The Second Book of Samuel

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

After Saul died, David and the men who were with him returned to the town of Ziklag after defeating the descendants of Amalek. They stayed in Ziklag for two days.

On the third day, a man unexpectedly arrived there who had been in Saul’s army. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show that he was grieving. He came to David and prostrated himself on the ground in front of David to show respect for him.

David asked him, “Where have you come from?” The man replied, “From the Israelite army.”

David asked him, “What happened? Tell me about the battle!” The man replied, “Our soldiers ran away. Many of them were killed. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

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

The young man replied, “I was on Mount Gilboa where the fighting was. I saw Saul; he was leaning on his spear. The enemy chariots and their drivers were coming very close to him.

Saul turned around and saw me, and he called out to me. I answered him and said, ‘What do you want me to do?’

He replied, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I am a descendant of Amalek.’

Then he said to me, ‘Come over here and kill me. I am in very much pain.’

So I went to him and killed him, because I saw that he was wounded very badly and would not continue to live. I took the crown from his head and his armband, which I have brought to you, my master.”

Then David took hold of his clothing and he tore it apart, and all the men who were with him tore their clothes apart as well.

They tore their clothing because they were very sad and they refused to eat anything until evening because they remembered that Saul and his son Jonathan had died, and that so many of the people of Yahweh had died, and they were sad because of the great dangers the descendants of Israel had gone through, and because so many of them died in battle.

But David asked the young man who had told him about the battle, “Where are you from?” He replied, “My father is a descendant of Amalek, but we live in Israel.”

David asked him, “Why were you not afraid that you would be punished if you killed Saul, whom Yahweh made king?

You yourself said, ‘I killed the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king.’ So you have made yourself guilty; you deserve to die!”

Then David summoned one of his soldiers and said to him, “Kill him!” So the soldier killed him.

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

Then David composed this sad song about Saul and Jonathan,

and he ordered the men with him to teach it to the people of Judah. The song is called “The Bow,” and it has been written down in the Book of Jashar:

“You Israelite people, your glorious leaders have been killed on the mountains! It is very sad that these mighty men have died!

Do not tell it to our enemies in the region of Philistia. Do not tell the people who live in the city of Gath. Do not proclaim it in the streets of the city of Ashkelon, or their women would celebrate. Do not allow those pagan women to rejoice.

I hope there will be no rain or dew ever again on the mountains of Gilboa and that no grain will grow in the fields there, because it was there that the shield of Saul, the mighty king, fell to the ground. Now there is no one to rub olive oil on Saul’s shield.

Jonathan’s arrows were his servants who always pierced his enemies and drew their blood. And Saul’s sword was his servant who always struck his enemies.

Saul and Jonathan were loved; they pleased many people. They were together while they lived and when they died. In battle they were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.

You women in Israel, weep about Saul. He provided beautiful scarlet clothes for you and gave you gold ornaments to put on.

It is very sad that my brother Jonathan has died He was a mighty soldier, and his enemies killed him on the mountain.

Jonathan, my dear friend, I grieve for you. You were very dear to me. You loved me in a wonderful manner. It was even better than the way that a woman loves her husband and her children.

It is very sad that these mighty men have died, and that their weapons are now no more!

(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!”

Fußnoten

(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.