1
And it was, after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the smiting of the Amalekites, that David had dwelt two days in Ziklag;
2
and it was, on the third day, that behold, a man◦ came from the camp from with Saul, and his garments were rent, and the dust* of the ground upon his head; and it was, when he came to▵ David, that he fell to the earth and bowed··down.
3
And David said to him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto▵ him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4
And David said to▵ him, What is the word? Tell me, I pray◦. And he said, The people have fled from the battle, and a multitude▵ of the people also have fallen and are··dead; and Saul and Jonathan◦ his son are· also ·dead.
5
And David said to▵ the lad who told him, How◦ knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan◦ his son are dead?
6
And the lad that told him said, Happening I happened to be on◦ Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, behold, the chariots and the masters of the horsemen stuck close to him.
7
And he faced behind him and saw me, and called to▵ me. And I said, Behold me.
8
And he said unto me, who art thou◦? And I said unto▵ him, I▵ am an Amalekite.
9
And he said unto▵ me, Stand, I pray◦ thee, over me, and put· me ·to··death, for mortal anguish has seized me, for all my soul is yet in me.
10
And I stood over him and put· him ·to··death, because◦ I knew that he could not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown◦ that was on his head, and the armband that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto▵ my lord.
11
And David held· his garments ·firmly and rent them; and also all the men◦ that were with◦ him.
12
And they wailed and wept, and fasted until evening, for▵ Saul and for▵ Jonathan◦ his son, and for▵ the people of Jehovah, and for▵ the house of Israel; for they had fallen by the sword.
13
And David said unto▵ the lad that told him, Whence art thou◦? And he said, I▵ am the son of a man◦, an Amalekite, sojourner.
14
And David said unto▵ him, How◦ didst thou not fear to put··forth◦ thy hand to corrupt the anointed of Jehovah?
15
And David called one of the lads and said, Approach and fall··upon him. And he smote him, and he died.
16
And David said unto▵ him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has answered against thee, saying, I▵ have··put··to··death the anointed of Jehovah.
17
And David lamented this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan◦ his son.
18
And he said, to teach the sons of Judah the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar;
19
The elegance of Israel is slain on thy high··places.
How◦ have the heroes fallen?
20
Tell it not in Gath,
bring· not ·tidings into the streets of Ashkelon;
lest the daughters of the Philistines be··glad,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21
Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no◦ dew, nor rain upon you;
nor fields of heavenly-offerings;
for there was polluted the shield of the heroes,
the shield of Saul, not▵ anointed with oil.
22
From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan◦ retreated not backward,
and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23
Saul and Jonathan◦ were loved and pleasant in their lives,
and in their death they were not separated;
they were··swifter than eagles,
they prevailed more than lions.
24
Ye daughters of Israel,
weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet twice-dyed, with pleasures,
who put a decoration of gold upon your clothing.
25
How◦ have the heroes fallen in the midst of the battle?
Jonathan◦ is slain in thy high··places.
26
I am··in··adversity over thee, my brother Jonathan◦!
Very pleasant hast thou been to me;
thy love to me was wonderful,
more··than the love of women.
27
How◦ have the heroes fallen,
and the weapons◦ of war perished?
