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¹ It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; ² it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. ³ David said to him, From whence come you? He said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. ⁴ David said to him, How went the matter? Please tell me. He answered, 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. ⁵ David said to the young man who told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? ⁶ The young man who told him said, As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and, behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. ⁷ When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, Here am I. ⁸ He said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite. ⁹ He said to me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me. ¹⁰ So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.

¹¹ Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him: ¹² and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. ¹³ David said to the young man who told him, Whence are you? He answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite. ¹⁴ David said to him, How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed? ¹⁵ David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. He struck him, so that he died. ¹⁶ David said to him, Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain Yahweh's anointed.

¹⁷ David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son ¹⁸ (and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): ¹⁹ Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How are the mighty 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 nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, 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 didn't turn back, The sword of Saul 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 in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. ²⁵ How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. ²⁶ I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant have you been to me: Your love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women. ²⁷ How are the mighty fallen, The weapons of war perished!