17 David sang the following lament(A) for Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:[a](B)

19 The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights.
How the mighty have fallen!
20 Do not tell it in Gath,
don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,(C)
and the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21 Mountains of Gilboa,
let no dew or rain be on you,
or fields of offerings,[b]
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled(D)
the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.(E)
22 Jonathan’s bow never retreated,
Saul’s sword never returned unstained,[c]
from the blood of the slain,
from the flesh[d] of the mighty.
23 Saul and Jonathan,
loved and delightful,
they were not parted in life or in death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things,
who decked your garments with gold ornaments.(F)
25 How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.
You were such a friend to me.
Your love for me was more wondrous
than the love of women.(G)
27 How the mighty have fallen
and the weapons of war have perished!

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Footnotes

  1. 1:18 Or of the Upright
  2. 1:21 LXX reads firstfruits
  3. 1:22 Lit empty
  4. 1:22 Lit fat

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