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17 David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18 (and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

19 “Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places!
    How the mighty have fallen!
20 Don’t tell it in Gath.
    Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
    lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 You mountains of Gilboa,
    let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings;
    For there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away,
    The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
    from the fat of the mighty,
    Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back.
    Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives.
    In their death, they were not divided.
They were swifter than eagles.
    They were stronger than lions.
24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
    who clothed you delicately in scarlet,
    who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25 How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle!
    Jonathan was slain on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan.
    You have been very pleasant to me.
    Your love to me was wonderful,
    passing the love of women.
27 How the mighty have fallen,
    and the weapons of war have perished!”

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17 David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.(A) 18 (He ordered that The Song of the Bow[a] be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said,(B)

19 “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places!
    How the mighty have fallen!(C)
20 Tell it not in Gath;
    proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice;
    the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.(D)

21 You mountains of Gilboa,
    let there be no dew or rain upon you
    nor bounteous fields![b]
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
    the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more.(E)

22 From the blood of the slain,
    from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
    nor the sword of Saul return empty.(F)

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
    In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
    they were stronger than lions.(G)

24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
    who clothed you with crimson, in luxury,
    who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 How the mighty have fallen
    in the midst of the battle!

Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.(H)
26     I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
greatly beloved were you to me;
    your love to me was wonderful,
    passing the love of women.(I)

27 How the mighty have fallen,
    and the weapons of war perished!”(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.18 Heb that The Bow
  2. 1.21 Meaning of Heb uncertain