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 “Yisrael’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 Yisrael,

the one who dressed you in nice clothes with jewellery,

≈ 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.”