1 After David had won the fight against the Amalekites, he returned to Ziklag. He stayed in Ziklag for two days. Saul had already died. [ a ] 2 The next day, a man arrived from the camp of Saul's army. [ b ] He had dirt on his head and he had torn his clothes. When the man met David, he threw himself down on the ground to give honour to David.
3 David asked him, ‘Where have you come from?’
The man replied, ‘I have run from the Israelite army's camp.’
4 David said, ‘Tell me what happened in the battle.’
The man replied, ‘The Israelites ran away and the enemy killed many of them. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.’
5 When the young man told this to David, David asked him, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?’
6 The young man said, ‘I was on Gilboa mountain. I saw Saul there. He had to use his spear like a stick to help him to stand. The enemy army with its horses and chariots were getting very near to him. 7 Saul turned round and he saw me. He shouted to me and I said, “Here I am, sir.”
8 He asked me, “Who are you?”
I said to him, “I am an Amalekite.”
9 He said to me, “Stand over me and kill me. I have a lot of pain and I am almost dead.”
10 I knew that he would soon fall down. He was too weak to live. So I stood over him and I killed him. Then I took the crown from his head and the ring that was on his arm. I have brought them here to you, my lord.’
11 Then David tore his clothes because he was very upset. The men who were with him did the same thing. 12 They cried and they wept until the evening. They did not eat any food. They were very upset about Saul and Jonathan, and all the Lord 's people. [ c ] They were sad because so many Israelites had died in the battle.
13 David asked the young man who had brought the report to him, ‘Where are you from?’
The man replied, ‘I am an Amalekite, the son of a foreign man who lives in Israel.’
14 David said to him, ‘The Lord had chosen Saul to be Israel's king. You should have been very afraid to kill him!’
15 Then David said to one of his own young men, ‘Go and knock him down!’ So the man knocked him down so that he died. 16 David had said to the Amalekite, ‘You deserve to die because of what you have said. Your own words show that you did a bad thing. You yourself said, “I have killed the Lord 's chosen king.” ’
17 David sang this song to remember the death of Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 He said that the people in Judah should learn this song. Its name is ‘The Bow’. It is written down in the Book of Jashar. [ d ]
19 ‘The greatest men of Israel now lie on the mountains. They are dead!
Those brave men have fallen to the ground!
20 Do not tell the people in Gath about it.
Do not tell the news in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will sing with joy.
Yes, those foreign people who do not worship God will be happy.
21 You mountains of Gilboa, I hope that no rain or dew will come on you now.
I pray that no crops will grow in your fields to make grain offerings.
In those fields, the shields of brave soldiers became useless.
No longer will anyone clean Saul's shield with oil. [ e ]
22 When Jonathan shot arrows from his bow,
his enemies fell to the ground, dead.
He would never turn away from them.
Saul's sword also cut down his enemies.
He always finished the job.
23 People loved Saul and Jonathan as great people while they lived.
They were still together when they died.
They moved faster than eagles
They were stronger than lions.
24 You women of Israel, weep for Saul.
He gave you beautiful clothes to wear.
He gave you gold and jewels to fix on your clothes.
25 Brave soldiers have died as they fought a great battle!
Jonathan's dead body lies on Gilboa's hills.
26 My brother, Jonathan! I am very sad about your death.
You were my good friend.
Your love for me was very special.
It was better than the love of women.
27 The brave men have fallen in the battle!
Their weapons are now useless.’
1 After David defeated the Amalekites, he went back to Ziklag. This was just after Saul had been killed. David had been there two days. 2 Then, on the third day, a young soldier from Saul’s camp came to Ziklag. His clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. [ a ] He came to David and bowed with his face to the ground.
3 David asked him, “Where have you come from?”
The man answered, “I just came from the Israelite camp.”
4 David asked him, “Please tell me, who won the battle?”
The man answered, “Our people ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed in the battle. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5 David said to the young soldier, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young soldier said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The Philistine chariots and horse soldiers were coming closer and closer to Saul. 7 Saul looked back and saw me. He called to me and I answered him. 8 Then Saul asked me who I was. I told him that I was an Amalekite. 9 Then Saul said, ‘Please kill me. I am hurt badly. And I am about to die anyway.’ 10 He was hurt so badly that I knew he wouldn’t live. So I stopped and killed him. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm and brought them here to you, my lord.”
11 Then David tore his clothes to show he was very sad. All the men with him did the same thing. 12 They were very sad and cried. They did not eat until evening. They cried because Saul and his son Jonathan were dead. David and his men cried for the Lord ’s people, and they cried for Israel. They cried because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many Israelites had been killed in battle.
13 Then David talked with the young soldier who had told him about Saul’s death. David asked, “Where are you from?”
The young soldier answered, “I am the son of a foreigner. I am an Amalekite.”
14 David said to the young soldier, “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord ’s chosen king [ b ] ?”
15-16 Then David told the Amalekite, “You are responsible for your own death. You said you killed the Lord ’s chosen king, so your own words prove you are guilty.” Then David called one of his young servants and told him to kill the Amalekite. So the young Israelite killed him.
