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

1  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), אַֽחֲרֵי֙ (after) מ֣וֹת (the death) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul), וְדָוִ֣ד (that David) שָׁ֔ב (returned) מֵהַכּ֖וֹת (from the slaughter of) אֶת־ (-) הָעֲמָלֵ֑ק (the Amalekite). וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב (And stayed) דָּוִ֛ד (David) בְּצִקְלָ֖ג (in Ziklag) יָמִ֥ים (days) שְׁנָֽיִם׃ (two). 2  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י (third) וְהִנֵּה֩ (that behold), אִ֨ישׁ (a man) בָּ֤א (came) מִן־ (from) הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ (camp) מֵעִ֣ם (of) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וּבְגָדָ֣יו (and with his clothes) קְרֻעִ֔ים (torn) וַאֲדָמָ֖ה (and dust) עַל־ (on) רֹאשׁ֑וֹ (his head). וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), בְּבֹא֣וֹ (when he came) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), וַיִּפֹּ֥ל (that he fell) אַ֖רְצָה (to the ground) וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ (and bowed low).

3  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לוֹ֙ (to him) דָּוִ֔ד (David), אֵ֥י (From where) מִזֶּ֖ה (that) תָּב֑וֹא (have you come)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), מִמַּחֲנֵ֥ה (From the camp) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) נִמְלָֽטְתִּי׃ (I have escaped).

4  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֵלָ֥יו (to him) דָּוִ֛ד (David), מֶה־ (What) הָיָ֥ה (is) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the report)? הַגֶּד־ (Tell) נָ֣א (please) לִ֑י (me).

וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (And he answered), אֲשֶׁר־ (That) נָ֨ס (have fled) הָעָ֜ם (the people) מִן־ (from) הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (the battle), וְגַם־ (and) הַרְבֵּ֞ה (many) נָפַ֤ל (are fallen) מִן־ (of) הָעָם֙ (the people) וַיָּמֻ֔תוּ (and died). וְגַ֗ם (And also) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) וִיהוֹנָתָ֥ן (and Jonathan) בְּנ֖וֹ (his son) מֵֽתוּ׃ (are dead).

5  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֔ד (David) אֶל־ (to) הַנַּ֖עַר (the young man) הַמַּגִּ֣יד (who told) ל֑וֹ (him), אֵ֣יךְ (How) יָדַ֔עְתָּ (do you know) כִּי־ (that) מֵ֥ת (are dead) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) וִיהֽוֹנָתָ֥ן (and Jonathan) בְּנֽוֹ׃ (his son)?

6  וַיֹּ֜אמֶר (And said) הַנַּ֣עַר׀ (the young man) הַמַּגִּ֣יד (who told) ל֗וֹ (him) נִקְרֹ֤א (To meet), נִקְרֵ֙יתִי֙ (I happened) בְּהַ֣ר (on Mount) הַגִּלְבֹּ֔עַ (Gilboa), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and there was) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) נִשְׁעָ֣ן (leaning) עַל־ (on) חֲנִית֑וֹ (his spear). וְהִנֵּ֥ה (And behold), הָרֶ֛כֶב (the chariots) וּבַעֲלֵ֥י (and) הַפָּרָשִׁ֖ים (horsemen) הִדְבִּקֻֽהוּ׃ (followed hard after him). 7  וַיִּ֥פֶן (And he looked) אַחֲרָ֖יו (behind him) וַיִּרְאֵ֑נִי (and he saw me) וַיִּקְרָ֣א (and called) אֵלָ֔י (to me), וָאֹמַ֖ר (and I answered), הִנֵּֽנִי׃ (Behold).

8  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And he said) לִ֖י (to me), מִי־ (Who are) אָ֑תָּה (you)?

וַיֹּאמֶר (And I said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), עֲמָלֵקִ֖י (An Amalekite) אָנֹֽכִי׃ (I am).

9  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֵלַ֗י (to me), עֲמָד־ (Stand), נָ֤א (please), עָלַי֙ (over me) וּמֹ֣תְתֵ֔נִי (and kill me), כִּ֥י (for) אֲחָזַ֖נִי (has seized me) הַשָּׁבָ֑ץ (the anguish), כִּֽי־ (but) כָל־ (all) ע֥וֹד (still) נַפְשִׁ֖י (my life is) בִּֽי׃ (in me).

