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The Second Book of Samuel

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- Chapter 1 -

(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)
1
After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.
2
On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.
3
“Where have you come from?” David asked. “I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied.
4
“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
5
Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6
“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.
7
When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’
8
‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9
Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’
10
So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
11
Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.
12
They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13
And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”
14
So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15
Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.
16
For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17
Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,
18
and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow.(a) It is written in the Book of Jashar:(b)
19
“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
20
Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21
O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain.(c) For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
22
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24
O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.
25
How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26
I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
27
How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!”

Footnotes

(a)1:18 Or be taught the use of the bow; literally be taught the bow
(b)1:18 Or the Book of the Upright One, commonly cited as Jasher; note that the Song of the Bow that follows is not found in known manuscripts attributed to Jasher.
(c)1:21 Or no showers falling on your terraced fields; LXX no fields of firstfruits; Hebrew no fields of offerings
(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)
1
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,
2
on the third day, behold,(a) a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.
3
David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”
4
David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5
David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6
The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.
7
When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8
He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9
He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’
10
So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11
Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.
12
They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD,(b) and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13
David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”
14
David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15
David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.
16
David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’s anointed.’”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17
David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
18
(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
19
“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20
Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21
You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
22
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.
23
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
24
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25
How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.
26
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
27
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

Footnotes

(a)1:2 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
(b)1:12 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
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