Saul’s Death Reported to David
(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)

1After the death of Saul (desired), David (beloved) returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) and stayed in Ziklag (winding) two days. 2On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s (desired) camp. When he came to David (beloved), he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

3“Where have you come from?” David (beloved) asked.

“I have escaped from the Israelite (he wrestles with God) camp,” he replied.

4“What was the outcome?” David (beloved) asked. “Please tell me.”

“The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) are also dead.”

5Then David (beloved) asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) are dead?”

6“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa (swollen heap),” he replied, “and there was Saul (desired), leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him. 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I answered, ‘Here I am!’

8‘Who are you?’ he asked.

So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite (people of lapping).’

9Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’

10So I stood over 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 that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11Then David (beloved) took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. 12They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given), and for the people of the LORD {YHWH} and the house of Israel (he wrestles with God), because they had fallen by the sword.

13And David (beloved) inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?”

“I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite (people of lapping).”

14So David (beloved) asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s {YHWH} anointed?” 15Then David (beloved) summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. 16For David (beloved) had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s {YHWH} anointed.’”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17Then David (beloved) took up this lament for Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given), 18and he ordered that the sons of Judah (praised) be taught the Song of the Bow (be taught the use of the bow).a It is written in the Book of Jashar [attributed to Jasher.]:b

19“Your glory, O Israel (he wrestles with God), lies slain on your heights.

How the mighty have fallen!

20Tell it not in Gath (winepress);

proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon (the fire of infamy),

lest the daughters of the Philistines (immigrants) rejoice,

and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21O mountains of Gilboa (swollen heap),

may you⁺ have no dew or rain,

no fields yielding offerings of grain (no showers falling on your terraced fields).c

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,

the shield of Saul (desired), no longer anointed with oil.

22From the blood of the slain,

from the fat of the mighty,

the bow of Jonathan (YHWH has given) did not retreat,

and the sword of Saul (desired) did not return empty.

23Saul (desired) and Jonathan (YHWH has given), beloved and delightful in life,

were not divided in death.

They were swifter than eagles;

they were stronger than lions.

24O daughters of Israel (he wrestles with God),

weep for Saul (desired),

who clothed you⁺ in scarlet and luxury,

who decked your⁺ garments with ornaments of gold.

25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!

Jonathan (YHWH has given) lies slain on your heights.

26I grieve for you, Jonathan (YHWH has given), my brother.

You were delightful to me;

your love to me was extraordinary,

surpassing the love of women.

27How the mighty have fallen,

and the weapons of war have perished!”