2 Samuel 1
1
Responses to Saul’s Death
1After the death of Saul,#1Sm 31:1–5 David returned from defeating the Amalekites#1Sm 30:1–20 and stayed at Ziklag two days. 2On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head#Jos 7:6; 1Sm 4:12 came from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3David asked him, “Where have you come from?”
He replied to him, “I’ve escaped from the Israelite camp.”
4“What was the outcome? Tell me,” David asked him.
“The troops fled from the battle,” he answered. “Many of the troops have fallen and are dead. Also, Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”#1Sm 31:6
5David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,”#1Sm 31:1–5; 1Ch 10:1–6 he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear. At that very moment the chariots and the cavalry were closing in on him. 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: I’m at your service. 8He asked me, ‘Who are you? ’ I told him: I’m an Amalekite.#Gn 36:12,16; Ex 17:8–16; Nm 24:20; Dt 25:19; 1Sm 15:1–34; 30:1–20; 1Ch 1:36 9Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for I’m mortally wounded,#1:9 LXX reads for terrible darkness has taken hold of me but my life still lingers.’#Jdg 9:54 10So I stood over him and killed him because I knew that after he had fallen he couldn’t survive. I took the crown that was on his head and the armband that was on his arm, and I’ve brought them here to my lord.”
11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them,#Jos 7:6; 2Sm 3:31; 13:31 and all the men with him did the same. 12They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening#2Sm 3:35 for those who died by the sword — for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel.
13David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?”
“I’m the son of a resident alien,” he said. “I’m an Amalekite.”
14David questioned him, “How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” #1Sm 24:6; 26:6–12; 31:4 15Then David summoned one of his servants and said, “Come here and kill him!” The servant struck him, and he died.#2Sm 4:10 16For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood is on your own head#Jos 2:19; Mt 27:24–25; Ac 18:5–6 because your own mouth testified against you by saying, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”
17David sang the following lament#2Sm 3:33; 2Ch 35:24–25 for Saul and his son Jonathan, 18and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:#1:18 Or of the Upright#Jos 10:12–13
19The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights.
How the mighty have fallen!
20Do not tell it in Gath,
don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,#1Sm 31:8–9
and the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21Mountains of Gilboa,
let no dew or rain be on you,
or fields of offerings,#1:21 LXX reads firstfruits
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled#1Sm 31:4 —
the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.#1Sm 10:1
22Jonathan’s bow never retreated,
Saul’s sword never returned unstained,#1:22 Lit empty
from the blood of the slain,
from the flesh#1:22 Lit fat of the mighty.
23Saul and Jonathan,
loved and delightful,
they were not parted in life or in death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things,
who decked your garments with gold ornaments.#Ezk 16:1–11
25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.
You were such a friend to me.
Your love for me was more wondrous
than the love of women.#1Sm 18:1–3
27How the mighty have fallen
and the weapons of war have perished!
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2 Samuel 1: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
2 Samuel 1
1
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 remained two days in Ziklag. 2On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that 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 also many of the people have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.” 5So 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 pursued him closely. 7When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 8He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9Then he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’ 10So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. 12They 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. 13David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.” 14Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15And David called one of the young men and said, “Go, cut him down.” So he struck him and he died. 16David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”
David’s Dirge for Saul and Jonathan
17Then David chanted with this lament over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.
19“Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How have the mighty 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 exult.
21O mountains of Gilboa,
Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings;
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
22From 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.
23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
24O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is slain on your high places.
26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
27How have the mighty fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”
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