1:1 | After the death of Saul,* when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites,* he stayed at Ziklag* for two days. |
1:2 | On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.* When he approached David, the man* threw himself to the ground.* |
1:3 | David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” |
1:4 | David inquired, “How were things going?* Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle and many of them* fell dead.* Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!” |
1:5 | David said to the young man* who was telling him this, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”* |
1:6 | The young man who was telling him this* said, “I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him. |
1:7 | When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, ‘Here I am!’ |
1:8 | He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m* an Amalekite.’ |
1:9 | He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off!* I’m very dizzy,* even though I’m still alive.’* |
1:10 | So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn’t live in such a condition.* Then I took the crown which was on his head and the* bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.”* |
1:11 | David then grabbed his own clothes* and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. |
1:12 | They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword. |
1:13 | David said to the young man who told this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.”* |
1:14 | David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” |
1:15 | Then David called one of the soldiers* and said, “Come here and strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. |
1:16 | David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the Lord’s anointed to death.’” |
1:17 | Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. |
1:18 | (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.”* Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.)* |
1:19 | The beauty* of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! |
1:20 | Don’t report it in Gath, don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,* or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate! |
1:21 | O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings!* For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled;* the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.* |
1:22 | From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors, the bow of Jonathan was not turned away. The sword of Saul never returned* empty. |
1:23 | Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved* during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. |
1:24 | O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet* as well as jewelry, who put gold jewelry on your clothes. |
1:25 | How the warriors have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places! |
1:26 | I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan! You were very dear to me. Your love was more special to me than the love of women. |
1:27 | How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war* are destroyed! |