¹ And it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days,

^{2 Ref} and 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.

^{3 Ref} And David saith to him, `Whence comest thou?' and he saith unto him, `Out of the camp of Israel I have escaped.'

^{4 Ref} And 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.'

^{5 Ref} And David saith unto the youth who is declaring `it' to him, `How hast thou known that Saul and Jonathan his son `are' dead?'

^{6 Ref} And 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;

^{7 Ref} and he turneth behind him, and seeth me, and calleth unto me, and I say, Here `am' I.

^{8 Ref} And 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.

^{10 Ref} And 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.'

^{11 Ref} And David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who `are' with him,

^{12 Ref} and 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.

^{13 Ref} And 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'.'

^{14 Ref} And David saith unto him, `How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?'

^{15 Ref} And David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, `Draw nigh -- fall upon him;' and he smiteth him, and he dieth;

^{16 Ref} and 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.'

^{17 Ref} And David lamenteth with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son;

^{18 Ref} and he saith to teach the sons of Judah `The Bow;' lo, it is written on the book of the Upright: --

^{19 Ref} `The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places `is' wounded; How have the mighty fallen!

^{20 Ref} Declare `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!

^{21 Ref} Mountains 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.

^{22 Ref} From 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.

^{23 Ref} Saul 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!

^{24 Ref} Daughters of Israel! for Saul weep ye, Who is clothing you `in' scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up ornaments of gold on your clothing.

^{25 Ref} How have the mighty fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan! on thy high places wounded!

^{26 Ref} I 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!

^{27 Ref} How have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!'

¹ And 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 Ref} it came 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 Ref} And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

^{4 Ref} And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, 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 Ref} And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

^{6 Ref} And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.

^{7 Ref} And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

^{8 Ref} And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

⁹ And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.

^{10 Ref} So I stood beside 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 Ref} Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

^{12 Ref} and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

^{13 Ref} And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.

^{14 Ref} And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?

^{15 Ref} And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him, so that he died.

^{16 Ref} And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.

^{17 Ref} And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

^{18 Ref} (and he bade them teach the children of Judah `the song of' the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

^{19 Ref} Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!

^{20 Ref} Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

^{21 Ref} Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

^{22 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

^{25 Ref} How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.

^{26 Ref} 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 Ref} How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!