17 David sang a sad song about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 David told his men to teach the song to the people of Judah. This song is called “The Bow,” and it is written in the Book of Jashar . [ c ]
19 “Israel, your beauty was ruined on your hills.
Oh, how those heroes fell!
20 Don’t tell the news in Gath. [ d ]
Don’t announce it in the streets of Ashkelon. [ e ]
Those Philistine cities would be happy!
Those foreigners [ f ] would be glad.
21 “May no rain or dew fall
on you, mountains of Gilboa.
May there be no offerings
coming from your fields.
The shields of the heroes rusted there.
Saul’s shield was not rubbed with oil.
22 Jonathan’s bow killed its share of enemies,
and Saul’s sword killed its share!
They have spilled the blood of men now dead.
They cut into the fat of strong men.
23 “Saul and Jonathan—how dear they were to us!
In life they loved being together,
and even death did not separate them!
They were faster than eagles
and stronger than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, cry for Saul!
Saul gave you beautiful red dresses
and covered them with gold jewelry!
25 “Strong men have fallen in the battle.
Jonathan is dead on Gilboa’s hills.
26 Jonathan, my brother, I miss you!
I enjoyed your friendship so much.
Your love for me was wonderful,
stronger than the love of women.
27 Heroes have fallen in battle.
Their weapons of war are lost.”
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people 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 knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul 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 I.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise 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.
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.
14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord 's anointed?
15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord 's anointed.
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger 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.
25 How 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 love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
1 Now it came about after ( A ) the death of Saul, when David had returned from ( B ) the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, ( C ) a man came from [ a ] Saul’s camp ( D ) with his clothes torn and [ b ] dust on his head. And it happened when he came to David, ( E ) he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. 3 Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 David said to him, “ ( F ) 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.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 The young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on ( G ) Mount Gilboa, and behold, ( H ) Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen had overtaken him. 7 When he looked behind himself, he saw me, and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 8 Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I [ c ] answered him, ‘ ( I ) I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Please stand next to me and finish me off, for [ d ] agony has seized me because my [ e ] life still lingers in me.’ 10 So I stood next to him ( J ) and finished him off, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And ( K ) 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.”
11 Then ( L ) David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and ( M ) 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 Then David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” And he [ f ] answered, “ ( N ) I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” 14 And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid ( O ) to reach out with your hand to destroy the Lord ’ s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come forward, [ g ] put him to death.” ( P ) So he struck him and he died. 16 And David said to him, “ [ h ] ( Q ) Your blood is on your head, because ( R ) your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have finished off the Lord ’ s anointed.’”
17 Then David ( S ) sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in ( T ) the Book of Jashar.
19 “ [ i ] Your beauty, Israel, is [ j ] slaughtered on your high places!
( U ) How the mighty have fallen!
20 ( V ) Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or ( W ) the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of ( X ) the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21 ( Y ) Mountains of Gilboa,
( Z ) 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 ( AA ) anointed with oil.
22 ( AB ) From the blood of those [ k ] slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty,
( AC ) The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return [ l ] unstained.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in [ m ] life,
And in their deaths they were not separated;
( AD ) They were swifter than eagles,
( AE ) They were mightier than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry,
Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.
25 ( AF ) How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is [ n ] slaughtered on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been [ o ] a close friend to me.
( AG ) Your love for me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
27 ( AH ) How the mighty have fallen,
And ( AI ) the weapons of war have perished!”
1 After the death ( B ) of Saul, David returned from striking down ( C ) the Amalekites ( D ) and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man ( E ) arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. ( F ) When he came to David, he fell ( G ) to the ground to pay him honor. ( H )
3 “Where have you come from?” David asked him.
He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”
4 “What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”
“The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5 Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, ( I ) ” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. 7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’
8 “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’
“‘An Amalekite, ( J ) ’ I answered.
9 “Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! ( K ) I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’
10 “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown ( L ) that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore ( M ) them. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?”
“I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite, ( N ) ” he answered.
14 David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord ’s anointed? ( O ) ”
15 Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” ( P ) So he struck him down, and he died. ( Q ) 16 For David had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. ( R ) Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord ’s anointed.’”
17 David took up this lament ( S ) concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, ( T ) 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar): ( U )
20 “Tell it not in Gath, ( X )
proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, ( Y )
lest the daughters of the Philistines ( Z ) be glad,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. ( AA )
21 “Mountains of Gilboa, ( AB )
may you have neither dew ( AC ) nor rain, ( AD )
may no showers fall on your terraced fields. [ b ] ( AE )
For there the shield of the mighty was despised,
the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil. ( AF )
22 “From the blood ( AG ) of the slain,
from the flesh of the mighty,
the bow ( AH ) of Jonathan did not turn back,
the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
23 Saul and Jonathan—
in life they were loved and admired,
and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles, ( AI )
they were stronger than lions. ( AJ )
24 “Daughters of Israel,
weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and finery,
who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. ( AK )
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve ( AL ) for you, Jonathan ( AM ) my brother; ( AN )
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful, ( AO )
more wonderful than that of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen!
The weapons of war have perished!” ( AP )
