David’s Song of Mourning for Saul and Jonathan

17 Then David (A)sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in (B)the Book of Jashar.

19 [a]Your beauty, Israel, is [b]slaughtered on your high places!
(C)How the mighty have fallen!
20 (D)Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or (E)the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of (F)the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21 (G)Mountains of Gilboa,
(H)May there be no dew nor rain on you, or fields of offerings!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not (I)anointed with oil.
22 (J)From the blood of those [c]slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty,
(K)The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return [d]unstained.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in [e]life,
And in their deaths they were not separated;
(L)They were swifter than eagles,
(M)They were mightier than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry,
Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.
25 (N)How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is [f]slaughtered on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been [g]a close friend to me.
(O)Your love for me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
27 (P)How the mighty have fallen,
And (Q)the weapons of war have perished!”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit The
  2. 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit pierced
  3. 2 Samuel 1:22 Lit pierced
  4. 2 Samuel 1:22 Or without success
  5. 2 Samuel 1:23 Lit their lives
  6. 2 Samuel 1:25 Lit pierced
  7. 2 Samuel 1:26 Lit very friendly to

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17 So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he gave orders[a] to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare,[b] as is recorded in the Book of Jashar:[c]

19 “Your beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places!
    O, how the valiant have fallen!
20 Don’t make it known in Gath!
    Don’t declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon!
Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice;
    and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph.
21 Mountains of Gilboa,
    let no dew or rain fall on you,
        and may none of your fields be filled with plenty,
because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled,
    the shield of Saul without an anointing with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
    from the blood of the valiant,
Jonathan’s bow would not retreat
    nor would Saul’s sword return empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life,
    in death were not separated.
Swifter than eagles they were,
    and more valiant than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul!
    He clothed you in scarlet luxury
        and decorated your garments with gold.
25 How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle!
    Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26 I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan.
    You have been most kind[d] to me.
Your love for me was extraordinary[e]
    beyond love from women.
27 How the valiant have fallen!
    How the weapons of war are destroyed!”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 1:18 Lit. he said
  2. 2 Samuel 1:18 Lit. Judah the bow; or Judah the Song of the Bow; i.e., David’s lament in vs. 19-27
  3. 2 Samuel 1:18 Lit. the Book of the Upright; i.e. an ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost.
  4. 2 Samuel 1:26 Or pleasant
  5. 2 Samuel 1:26 Or wonderful