(KJV) 2 Samuel 1¹

⥃Saul’s Death Reported to David ^{[ 1 Samuel 31:1–6 † 1 Chronicles 10:1–6 ]}

[1] Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David² was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag³; [2] It came even to pass on the third⁴ day, that, behold, a man⁵ came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes⁶ rent, and earth⁷ upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell⁸ to the earth, and did obeisance.⁹ [3] And David said unto him, From¹⁰ whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I¹¹ escaped. [4] And David said unto him, How went¹² the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people¹³ are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. [5] And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest¹⁴ thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? [6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened¹⁵ by chance upon mount¹⁶ Gilboa, behold, Saul¹⁷ leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here [am] I¹⁸. [8] And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him, I [am] an Amalekite¹⁹. [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish²⁰ is come upon me, because my life [is] yet whole in me. [10] So I stood upon him, and slew²¹ him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown²² that [was] upon his head, and the bracelet²³ that [was] on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. [11] Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent²⁴ them; and likewise²⁵ all the men that [were] with him: [12] And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.²⁶

[13] [¶]And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.²⁷ [14] And David said unto him, How²⁸ wast thou not afraid to stretch forth²⁹ thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? [15] And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near³⁰, [and] fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. [16] And David said unto him, Thy blood³¹ [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth³² hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

⥃David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

[17] And David lamented³³ with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: [18] (Also he bade them teach³⁴ the children of Judah [the use of] the bow³⁵: behold, [it is] written in the book³⁶ of Jasher³⁷.) [19] The beauty³⁸ of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are³⁹ the mighty fallen! [20] Tell⁴⁰ [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines⁴¹ rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised⁴² triumph. [21] Ye mountains⁴³ of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew⁴⁴, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings⁴⁵: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not⁴⁶ [been] anointed⁴⁷ with oil. [22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow⁴⁸ of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. [23] Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant⁴⁹ in their lives, and in their death they were⁵⁰ not divided: they were swifter⁵¹ than eagles, they were stronger⁵² than lions. [24] Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.⁵³ [25] How⁵⁴ are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, [thou wast] slain in thine high places. [26] I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love⁵⁵ to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. [27] How are⁵⁶ the mighty fallen, and the weapons⁵⁷ of war perished!