2 Samuel 1New King James Version
The Report of Saul’s Death
1 Now it came to pass after the(A)death of Saul, when David had returned from(B)the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,2 on the third day, behold, it happened that(C)a man came from Saul’s camp(D)with his clothes[a]torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he(E)fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?”
So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 Then David said to him,(F)“How did the matter go? Please tell me.”
And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and(G)Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chanceto beon(H)Mount Gilboa, there was(I)Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’8 And he said to me, ‘Whoareyou?’ So I answered him, ‘Iaman Amalekite.’9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for[b]anguish has come upon me, but my life stillremainsin me.’10 So I stood over him and(J)killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown thatwason his head and the bracelet thatwason his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and(K)tore them, andso didall the men whowerewith him.12 And they(L)mourned and wept and(M)fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the(N)people of theLordand for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Whereareyou from?”
And he answered, “Iamthe son of an alien, an Amalekite.”
14 So David said to him, “How(O)was it you were not(P)afraid to(Q)put forth your hand to destroy theLord’s anointed?”15 Then(R)David called one of the young men and said, “Go near,andexecute him!” And he struck him so that he died.16 So David said to him,(S)“Your bloodison your own head, for(T)your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed theLord’s anointed.’ ”
The Song of the Bow
17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,18 (U)and he toldthemto teach the children of Judahthe Song ofthe Bow; indeedit iswritten(V)in the Book[c]of Jasher:
19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
(W)How the mighty have fallen!
20 (X)Tellitnot in Gath,
Proclaimitnot in the streets of(Y)Ashkelon—
Lest(Z)the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of(AA)the uncircumcised triumph.
21 “O(AB)mountains of Gilboa,
(AC)Let there beno dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is[d]cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not(AD)anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
(AE)The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23 “Saul and Jonathanwerebeloved and pleasant in their lives,
And in their(AF)death they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were(AG)stronger than lions.
24 “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathanwasslain in your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me;
(AH)Your love to me was wonderful,
Surpassing the love of women.
27 “How(AI)the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 1:2To show grief
- 2 Samuel 1:9agony
- 2 Samuel 1:18Lit.of the Upright
- 2 Samuel 1:21Lit.defiled
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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