2Samuel 1

David Learns of Saul’s Death

1After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag.H310H4194H7586H1732H7725H5221H6002H1732H3427H8147H3117H68602On the third day a man arrived from Saul's army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.H7992H3117H376H935H4264H7586H899H7167H127H7218H935H1732H5307H776H78123"Where have you come from?" David asked. "I escaped from the Israelite camp," the man replied.H1732H559H935H559H4264H3478H44224"What happened?" David demanded. "Tell me how the battle went." The man replied, "Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead."H1732H559H4100H1697H5046H559H5971H5127H4421H7235H5971H5307H4191H7586H3083H1121H41915"How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?" David demanded of the young man.H1732H559H5288H5046H3045H7586H3083H1121H41916The man answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him.H5288H5046H559H7136H7122H2022H1533H7586H8172H2595H7393H1167H6571H16927When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. 'How can I help?' I asked him.H6437H310H7200H7121H5598"He responded, 'Who are you?' "'I am an Amalekite,' I told him.H559H559H60039"Then he begged me, 'Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.'H559H5975H4191H7661H270H531510"So I killed him," the Amalekite told David, "for I knew he couldn't live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord."H5975H4191H3045H2421H310H5307H3947H5145H7218H685H2220H935H11311David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news.H1732H2388H899H7167H58212They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD's army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.H5594H1058H6684H6153H7586H3083H1121H5971H3068H1004H3478H5307H271913Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, "Where are you from?" And he replied, "I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land."H1732H559H5288H5046H559H1121H376H1616H600314"Why were you not afraid to kill the LORD's anointed one?" David asked.H1732H559H3372H7971H3027H7843H3068H489915Then David said to one of his men, "Kill him!" So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him.H1732H7121H259H5288H559H5066H6293H5221H419116"You have condemned yourself," David said, "for you yourself confessed that you killed the LORD's anointed one."H1732H559H1818H7218H6310H6030H559H4191H3068H4899

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan,H1732H6969H7015H7586H3083H112118and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar

.H559H3925H1121H3063H7198H3789H5612H347719Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!H6643H3478H2491H1116H1368H530720Don't announce the news in Gath, don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice and the pagans will laugh in triumph.H5046H1661H1319H2351H831H1323H6430H8055H1323H6189H593721O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain

. For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled; the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.H2022H1533H2919H4306H7704H8641H4043H1368H1602H4043H7586H4899H808122The bow of Jonathan was powerful, and the sword of Saul did its mighty work. They shed the blood of their enemies and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.H1818H2491H2459H1368H7198H3083H7734H268H2719H7586H7725H738723How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.H7586H3083H157H5273H2416H4194H6504H7043H5404H1396H73824O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing, in garments decorated with gold.H1323H3478H1058H7586H3847H8144H5730H5927H5716H2091H383025Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on the hills.H1368H5307H8432H4421H3083H2491H111626How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women!H6887H251H3083H3966H5276H160H6381H160H80227Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.H1368H5307H3627H4421H6