10  וָאֶעֱמֹ֤ד (And I stood) עָלָיו֙ (over him) וַאֲמֹ֣תְתֵ֔הוּ (and killed him), כִּ֣י (because) יָדַ֔עְתִּי (I was sure) כִּ֛י (that) לֹ֥א (not) יִֽחְיֶ֖ה (he could live) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) נִפְל֑וֹ (he had fallen). וָאֶקַּ֞ח (And I took) הַנֵּ֣זֶר׀ (the diadem) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) עַל־ (on) רֹאשׁ֗וֹ (his head) וְאֶצְעָדָה֙ (and the bracelet) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) עַל־ (on) זְרֹע֔וֹ (his arm), וָאֲבִיאֵ֥ם (and have brought them) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנִ֖י (my lord) הֵֽנָּה׃ (here).

11  וַיַּחֲזֵ֥ק (And took hold) דָּוִ֛ד (David) בִּבְגָדוֹ (on his garments) וַיִּקְרָעֵ֑ם (and tore them), וְגַ֥ם (and also) כָּל־ (all) הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (the men) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (with him). 12  וַֽיִּסְפְּדוּ֙ (And they mourned) וַיִּבְכּ֔וּ (and wept) וַיָּצֻ֖מוּ (and fasted) עַד־ (until) הָעָ֑רֶב (the evening) עַל־ (for) שָׁא֞וּל (Saul), וְעַל־ (and for) יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (Jonathan) בְּנ֗וֹ (his son), וְעַל־ (and for) עַ֤ם (the people) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), וְעַל־ (and for) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), כִּ֥י (because) נָפְל֖וּ (they had fallen) בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ס (by the sword).

13  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֗ד (David) אֶל־ (to) הַנַּ֙עַר֙ (the young man) הַמַּגִּ֣יד (who told) ל֔וֹ (him), אֵ֥י (From where) מִזֶּ֖ה (here) אָ֑תָּה (are you)?

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he answered), בֶּן־ (A son) אִ֛ישׁ (of a man) גֵּ֥ר (sojourning), עֲמָלֵקִ֖י (an Amalekite) אָנֹֽכִי׃ (I am).

14  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) דָּוִ֑ד (David), אֵ֚יךְ (How) לֹ֣א (not) יָרֵ֔אתָ (were you afraid) לִשְׁלֹ֙חַ֙ (to stretch out) יָֽדְךָ֔ (your hand) לְשַׁחֵ֖ת (to destroy) אֶת־ (-) מְשִׁ֥יחַ (the anointed) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH)? 15  וַיִּקְרָ֣א (And called) דָוִ֗ד (David) לְאַחַד֙ (one) מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים (of the young men) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), גַּ֣שׁ (Go near) פְּגַע־ (and fall) בּ֑וֹ (upon him). וַיַּכֵּ֖הוּ (And he struck him) וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (and he died). 16  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) דָּוִ֔ד (David), דָּמֶיךָ (Your blood is) עַל־ (on) רֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ (your own head). כִּ֣י (For) פִ֗יךָ (your own mouth) עָנָ֤ה (has testified) בְךָ֙ (against you), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אָנֹכִ֥י (I) מֹתַ֖תִּי (have killed) אֶת־ (-) מְשִׁ֥יחַ (the anointed) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17  וַיְקֹנֵ֣ן (And lamented) דָּוִ֔ד (David) אֶת־ (with) הַקִּינָ֖ה (the lamentation) הַזֹּ֑את (this) עַל־ (over) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) וְעַל־ (and over) יְהוֹנָתָ֥ן (Jonathan) בְּנֽוֹ׃ (his son), 18  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he told them) לְלַמֵּ֥ד (to teach) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) קָ֑שֶׁת (The bow).” הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), כְתוּבָ֖ה (it is written) עַל־ (in) סֵ֥פֶר (the Book) הַיָּשָֽׁר׃ (of Jashar):

19  הַצְּבִי֙ (The beauty) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (O of Israel) עַל־ (on) בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ (your high places) חָלָ֑ל (is slain).

