The Amalekite’s Report
1After Saul’s death, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2On the third day a man arrived from the camp, from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and bowed down. 3David said to him, “Where have you come from?” He said, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4David said to him, “What happened? Tell me.” He said, “The troops fled the battle, and many of them fell and died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.” 5David said to the young man reporting this to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6The young man reporting to him said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and horsemen closing in on him. 7He turned around, saw me, and called to me. I said, ‘Here I am.’ 8He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off — agony has seized me, but my life still lingers in me.’ 10So I stood over him and finished him off, because I knew he could not survive his fall. Then I took the crown on his head and the armband on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men with him. 12They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of Yahweh and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13David said to the young man who had reported to him, “Where are you from?” He said, “I am the son of a resident foreigner, an Amalekite.” 14David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to reach out your hand and destroy Yahweh’s anointed?” 15David called one of his men and said, “Come here — strike him down.” He struck him, and he died. 16David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head — your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed Yahweh’s anointed.’”
David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
17David sang this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18and ordered it taught to the people of Judah — it is “The Bow”; it is written in the Book of Jashar: 19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! 20Do not tell it in Gath, do not announce it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. 21Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew, no rain fall on you, no fields yielding offerings — for there the shield of the mighty lies defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil. 22From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow did not turn back, and Saul’s sword did not return empty. 23Saul and Jonathan, loved and gracious in their lives, in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who decked your garments with gold ornaments. 25How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. 26I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; you were such a delight to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more than the love of women. 27How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
