The Report of Saul’s Death
1 Now it came to pass after thedeath of Saul, when David had returned fromthe slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,
2 on the third day, behold, it happened thata man came from Saul’s campwith his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that hefell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?”
So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 Then David said to him,“How did the matter go? Please tell me.”
# And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul andJonathan his son are dead also.”
5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chancetobeonMount Gilboa, there wasSaul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8 And he said to me, ‘Whoareyou?’ So I answered him, ‘Iaman Amalekite.’
9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life stillremainsin me.’
10 So I stood over him andkilled him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown thatwason his head and the bracelet thatwason his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes andtore them, andsodidall the men whowerewith him.
12 And theymourned and wept andfasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for thepeople of theLordand for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Whereareyou from?”
And he answered, “Iamthe son of an alien, an Amalekite.”
14 So David said to him, “Howwas it you were notafraid toput forth your hand to destroy theLord’s anointed?”
15 ThenDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go near,andexecute him!” And he struck him so that he died.
16 So David said to him,“Your bloodison your own head, foryour own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed theLord’s anointed.’ ”
The Song of the Bow
17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
18 and he toldthemto teach the children of JudahtheSongofthe Bow; indeeditiswrittenin the Book of Jasher:
19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
# How the mighty have fallen!
20 Tellitnot in Gath,
# Proclaimitnot in the streets ofAshkelon—
# Lestthe daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
# Lest the daughters ofthe uncircumcised triumph.
21 “Omountains of Gilboa,
# Lettherebeno dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is cast away there!
# The shield of Saul, notanointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
# The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23 “Saul and Jonathanwerebeloved and pleasant in their lives,
# And in theirdeath they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
# They werestronger than lions.
24 “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathanwasslain in 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 “Howthe mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”