2 Samuel 1:1-11 ▼

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days.

2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.

3 David asked him, |Where are you coming from?| He replied, |I have escaped from the camp of Israel.|

4 David inquired, |How were things going? Tell me!| He replied, |The people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!|

5 David said to the young man who was telling him this, |How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?|

6 The young man who was telling him this said, |I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him.

7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am!'

8 He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I'm an Amalekite.'

9 He said to me, 'Stand over me and finish me off! I'm very dizzy, even though I'm still alive.'

10 So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn't live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.|

11 David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him.