2 Samuel 1 - International Standard Version (ISV)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan

1 Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. 2 The next[a] day, a man escaped from Saul’s camp! With torn clothes and dirty hair, he approached David, fell to the ground, and bowed down to him.

3 David asked him, “Where did you come from?

He answered him, “I just escaped from Israel’s encampment.”

4 David continued questioning him, “How did things go? Please tell me!”

He replied, “The army has fled the battlefield, many of the army are wounded[b] or have died, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

5 David asked the young man who related the story,[c] “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6 The young man who had been relating the story[d] answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and there was Saul, leaning on his spear! Meanwhile, the chariots and horsemen were rapidly drawing near. 7 Saul[e] glanced behind him, saw me, and called out to me, so I replied, ‘Here I am!’ 8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I’m an Amalekite!’ 9 He begged me, ‘Please—come stand here next to me and kill me, because I’m still alive.’ 10 So I stood next to him and killed him, because I knew that he wouldn’t live after he had fallen. I took the crown that had been on his head, along with the bracelet that had been on his arm, and I have brought them to your majesty.”[f]

11 On hearing this,[g] David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him. 12 They mourned and wept, and then decided to fast[h] until dusk for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the army of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen in battle.[i]

13 Meanwhile, David asked the young man who had told him the story,[j] “Where are you from?”

He answered, “I’m an Amalekite, the son of a foreign man.”

14 At this David asked him, “How is it that you weren’t afraid to raise your hand to strike the Lord’s anointed?”

15 Then David called out to one of his young men and ordered him, “Go up to him and cut him down!” So he attacked him and killed him.

16 David told him, “Your blood is on your own head, because your own words[k] testified against you! After all, you said, ‘I myself have killed the Lord’s anointed!’”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17 So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he gave orders[l] to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare,[m] as is recorded in the Book of Jashar:[n]

19 “Your beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places!
O, how the valiant have fallen!
20 Don’t make it known in Gath!
Don’t declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon!
Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice;
and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph.
21 Mountains of Gilboa,
let no dew or rain fall on you,
and may none of your fields be filled with plenty,
because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled,
the shield of Saul without an anointing with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
from the blood of the valiant,
Jonathan’s bow would not retreat
nor would Saul’s sword return empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life,
in death were not separated.
Swifter than eagles they were,
and more valiant than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul!
He clothed you in scarlet luxury
and decorated your garments with gold.
25 How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26 I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan.
You have been most kind[o] to me.
Your love for me was extraordinary[p]—
beyond love from women.
27 How the valiant have fallen!
How the weapons of war are destroyed!”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 1:2 Lit. third
  2. 2 Samuel 1:4 Lit. fallen
  3. 2 Samuel 1:5 The Heb. lacks the story
  4. 2 Samuel 1:6 The Heb. lacks the story
  5. 2 Samuel 1:7 Lit. He
  6. 2 Samuel 1:10 Lit. my lord; and so throughout the book
  7. 2 Samuel 1:11 Lit. Then
  8. 2 Samuel 1:12 Lit. wept, fasting
  9. 2 Samuel 1:12 Lit. fallen by the sword
  10. 2 Samuel 1:13 The Heb. lacks story
  11. 2 Samuel 1:16 Lit. mouth
  12. 2 Samuel 1:18 Lit. he said
  13. 2 Samuel 1:18 Lit. Judah the bow; or Judah the Song of the Bow; i.e., David’s lament in vs. 19-27
  14. 2 Samuel 1:18 Lit. the Book of the Upright; i.e. an ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost.
  15. 2 Samuel 1:26 Or pleasant
  16. 2 Samuel 1:26 Or wonderful

You Might Also Like:

2 Samuel 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days, 2 and it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] rent, and earth on his head; and it c...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

1 And it was done, after that Saul was dead, that David turned again from the slaying of Amalek, and he dwelled two days in Ziklag. (And it was done, after Saul died, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and he stayed in Ziklag for two days.) 2 And in the third day a man appeare...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag; 2 on the third day, behold,[a] a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showe...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - The Voice (VOICE)

1 After Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle with the Philistines, David returned from defeating the Amalekites, and for two days he rested in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp in mourning, his clothes torn, dirt on his head. When he reached David, he fell to the ground fac...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David Mourns Saul and Jonathan1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul—when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites—that David stayed two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. Now when he approached ...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amal′ekites, David remained two days in Ziklag; 2 and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fe...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amal′ekites, David remained two days in Ziklag; 2 and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fe...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did ob...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.(A)2 On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did ob...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David Learns of Saul’s Death1 After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground bef...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

David Hears of Saul’s Death1 Now after the death of Saul, David returned from killing the Amalekites and stayed two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, a man came from the tents of Saul. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell with his face to the ground. ...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Report of Saul’s Death1 Now it came to pass after the (A)death of Saul, when David had returned from (B)the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that (C)a man came from Saul’s camp (D)with his clothes [a]torn and dust on h...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

David hears of Saul’s death1 After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honour. 3 ‘Wher...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New International Version (NIV)

David Hears of Saul’s Death(A)1 After the death(B) of Saul, David returned from striking down(C) the Amalekites(D) and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man(E) arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head.(F) When he came to David, he fell(G) to the ground to pay...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David Hears That Saul Has Died1 After Saul died, David returned to Ziklag. He had won the battle over the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp. His clothes were torn. He had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to ...
Read More

2 Samuel 1 - New English Translation (NET)

David Learns of the Deaths of Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul,[a] when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites,[b] he stayed at Ziklag[c] for two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.[d] When he approached David,...
Read More