אֵ֖יךְ (How) נָפְל֥וּ (have fallen) גִבּוֹרִֽים׃ (the mighty)!

20  אַל־ (Not) תַּגִּ֣ידוּ (declare it) בְגַ֔ת (in Gath),

אַֽל־ (not) תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּ (proclaim it) בְּחוּצֹ֣ת (in the streets) אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן (of Ashkelon),

פֶּן־ (lest) תִּשְׂמַ֙חְנָה֙ (rejoice) בְּנ֣וֹת (the daughters) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines),

פֶּֽן־ (lest) תַּעֲלֹ֖זְנָה (triumph) בְּנ֥וֹת (the daughters) הָעֲרֵלִֽים׃ (of the uncircumcised).

21  הָרֵ֣י (O Mountains) בַגִּלְבֹּ֗עַ (of Gilboa),

אַל־ (not) טַ֧ל (dew) וְאַל־ (and not) מָטָ֛ר (rain) עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (be upon you⁺),

וּשְׂדֵ֣י (and not fields) תְרוּמֹ֑ת (of contributions).

כִּ֣י (For) שָׁ֤ם (there) נִגְעַל֙ (is cast away) מָגֵ֣ן (the shield) גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים (of the mighty),

מָגֵ֣ן (the shield) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul), בְּלִ֖י (not) מָשִׁ֥יחַ (anointed) בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃ (with the oil).

22  מִדַּ֣ם (From the blood) חֲלָלִ֗ים (of the slain),

מֵחֵ֙לֶב֙ (from the fat) גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים (of the mighty),

קֶ֚שֶׁת (the bow) יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (of Jonathan) לֹ֥א (not) נָשׂ֖וֹג (did turn) אָח֑וֹר (back),

וְחֶ֣רֶב (and the sword) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul) לֹ֥א (not) תָשׁ֖וּב (did return) רֵיקָֽם׃ (empty).

23  שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) וִיהוֹנָתָ֗ן (and Jonathan) הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤ים (were beloved) וְהַנְּעִימִם֙ (and delightful) בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם (in their lives),

וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם (and in their death) לֹ֣א (not) נִפְרָ֑דוּ (they were divided).

מִנְּשָׁרִ֣ים (Than eagles) קַ֔לּוּ (they were swifter),

מֵאֲרָי֖וֹת (than lions) גָּבֵֽרוּ׃ (they were stronger).

24  בְּנוֹת֙ (O Daughters) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel),

אֶל־ (over) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בְּכֶ֑ינָה (weep),

הַמַּלְבִּֽשְׁכֶ֤ם (who clothed you⁺ in) שָׁנִי֙ (scarlet) עִם־ (with) עֲדָנִ֔ים (luxury),

הַֽמַּעֲלֶה֙ (who put) עֲדִ֣י (ornaments) זָהָ֔ב (of gold) עַ֖ל (on) לְבוּשְׁכֶֽן׃ (your⁺ apparel).

25  אֵ֚יךְ (How) נָפְל֣וּ (have fallen) גִבֹּרִ֔ים (the mighty) בְּת֖וֹךְ (in the midst) הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (of the battle)!

יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (Jonathan) עַל־ (on) בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ (your high places) חָלָֽל׃ (was slain).

26  צַר־ (Am distressed) לִ֣י (I) עָלֶ֗יךָ (for you) אָחִי֙ (my brother) יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (Jonathan).

נָעַ֥מְתָּ (You have been pleasant) לִּ֖י (to me) מְאֹ֑ד (very);

נִפְלְאַ֤תָה (was wonderful) אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙ (your love) לִ֔י (to me),

מֵאַהֲבַ֖ת (surpassing the love) נָשִֽׁים׃ (of women).

27  אֵ֚יךְ (How) נָפְל֣וּ (have fallen) גִבּוֹרִ֔ים (the mighty),

וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ (have perished) כְּלֵ֥י (the weapons) מִלְחָמָֽה׃פ (of war)!