1
And it came to pass after Saul was dead, that David returned from smiting Amelek, and David abode two days in Ziklag.
2
And it came to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came from the camp, from the people of Saul, and his clothes were torn, and dust [was] upon his head. And it came to pass when he went in to David, that he fell upon the earth, and bowed down to him.
3
And David said to him, Where have you come from? And he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.
4
And David said to him, What [is] the matter? Tell me. And he said, The people fled out of the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.
5
And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?
6
And the young man that brought the news said to him, I happened accidentally to be upon Mount Gilboa; and behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and behold, the chariots and captains of horse pressed hard upon him.
7
And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, [here am] I.
8
And he said to me, Who are you? And I said, I am an Amalekite.
9
And he said to me, Stand over me and kill me, for a dreadful darkness has come upon me, for all my life [is] in me.
10
So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew he would not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.
11
And David laid hold of his garments, and tore them; and all the men who were with him tore their clothes.
12
And they lamented, and wept, and fasted till evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Judah, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13
And David said to the young man who brought the news to him, Where are you from? And he said, I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.
14
And David said to him, How was it that you were not afraid to lift up your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?
15
And David called one of his young men, and said, Go and fall upon him. And he struck him, and he died.
16
And David said to him, Your blood [be] upon your own head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain the anointed of the Lord.
17
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son.
18
And he gave orders to teach it to the sons of Judah: behold, it is written in the Book of the Upright.
19
Set up a pillar, O Israel, for the slain that died upon your high places; how the mighty have fallen!
20
Tell it not in Gath, and tell it not as glad tidings 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 neither dew nor rain descend upon you, nor fields of firstfruits [be upon you], for there the shield of the mighty ones has been grievously assailed; the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
22
From the blood of the slain, and from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan returned not empty; and the sword of Saul turned not back empty.
23
Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely [were they] in their life, and in their death they were not divided: [they were] swifter than eagles, and they were stronger than lions.
24
Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you with scarlet together with your adorning, who added golden ornaments to your apparel.
25
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, even the slain ones upon your high places!
26
I am grieved for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very lovely to me; your love to me was wonderful beyond the love of women.
27
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
