2 Samuel 1
1
1And it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days,
2and it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] rent, and earth on his head; and it cometh to pass, in his coming in unto David, that he falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance.
3And David saith to him, ‘Whence comest thou?’ and he saith unto him, ‘Out of the camp of Israel I have escaped.’
4And David saith unto him, ‘What hath been the matter? declare, I pray thee, to me.’ And he saith, that ‘The people hath fled from the battle, and also a multitude hath fallen of the people, and they die; and also Saul and Jonathan his son have died.’
5And David saith unto the youth who is declaring [it] to him, ‘How hast thou known that Saul and Jonathan his son [are] dead?’
6And the youth who is declaring [it] to him saith, I happened to meet in mount Gilboa, and lo, Saul is leaning on his spear; and lo, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him;
7and he turneth behind him, and seeth me, and calleth unto me, and I say, Here [am] I.
8And he saith to me, Who [art] thou? and I say unto him, An Amalekite I [am].’
9‘And he saith unto me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and put me to death, for seized me hath the arrow, for all my soul [is] still in me.
10And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he doth not live after his falling, and I take the crown which [is] on his head, and the bracelet which [is] on his arm, and bring them in unto my lord hither.’
11And David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who [are] with him,
12and they mourn, and weep, and fast till the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword.
13And David saith unto the youth who is declaring [it] to him, ‘Whence [art] thou?’ and he saith, ‘Son of a sojourner, an Amalekite, I [am].’
14And David saith unto him, ‘How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?’
15And David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, ‘Draw nigh — fall upon him;’ and he smiteth him, and he dieth;
16and David saith unto him, ‘Thy blood [is] on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I — I put to death the anointed of Jehovah.’
17And David lamenteth with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son;
18and he saith to teach the sons of Judah ‘The Bow;’ lo, it is written on the book of the Upright: —
19‘The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places [is] wounded; How have the mighty fallen!
20Declare [it] not in Gath, Proclaim not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice — The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult — The daughters of the Uncircumcised!
21Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of heave-offerings! For there hath become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul — without the anointed with oil.
22From the blood of the wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Hath not turned backward; And the sword of Saul doth not return empty.
23Saul and Jonathan! They are loved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they have not been parted. Than eagles they have been lighter, Than lions they have been mightier!
24Daughters of Israel! for Saul weep ye, Who is clothing you [in] scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25How have the mighty fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan! on thy high places wounded!
26I am in distress for thee, my brother Jonathan, Very pleasant wast thou to me; Wonderful was thy love to me, Above the love of women!
27How have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!’
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2 Samuel 1: YLT98
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
2 Samuel 1
1
David mourns for Saul
David finds out about Saul's death
1Saul was dead.
Meanwhile, David had defeated the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag. 2Three days later, a soldier came from Saul's army. His clothes were torn, and earth was on his head.#1.2 His clothes…his head: People tore their clothes and put earth on their heads to show they were sad because someone had died. He went to David and knelt down in front of him.
3David asked, “Where did you come from?”
The man answered, “From Israel's army. I barely escaped with my life.”
4“Who won the battle?” David asked.
The man said, “Our army turned and ran, but many were wounded and died. Even King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5David asked, “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?”
6The young man replied:#1 S 31.1-6; 1 Ch 10.1-6.
I was on Mount Gilboa and saw King Saul leaning on his spear. The enemy's war chariots and cavalry were closing in on him. 7When he turned round and saw me, he called me over. I went and asked what he wanted.
8Saul asked me, “Who are you?”
“An Amalekite,” I answered.
9Then he said, “Kill me! I'm dying, and I'm in terrible pain.”#1.9 in terrible pain: Or “very weak”.
10So I killed him. I knew he was too badly wounded to live much longer. Then I took his crown and his arm-band, and I brought them to you, Your Majesty. Here they are.
11Straight away, David and his soldiers tore their clothes in sorrow. 12They cried all day long and would not eat anything. Everyone was sad because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many of the LORD's people had been killed in the battle.
13David asked the young man, “Where is your home?”
The man replied, “My father is an Amalekite, but we live in Israel.”
14-16David said to him, “Why weren't you afraid to kill the LORD's chosen king? And you even told what you did. It's your own fault that you're going to die!”
Then David told one of his soldiers, “Come here and kill this man!”
David sings in memory of Saul
17David sang a song in memory of Saul and Jonathan, 18and he ordered his men to teach the song to everyone in Judah. He called it “The Song of the Bow”, and it can be found in The Book of Jashar.#1.18 The Book of Jashar: This book may have been a collection of ancient war songs. This is the song:#Js 10.13.
19Israel, your famous hero
lies dead on the hills,
and your mighty warriors
have fallen!
20Don't tell it in Gath
or spread the news
in the streets of Ashkelon.
The godless Philistine women
will be happy
and jump for joy.
21Don't let dew or rain fall
on the hills of Gilboa.
Don't let its fields
grow offerings for God.
There the warriors' shields
were smeared with mud,
and Saul's own shield
was left unpolished.#1.21 unpolished: Some shields were made of leather and were polished with olive oil.
22The arrows of Jonathan struck,
and warriors died.
The sword of Saul cut
the enemy apart.
23It was easy to love Saul
and Jonathan.
Together in life,
together in death,
they were faster than eagles
and stronger than lions.
24Women of Israel, cry for Saul.
He brought you fine red cloth
and jewellery made of gold.
25Our warriors have fallen
in the heat of battle,
and Jonathan lies dead
on the hills of Gilboa.
26Jonathan, I miss you most!
I loved you
like a brother.
You were truly loyal to me,
more faithful than a wife
to her husband.#1.26 You…husband: Or “You loved me more than a wife could possibly love her husband.”
27Our warriors have fallen,
and their weapons#1.27 weapons: This may refer to Saul and Jonathan.
are destroyed.
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