2 Samuel 1:2-11

2On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.

3David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4David inquired, “How were things going? Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!”

5David said to the young man who was telling him this, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6The young man who was telling him this said, “I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him.

7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, ‘Here I am!’

8He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’

9He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off! I’m very dizzy, even though I’m still alive.’

10So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn’t live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.”

11David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him.