David Learns of Saul’s Death
1Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed two days in Ziklag.
2And on the third day, behold, a man came from Lit the camp connected with SaulSaul’s camp with his clothes torn and Lit earthdust on his head. And it happened when he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
5Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6The young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen had overtaken him.
7When he looked behind himself, he saw me, and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’
8Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I Lit said toanswered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9And he said to me, ‘Please stand next to me and finish me off, for Or dizzinessagony has seized me because my Lit whole life is still in melife still lingers in me.’
10So I stood next to him and finished him off, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the band which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
12And 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.
13Then David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” And he Lit saidanswered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.”
14And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to reach out with your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come forward, Lit fall on himput him to death.” So he struck him and he died.
16And David said to him, “I.e., his death was his own responsibilityYour blood is on your head, because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have finished off the Lord’s anointed.’ ”
David’s Song of Mourning for Saul and Jonathan
17Then David sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan,
18and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.
How the mighty have fallen!
20Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21Mountains of Gilboa,
May there be no dew nor rain on you, or fields of offerings!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
22From the blood of those Lit piercedslaughtered, from the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return Or without successunstained.
23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in Lit their liveslife,
And in their deaths they were not separated;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were mightier than lions.
24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry,
Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.
25How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is Lit piercedslaughtered on your high places.
26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been Lit very friendly toa close friend to me.
Your love for me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
27How the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war have perished!”
New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
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