1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed 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 torn, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and showed him respect.
3 And David said to him, From where do you come? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel have I escaped.
4 And David said to him, How did everything go? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, 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 to the young man that told him, How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are 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 close after him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here am I.
8 And he said to me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said to me again, Stand, I pray you, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet wholly in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, 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 to the young man that told him, Where are you from? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14 And David said to him, How were you not afraid to stretch forth your 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 struck him so that he died.
16 And David said to him, Your blood be upon your head; for your mouth has testified against you, 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 told them to 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 on your high places: how the mighty have fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath, let it not be known in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields full of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is cast away with contempt, 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 You 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 the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, you were slain in your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been to me: your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!