Study Desk

Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed two days in Ziklag.

Now 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;

And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it happened when he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

It came even 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.

Then David said to him, "From where do you come?" And he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."

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

David said to him, "How did things go? Please tell me." And he said, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead."

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That 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.

Then David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

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

The young man who told him said, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen had overtaken him.

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

"When he looked behind himself, he saw me, and called to me. And I said, 'Here I am.'

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

"Then he said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

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

"And he said to me, 'Please stand next to me and finish me off, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.'

He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

"So I stood next to him and finished him off, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the band which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

So I stood upon 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.

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him.

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

And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

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

Then David said to the young man who informed him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite."

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

And David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to reach out with your hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?"

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord 's anointed?

Then David called one of the young men and said, "Come forward, put him to death." So he struck him and he died.

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

And David said to him, "Your blood is on your head, because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have finished off the LORD'S anointed.'"

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

Then David sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan,

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

and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.

(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

"Your beauty, Israel, is slaughtered on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

"Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

"Mountains of Gilboa, May there be no dew nor rain on you, or fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

"From the blood of those slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return unstained.

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.

"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, And in their deaths they were not separated; They were swifter than eagles, They were mightier than lions.

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.

"Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry, Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

"How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slaughtered on your high places.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

"I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been a close friend to me. Your love for me was more wonderful Than the love of women.

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.

"How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war have perished!"

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