2 Samuel 1:4-12

Good News Translation

⁴ “Tell me what happened,” David said.

“Our army ran away from the battle,” he replied, “and many of our men were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan were also killed.”

⁵ “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David asked him.

^6 (A)He answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and I saw that Saul was leaning on his spear and that the chariots and cavalry of the enemy were closing in on him. ⁷ Then he turned around, saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Yes, sir!’ ⁸ He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite. ⁹ Then he said, ‘Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I'm about to die.’ ¹⁰ So I went up to him and killed him, because I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them to you, sir.”

¹¹ David tore his clothes in sorrow, and all his men did the same. ¹² They grieved and mourned and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan and for Israel, the people of the Lord, because so many had been killed in battle.