The Second Book of Samuel

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 1 -

(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)

Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg.

And on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul’s camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored.

And David said to him: From whence comest thou? And he said to him: I am fled out of the camp of Israel.

And David said unto him: What is the matter that is come to pass? tell me. He said: The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people are fallen and dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are slain.

And David said to the young man that told him: How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead?

And the young man that told him, said: I came by chance upon mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen drew nigh unto him,

And looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I answered, Here am I.

And he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an Amalecite.

And he said to me: Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come upon me, and as yet my whole life is in me.

So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them hither to thee, my lord.

Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and likewise all the men that were with him.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

And David said to the young man that told him: Whence art thou? He answered: I am the son of a stranger of Amalee.

David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill the Lord’s anointed?

And David calling one of his servants, said: Go near and fall upon him. And he struck him so that he died.

And David said to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

And David made this kind of lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son.

(Also he commanded that they should teach the children of Juda the use of the bow, as it is written in the book of the just.) And he said: Consider, O Israel, for them that are dead, wounded on thy high places.

The illustrious of Israel are slain upon thy mountains: how are the valiant fallen?

Tell it not in Geth, publish it not in the streets of Ascalon: lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph,

Ye mountains of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rain come upon you, neither be they fields of firstfruits: for there was cast away the shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the valiant, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

Saul and Jonathan, lovely, and comely in their life, even in death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet in delights, who gave ornaments of gold for your attire.

How are the valiant fallen in battle? Jonathan slain in the high places?

I grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan: exceeding beautiful, and amiable to me above the love of women. As the mother loveth her only son, so did I love thee.

How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished?

(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

on the third day, behold,(a) a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.

David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

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 close behind him.

When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’

He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. 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.”

Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.

They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD,(b) and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.

David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’s anointed.’”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son

(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

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.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

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.

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

Footnotes

(a)1:2 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(b)1:12 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.