The Song of the Bow

17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18 (A)and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written (B)in the Book [a]of Jasher:

19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
(C)How the mighty have fallen!
20 (D)Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of (E)Ashkelon—
Lest (F)the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of (G)the uncircumcised triumph.

21 “O (H)mountains of Gilboa,
(I)Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is [b]cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not (J)anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
(K)The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23 “Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,
And in their (L)death they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were (M)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!
Jonathan was slain in your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me;
(N)Your love to me was wonderful,
Surpassing the love of women.

27 “How(O) the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 1:18 Lit. of the Upright
  2. 2 Samuel 1:21 Lit. defiled

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow; behold, it is written in the Book of Jasher):

19 “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell 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.

21 “Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 “From 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.

23 “Saul 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.

24 “Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 “How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou was slain in thine high places.

26 I 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.

27 “How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

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