Chapter 1

  And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;  

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  it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.  

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  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.  

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  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.  

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

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  And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.  

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  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.  

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  And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.  

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  And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.  

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  So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.  

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  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:  

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  and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.  

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  And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.  

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  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?  

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  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him, so that he died.  

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  And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.  

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

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  (and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):  

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  Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!  

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  Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.  

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  Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.  

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  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.  

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  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.  

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  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.  

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  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.  

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  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women.  

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  How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!  

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