Old Testament · History

2 Samuel chapter 1

After Saul died, David returned from defeating the and stayed in for two days.On the third day, a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his . When he came to David, he fell facedown on the ground to show respect.David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He answered, “I escaped from the Israelite camp.”David said to him, “What happened? Tell me.” He said, “The troops ran from the battle. Many of them fell and died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.”David asked the young man who brought the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”The young man said, “I happened to be on , and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with chariots and horsemen closing in on him.”He turned around and saw me, and called out to me. I said, ‘.’He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’Then he said to me, ‘Stand over me and kill me. .’So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew he couldn’t survive after falling like that. Then I took the from his head and the from his arm, and I’ve brought them here to my master.David . All the men with him did the same.They mourned and wept and until evening for Saul and for his son Jonathan, and for and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.David asked the young man who brought the report, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I’m the son of a — an Amalekite.”David said to him, “How is it that you weren’t afraid to reach out your hand and destroy ?”David called one of his young soldiers and said, “Go, strike him down.” So the soldier struck him and he died.David said to him, “. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed Yahweh’s anointed.’”Then David sang this for Saul and his son Jonathan.He ordered that the people of Judah be taught this “.” It’s recorded in the .Your , Israel — slain on your heights. How the have fallen!Don’t announce it in , don’t proclaim it in the streets of — or the daughters of the Philistines will celebrate, the daughters of the will dance with joy.Mountains of Gilboa — let no dew fall on you, no rain on your fields, no rise from your soil. For there the , the shield of Saul — no longer rubbed with oil.The never turned back, the sword of Saul — not without the blood of the slain, not without the flesh of the mighty.Saul and Jonathan — in their lives, and in death they were not parted. Swifter than , stronger than lions.Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul — he who dressed you in and , who laid gold ornaments on your clothes. in the middle of the battle! Jonathan — slain on your heights.I am over you, my Jonathan. You were so deeply dear to me. Your for me was extraordinary — surpassing the love of women.How the mighty have fallen, and the have perished.