1Now after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, he spent two days in Ziklag. 2On the third day, a man came out of Saul’s camp with his clothes torn, and dirt on his head; and when he came to David, he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3And David asked him, “Where do you come from?” And he said, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4And David asked him, “How went the matter? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of them have fallen and died; and Saul and his son, Jonathan, are also dead.” 5And David asked the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?” 6And the young man said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul, leaning upon his spear; with the chariots and horsemen in hot pursuit after him. 7And when he saw me behind him, he called to me. And I answered, ‘Here am I.’ 8And he asked me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9Then he said to me, ‘Come over here, and slay me; for I am in the severe pain of death, but I am still alive.’ 10So I went beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not survive his wounds. And I took the crown from his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.” 11Then David and all those with him took hold of their clothes, and tore them; 12And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, his son Jonathan, for the army of the LORD, and for the nation of Israel, because they had all died by the sword.

13Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.” 14And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?” 15And David called one of the young men, and said, “Go, strike him down!” And he struck and killed him. 16And David said, “Your blood is upon your own head; for you have testified against yourself when you said, ‘I have killed the LORD's anointed.’”

17And David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan. 18And he ordered them to teach the descendants of Judah what is known as “The song of the Bow”; (behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) He said: 19“Your pride and glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your hills; how are the mighty fallen! 20Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, and the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. 21O, mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, nor any rain fall upon you, nor upon your fruitful fields of grain offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was vilely despised, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 22From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty. 23Saul and Jonathan were loved and admired in their lives, and in death, they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. 24Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and garments adorned with gold. 25How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. 26I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. 27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”