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2 Samuel 1:1-27 — David Hears of Saul's Death

2Sam.1.1-27

¹After Saul’s death, David returned from striking Amalek and stayed in Ziklag for two days. ²On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dirt 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 to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” ⁴David said to him, “What happened? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people fled from the battle, and many of the people also fell and died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead as well.” ⁵David said to the young man who was telling him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” ⁶The young man who was telling him said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, while the chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him.” ⁷“He turned around, saw me, and called to me, and I said, ‘Here I am.’” ⁸“He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I said to him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’” ⁹“Then he said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, though my life still remains in me.’” ¹⁰“So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. Then 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.” ¹¹Then David seized his clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. ¹²They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. ¹³David said to the young man who was telling him, “Where are you from?” He said, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.” ¹⁴David said to him, “How could you not fear to lift your hand to destroy the anointed one of the LORD?” ¹⁵Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come near and strike him down.” So he struck him, and he died. ¹⁶And David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the anointed one of the LORD.’” ¹⁷Then David sang this lament over Saul and over his son Jonathan. ¹⁸He said that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow” ; behold, 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 proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. ²¹O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not rubbed with oil. ²²From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow did not turn back, and Saul’s sword did not return empty. ²³Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely in life, were not divided in death; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. ²⁴O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. ²⁵How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. ²⁶I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. ²⁷How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

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4/11/2026

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