Open English Translation 2SA Chapter 1

1 After David returned from slaughtering the Amalekites, he stayed in Tsiklag for two days. (King Sha’ul was dead by this time.) 2 Then on the third day, wow, a man came from Sha’ul’s camp. He had torn clothes and dirt on his head, and when he got to David he fell onto his knees and bowed low. 3 “Where have you come from?” David asked him.

“I was in Israel’s camp, but managed to escape.” he replied. 4 “Why? What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me, please,”

“Our people fled from the battle,” the man said. “Many fell and died. Even Sha’ul and his son Yonatan died.”

5 “How do you know that Sha’ul and Yonatan died?” David asked the young man who’d brought the news.

6 “I happened to be on Mt. Gilboa,” the young man replied, “and listen, Sha’ul was leaning on his spear. Then wow, the chariots and the masters of the chariot horses overtook him,[ref] 7 and he turned around and saw me. He called me and I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 ‘Who are you?’ he asked. ‘I’m an Amalekite,’ I told him. 9 Then he said to me, ‘Please, come over here and kill me, because although I’m still alive, the pain is unbearable.’ 10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that with those wounds, he wouldn’t live. Then I took the crown off his head and the bracelet on his arm, and I brought them here to you, my master.”

11 Then David pulled at his clothes with his hands and tore them, and all the men with him did the same, 12 and they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Sha’ul and for his son Yonatan, and for Yahweh’s people, because many Israelis had been killed.

13 Then David asked the young man who’d brought the news, “Where are you from?”

“I’m a foreigner’s son,” he replied, “an Amalekite.” 14 “How come you weren’t afraid to kill Yahweh’s anointed king with your own hands?” David asked him. 15 Then David called to one of his young men, “Come over here and execute him.” So he struck him, and he died. 16 “Your blood’s on your own head,” David told the Amalekite, “because you admitted in your own words that you, yourself killed Yahweh’s anointed one.”

17 Then David sang this funeral song for Sha’ul and his son Yonatan 18 and said that it should be taught to the people of Yehudah. It’s called ‘The bow’ and indeed, it’s written down in the Book of Yashar:[ref]

19 “Israel’s splendour was slain in the hills.

≈How the powerful warriors have died.

20 Don’t tell them in Gat.

≈Don’t let them take the news to Ashkelon’s streets,

in case the Philistine women celebrate,

and the daughters of the uncircumcised are elated.

21 You mountains in Gilboa,

may you have no dew or rain fall on you,

nor fields producing grain for offerings.

Because it was there that Shaul’s shield was splattered with his blood,

and the leather won’t be preserved with oil again.

22 From the blood of those slain—

≈from the fat of the warriors,

Yonatan’s bow didn’t retreat

≈and Sha’ul’s sword didn’t fail on its strikes.

23 Sha’ul and Yonatan were loved—

≈they pleased the people.

and even at their death they weren’t separated.

They were swifter than eagles.

≈they were stronger than lions.

24 Weep for Sha’ul you daughters of Israel,

the one who dressed you in nice clothes with jewelry,

≈and gave you all gold brooches to put on.

25 Those warriors have fallen in the middle of the battle.

≈Yonatan has been killed there on the hills.

26 I grieve for you my dear friend Yonatan.

You were so kind to me.

Your friendship meant more to me than the women who say they love me.

27 Yes, those powerful warriors have fallen,

≈and those weapons of war have been destroyed.”