2 Samuel 1 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

David Hears of Saul’s Death

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. (1Sa 30:17) 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. (Jos 7:6; 2Sa 4:10; 2Sa 14:4) 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” (1Sa 4:16) 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. (1Sa 31:1; 1Ch 10:1) 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ (Jud 9:54) 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And 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.” (2Ki 11:12) 11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. (Jos 7:6; 2Sa 3:31; 2Sa 13:31) 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. (2Sa 3:35) 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” (1Sa 12:3; 1Sa 24:6; 1Sa 24:10; 1Sa 26:9; 1Sa 31:4)

1Sa 12:31Sa 24:61Sa 24:101Sa 26:91Sa 31:4

15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. (2Sa 4:10) 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’” (Jos 2:19; 1Sa 12:3; 2Sa 3:29; 1Ki 2:32; 1Ki 2:37; Mt 27:25)

Jos 2:191Sa 12:32Sa 3:291Ki 2:321Ki 2:37Mt 27:25

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, (2Sa 3:33; 2Ch 35:25) 18 and he said it^[1] should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.^[2] He said: (Jos 10:13) 19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! (2Sa 1:25; 2Sa 1:27) 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 exult. (Ex 15:20; Jud 11:34; Jud 14:3; 1Sa 31:9; Am 3:9; Mic 1:10)

Ex 15:20Jud 11:34Jud 14:31Sa 31:9Am 3:9Mic 1:10

21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings!^[3] For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. (1Sa 10:1; 1Sa 31:1) 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. (1Sa 18:4) 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. (Jud 14:18; Jer 4:13; Hab 1:8) 24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. (Eze 16:11) 25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. (2Sa 1:19) 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. (1Sa 18:1; 1Sa 18:3) 27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” (2Sa 1:25)

New International Version

David hears of Saul’s death

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honour. 3 ‘Where have you come from?’ David asked him. He answered, ‘I have escaped from the Israelite camp.’ 4 ‘What happened?’ David asked. ‘Tell me.’ ‘The men fled from the battle,’ he replied. ‘Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.’ 5 Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?’ 6 ‘I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,’ the young man said, ‘and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. 7 When he turned round and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, “What can I do?” 8 ‘He asked me, “Who are you?” ‘ “An Amalekite,” I answered. 9 ‘Then he said to me, “Stand here by me and kill me! I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.” 10 ‘So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.’ 11 Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 David said to the young man who brought him the report, ‘Where are you from?’ ‘I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite,’ he answered. 14 David asked him, ‘Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?’ 15 Then David called one of his men and said, ‘Go, strike him down!’ So he struck him down, and he died. 16 For David had said to him, ‘Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, “I killed the Lord’s anointed.” ’

David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan

17 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar): 19 ‘A gazelle^[1] lies slain on your heights, Israel. How the mighty have fallen! 20 ‘Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. 21 ‘Mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, may no showers fall on your terraced fields.^[2] For there the shield of the mighty was despised, the shield of Saul – no longer rubbed with oil. 22 ‘From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. 23 Saul and Jonathan – in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 ‘Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. 25 ‘How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. 26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. 27 ‘How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!’