2 Samuel 1:3-27

3Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4David said to him, “1How 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.” 5Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6The young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on 2Mount Gilboa, and behold, 3Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen had overtaken him. 7When he looked behind himself, he saw me, and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 8Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I 4answered him, ‘5I am an Amalekite.’ 9And he said to me, ‘Please stand next to me and finish me off, for 6agony has seized me because my 7life still lingers in me.’ 10So I stood next to him 8and finished him off, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And 9I 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.”

11Then 10David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. 12And they mourned and wept and 11fasted 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. 13Then David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” And he 12answered, “13I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” 14And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid 14to reach out with your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come forward, 15put him to death.” 16So he struck him and he died. 16And David said to him, “1718Your blood is on your head, because 19your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have finished off the Lord’s anointed.’”

17Then David 20sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in 21the Book of Jashar.19“22Your beauty, Israel, is 23slaughtered on your high places! 24How the mighty have fallen!2025Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or 26the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of 27the uncircumcised will celebrate.2128Mountains of Gilboa, 29May 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 30anointed with oil.2231From the blood of those 32slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty, 33The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return 34unstained.23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in 35life, And in their deaths they were not separated; 36They were swifter than eagles, 37They were mightier than lions.24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry, Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.2538How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is 39slaughtered on your high places.26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been 40a close friend to me. 41Your love for me was more wonderful Than the love of women.2742How the mighty have fallen, And 43the weapons of war have perished!”