2 Samuel 1
Modern English Version
The Death of Saul(A)
1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, David had remained two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, a man came from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt upon his head. As he approached David, he fell to the ground prostrate.
3 David asked him, “Where have you come from?”
He responded, “I fled from the camp of Israel.”
4 David said to him, “Tell me, what is the report?”
So he reported, “The people fled from battle. Many of the people have fallen and died; even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5 Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man who was reporting to him answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa when, in front of me, Saul was leaning on his spear with the chariots and horsemen drawing close. 7 When he turned around, he noticed me. He summoned me, and I responded, ‘Here I am.’
8 “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’
“I answered, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 “Then he said to me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for I have been mortally wounded, yet I am still alive.’
10 “So I stood beside him and killed him because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, as did all of the men who were with him. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul, Jonathan his son, the people of the Lord, and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, “Where are you from?”
He responded, “I am the son of one who sought refuge, an Amalekite.”
14 David said to him, “How is it that you did not fear raising your hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?”
15 Then David called to one of the young men and said, “Step forward and execute him.” So he struck him and killed him. 16 But David said to him, “Your blood is upon your own head, since your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I put an end to the anointed of the Lord.’ ”
The Lament of David
17 Then David recited this lament over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the Song of the Bow. It is written in the book of Jashar:
19 Your splendor, O Israel, has been slain upon your hills.
How the mighty ones have fallen.
20 Do not report it in Gath,
do not announce it in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
or the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21 O mountains of Gilboa,
may there be no rain or dew upon you
or your bountiful fields;
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled!
The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
nor did the sword of Saul return empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan,
beloved and delightful,
neither in life nor death will they be separated.
They were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and jewels,
who adorned your garments with gold jewelry.
25 How the mighty ones have fallen in the midst of battle!
Jonathan was slain on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
you were very dear to me;
your love was more remarkable than the love of women.
27 How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war have perished.
2 Samuel 1
Lexham English Bible
The Report of Saul’s Death by the Amalekite
1 After[a] the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and he stayed at Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day, a man came from the camp from being with Saul, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he came[b] to David, he fell to the ground and bowed down. 3 David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 Then David said to him, “How did things go?[c] Please tell me.” He answered, “When[d] the army fled from the battle, and many of the people fell; also, Saul and Jonathan his son died.” 5 Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan died?” 6 The young man who was reporting to him said, “I merely happened to be on Mount Gilboa. Here Saul was leaning on his spear, and look, the chariots and the horsemen were getting close to him. 7 When he turned around and saw me, he called to me, and I said, ‘Here I am.’ 8 Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I said to him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for convulsions have seized me, even though my life is still in me.’ 10 So I stood over him and killed him, for I knew that he could not live after his falling; I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm; and here, I have brought them to my lord. 11 David grabbed at his clothes and tore them, as did all of the men who were with him. 12 Then they mourned and wept and fasted over Saul and Jonathan his son until the evening, as well as over the people of Yahweh and over the house of Israel because they had fallen by the sword. 13 Then David said to the young man who was reporting to him, “Where are you from?” And he said, “I am the son of an alien man. I am an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed one?” 15 Then David called to one of the young men and said to him, “Come near; strike him.” So he struck him down and he died. 16 David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you by saying, ‘I killed Yahweh’s anointed one!’”
David Laments Jonathan with the “Song of the Bow”
17 Then David sang this funeral song over Saul and over Jonathan his son. 18 And he ordered “The Bow” to be taught to the children of Judah. Look, it is written on the scroll of Jashar.[e]
19 “The glory of Israel is on your high places; how the mighty have fallen!
20 Do not tell it in Gath; do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you
or on the fields of grain for offerings,
for there the small shield of the mighty was defiled,
the small shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
and the sword of Saul did not return without effect.[f]
23 Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives
and were not separated in their death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
the one who clothed you with crimson,
the one who adorned your clothing with golden ornaments.[g]
25 How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle;
Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26 I am distressed[h] over you, my brother Jonathan.
you were very dear to me;
your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.
27 How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of warfare perished.”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 1:1 Literally “And it happened after”
- 2 Samuel 1:2 Literally “And it happened at his coming”
- 2 Samuel 1:4 Literally “What was the thing”
- 2 Samuel 1:4 Literally “That”
- 2 Samuel 1:18 The Book of Jashar (“the upright”) is also mentioned in Josh 10:13.
- 2 Samuel 1:22 Literally “empty handedly”
- 2 Samuel 1:24 Literally “put gold ornaments on your clothing”
- 2 Samuel 1:26 Literally “Distress is for me”
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software