Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
2 Samuel 1
David Learns of Saul and Jonathan’s Death
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. On the third day, look, a man came from the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dirt upon his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and bowed down. David said to him, “From where have you come?” He said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” David said to him, “What happened? Please tell me.” He said, “The people fled from the battle, and many of the people also fell and died. Saul and Jonathan his son also died.” 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, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and look, Saul was leaning on his spear, and look, the chariots and horsemen were closing in on him. He turned behind him, saw me, and called to me. I said, ‘Here I am.’ He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I said to him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ Then he said to me, ‘Please stand over me and put me to death, for agony has seized me, though all my life is still in me.’ So I stood over him and put him to death, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
David Mourns Saul and Jonathan
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
The Amalekite Is Put to Death
David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He said, “I am the son of a resident alien, an Amalekite.” David said to him, “How were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come near; strike him.” So he struck him, and he died. David said to him, “Your blood is upon your own head, for your own mouth testified against you, saying, ‘I put the LORD’s anointed to death.’”
David’s Lament over Saul and Jonathan
David lamented with this lament over Saul and over Jonathan his son.
He said to teach the children of Judah “The Bow.” Look, it is written in the Book of Jashar.
Your glory, Israel,
lies slain upon your heights.
How the mighty have fallen!
Do not tell it in Gath;
do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
Mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fields of offerings,
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul,
no longer anointed with oil.
From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
and the sword of Saul
did not return empty.
Saul and Jonathan,
beloved and pleasant in their lives,
and in their death
they were not divided.
They were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions.
Daughters of Israel,
weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet with luxury,
who put ornaments of gold
upon your garments.
How the mighty have fallen
among the battle!
Jonathan lies slain
upon your heights.
I am distressed for you,
my brother Jonathan.
You were very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.
How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war have perished!