1 N ow after the death of Saul, when David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, he had stayed two days in Ziklag,

2 W hen on the third day a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.

3 D avid said to him, Where have you come from? He said, I have escaped from the camp of Israel.

4 D avid said to him, How did it go? Tell me. He answered, The men have fled from the battle. Many have fallen and are dead; Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 D avid said to the young man, How do you know Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

6 T he young man said, By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and I saw Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and horsemen were close behind him.

7 W hen he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, Here I am.

8 H e asked me, Who are you? I answered, An Amalekite.

9 H e said to me, Rise up against me and slay me; for terrible dizziness has come upon me, yet my life is still in me.

10 S o I stood up against him and slew him, because I was sure he could not live after he had fallen. So I took the crown on his head and the bracelet on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.

11 T hen David grasped his own clothes and tore them; so did all the men with him.

12 T hey mourned and wept for Saul and Jonathan his son, and fasted until evening for the Lord’s people and the house of Israel, because of their defeat in battle.

13 D avid said to the young man who told him, Where are you from? He answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.

14 D avid said to him, Why were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?

15 D avid called one of the young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he smote him so that he died.

16 D avid said to, Your blood be upon your own head; for you have testified against yourself, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

17 D avid lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,

18 A nd he commanded to teach it, the bow, to the Israelites. Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar:

19 Y our glory, O Israel, is slain upon your high places. How have the mighty fallen!

20 T ell it not in Gath, announce it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, or fields with offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, as though he were not anointed with oil.

22 F rom 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 S aul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In their lives and in their deaths they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Y ou daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 H ow have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 H ow have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!