1And 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 ; 2it 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 . 3And David said unto him , From whence comest thou? And he said unto him , Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped . 4And 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 . 5And David said unto the young man that told him , How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead ? 6And 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 . 7And when he looked behind him , he saw me , and called unto me . And I answered, Here am I . 8And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite . 9And 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 . 10So 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.
David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan
11Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them ; and likewise all the men that were with him : 12and 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 . 13And David said unto the young man that told him , Whence art thou? And he answered , I am the son of a sojourner , an Amalekite . 14And David said unto him , How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah ’s anointed ? 15And David called one of the young men , and said , Go near , and fall upon him . And he smote him , so that he died . 16And David said unto him , Thy blood be upon thy head ; for thy mouth hath testified against thee , saying , I have slain Jehovah ’s anointed . 17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18( and he bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow : behold , it is written in the book of Jashar ): 19Thy glory , O Israel , is slain upon thy high places ! How are the mighty fallen ! 20Tell 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 . 21Ye 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 . 22From 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 . 23Saul 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. 24Ye daughters of Israel , weep over Saul , Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel . 25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle ! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places . 26I 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. 27How are the mighty fallen , And the weapons of war perished!