1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was
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 unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the
camp of Israel am I escaped.
4 And
David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he
answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also
are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5 And
David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and
Jonathan his son be 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 unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8 And
he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an
Amalekite.
9 He
said unto 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 was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on
his arm, and have brought them hither unto 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 even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his
son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they
were fallen by the sword.
13 And
David said unto 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 unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine 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 unto 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 let there be 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 on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25 How
are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain
in thine high places.
26 I
am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto
me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 How
are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
