An Amalekite brings David news of Saul's death, claiming to have killed him. David has the man put to death and sings a lament: How are the mighty fallen. He mourns Saul and especially Jonathan.
1 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 ;
2 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 .
3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped .
4 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.
5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead ?
6 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.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered , Here am I.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite .
9 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.
10 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 .
11 Then David took hold on his clothes , and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12 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 .
13 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 .
14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed ?
15 And David called one of the young men , and said , Go near , and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died .
16 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 .
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son :
18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow : behold, it is written in the book of Jasher .)
19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places : how are the mighty fallen !
20 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 .
21 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 .
22 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 .
23 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 .
24 Ye daughters of Israel , weep over Saul , who clothed you in scarlet , with other delights , who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel .
25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle ! O Jonathan , thou wast slain in thine high places .
26 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 .
27 How are the mighty fallen , and the weapons of war perished !