David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan

1Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. 2The nexta day, a man escaped from Saul’s camp! With torn clothes and dirty hair, he approached David, fell to the ground, and bowed down to him.

3David asked him, “Where did you come from?

He answered him, “I just escaped from Israel’s encampment.”

4David continued questioning him, “How did things go? Please tell me!”

He replied, “The army has fled the battlefield, many of the army are woundedb or have died, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

5David asked the young man who related the story,c “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6The young man who had been relating the storyd answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and there was Saul, leaning on his spear! Meanwhile, the chariots and horsemen were rapidly drawing near. 7Saule glanced behind him, saw me, and called out to me, so I replied, ‘Here I am!’ 8He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I’m an Amalekite!’ 9He begged me, ‘Please—come stand here next to me and kill me, because I’m still alive.’ 10So I stood next to him and killed him, because I knew that he wouldn’t live after he had fallen. I took the crown that had been on his head, along with the bracelet that had been on his arm, and I have brought them to your majesty.”f

11On hearing this,g David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him. 12They mourned and wept, and then decided to fasth until dusk for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the army of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen in battle.i

13Meanwhile, David asked the young man who had told him the story,j “Where are you from?”

He answered, “I’m an Amalekite, the son of a foreign man.”

14At this David asked him, “How is it that you weren’t afraid to raise your hand to strike the LORD’s anointed?”

15Then David called out to one of his young men and ordered him, “Go up to him and cut him down!” So he attacked him and killed him.

16David told him, “Your blood is on your own head, because your own wordsk testified against you! After all, you said, ‘I myself have killed the LORD’s anointed!’”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, 18and he gave ordersl to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare,m as is recorded in the Book of Jashar:n

19“Your beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places!

O, how the valiant have fallen!

20Don’t make it known in Gath!

Don’t declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon!

Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice;

and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph.

21Mountains of Gilboa,

let no dew or rain fall on you,

and may none of your fields be filled with plenty,

because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled,

the shield of Saul without an anointing with oil.

22From the blood of the slain,

from the blood of the valiant,

Jonathan’s bow would not retreat

nor would Saul’s sword return empty.

23Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life,

in death were not separated.

Swifter than eagles they were,

and more valiant than lions.

24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul!

He clothed you in scarlet luxury

and decorated your garments with gold.

25How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your high places.

26I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan.

You have been most kindo to me.

Your love for me was extraordinaryp —

beyond love from women.

27How the valiant have fallen!

How the weapons of war are destroyed!”