Now it came to pass after the death
of Saul
, when David
was returned
from the slaughter
of the Amalekites
, and David
had abode
two
days
in Ziklag
;
It came even to pass on the third day
, that, behold, a man
came
out of the camp
from Saul
with his clothes
rent
, and earth
upon his head
: and so it was, when he came
to David
, that he fell
to the earth
, and did obeisance
.
And David said
unto him, From whence comest
thou? And he said
unto him, Out of the camp
of Israel
am I escaped
.
And David said
unto him, How
went the matter
? I pray thee, tell
me. And he answered
, That the people
are fled
from the battle
, and many
of the people
also are fallen
and dead
; and Saul
and Jonathan
his son
are dead
also.
And David said
unto the young man
that told
him, How knowest
thou that Saul
and Jonathan
his son
be dead
?
And the young man that told
him said
, As I happened
by chance
upon mount
Gilboa
, behold, Saul
leaned
upon his spear
; and, lo, the chariots
and horsemen
followed hard
after him.
And when he looked behind
him, he saw
me, and called
unto me. And I answered
, Here am I.
And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered
him, I am an Amalekite
.
He said unto me again, Stand
, I pray thee, upon me, and slay
me: for anguish
is come
upon me, because my life
is yet whole in me.
So I stood upon him, and slew
him, because I was sure
that he could not live
after
that he was fallen
: and I took
the crown
that was upon his head
, and the bracelet
that was on his arm
, and have brought
them hither unto my lord
.
Then David took hold
on his clothes
, and rent
them; and likewise all the men
that were with him:
And they mourned, and wept
, and fasted
until even
, for Saul
, and for Jonathan
his son
, and for the people
of the LORD
, and for the house
of Israel
; because they were fallen
by the sword
.
And David said
unto the young man
that told
him, Whence art thou? And he answered
, I am the son
of a stranger
, an Amalekite
.
And David said
unto him, How wast thou not afraid
to stretch forth
thine hand
to destroy
the LORD'S
anointed
?
And David called
one
of the young men
, and said
, Go near
, and fall
upon him. And he smote
him that he died
.
And David said
unto him, Thy blood
be upon thy head
; for thy mouth
hath testified
against thee, saying
, I have slain
the LORD'S
anointed
.
And David lamented
with this lamentation
over Saul
and over Jonathan
his son
:
(Also he bade them teach
the children
of Judah
the use of the bow
: behold, it is written
in the book
of Jasher
.)
The beauty of Israel
is slain
upon thy high places
: how are the mighty
fallen
!
Tell it not in Gath
, publish
it not in the streets
of Askelon
; lest the daughters
of the Philistines
rejoice
, lest the daughters
of the uncircumcised
triumph
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
Ye daughters of Israel
, weep over
Saul
, who clothed
you in scarlet
, with other delights
, who put
on ornaments
of gold
upon your apparel
.
How are the mighty fallen
in the midst
of the battle
! O Jonathan
, thou wast slain
in thine high places
.
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
.
How are the mighty fallen
, and the weapons
of war
perished
!