; and when he came to David, he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3And David asked him, “Where do you come from?” And he said, “I escaped out of the camp of Israel”.
4And David asked him, “How went the matter? I pray you, tell me”. And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of them have also are fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead”.
5And David asked the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?”
6And the young man said, “As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7And when he looked and saw me behind him, he called to me. And I answered, “Here am I”.
8And he asked me, “Who are you?” And I answered him, “I am an Amalekite”.
9He said to me again, “Stand upon me, I pray you, and slay me; for I am in the throes of death, but I am still alive”.
10“So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen. And I took the crown from his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord”.
11Then David and all the men who were with him grabbed their clothes, and tore them;
12And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, his son Jonathan, for the people of the LORD, and for the tribe of Israel, because they had all fallen by the sword.
13And David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite”.
14And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?”
15And David called one of the young men, and said, “Go, strike him down!”. And he struck him; and he died.
16And David said to him, “Your blood is upon your own head; for you have testified against yourself when you said, ‘I have slain the LORD's anointed’”.
17And David took up this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan:
18And he ordered them teach the children of Judah what is known as “The song of the Bow”; (behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) He said,
19“Your pride and glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your hills; how are the mighty fallen!
20Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised be glad.
21You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, nor let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty is vilely despised, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23Saul and Jonathan were loved and admired in their lives, and in their death, they were not parted; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and garments adorned with gold.
25How are the mighty fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain in your heights.
26I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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