Davids reaktion på budskabet om Sauls og Jonatans død
1Efter at Saul var død, og David var kommet tilbage til Ziklag fra sin sejr over amalekitterne, 2ankom der et par dage senere et sendebud med nyt fra krigen. Han havde revet flænger i sit tøj og kommet jord på hovedet som tegn på sin store sorg. Han gik hen til David og kastede sig til jorden foran ham i dyb respekt.
3„Hvor kommer du fra?” spurgte David.
„Fra Israels hær,” svarede manden.
4„Hvordan gik det?” spurgte David. „Fortæl mig om slaget!”
Manden svarede: „Hele hæren flygtede over hals og hoved, og mange mænd lå sårede eller døde på slagmarken. Også Saul og hans søn Jonatan omkom.”
5„Er du sikker på det?”
6„Ja, jeg så med mine egne øjne, hvordan Saul på Gilboahøjen holdt sig oppe ved hjælp af sit spyd, mens fjendens stridsvogne indkredsede ham. 7Da han fik øje på mig, kaldte han på mig. 8‚Hvem er du?’ spurgte han. ‚Jeg er amalekit!’ svarede jeg. 9‚Kom her hen og giv mig dødsstødet!’ bad han. ‚Jeg er allerede dødeligt såret.’ 10Så gik jeg hen og dræbte ham, for jeg kunne se, at han var så hårdt såret, at han ikke kunne overleve. Derefter tog jeg hans krone og en af hans armringe, som jeg hermed overrækker til Dem, nådige herre.”
11Da David og hans mænd hørte, at Saul var død, rev de også flænger i deres tøj som tegn på sorg. 12Og resten af dagen sørgede, fastede og græd de over Saul og hans søn Jonatan, ja, over alt Herrens folk og over de faldne israelitter.
13David spurgte manden, som havde bragt dem budskabet: „Hvor er du fra?”
Han svarede: „Jeg er en amalekit, der bor som fremmed iblandt israelitterne.”
14-16„Hvordan kunne du få dig selv til at dræbe Guds salvede konge?” udbrød David. „Du har selv indrømmet, at du dræbte ham. Derfor skal du dø.” Derpå vendte David sig til en af sine mænd og sagde: „Dræb ham!”
17-18David digtede nu en sørgesang om Saul og Jonatan, og han befalede at sangen, som blev kaldt „Buesangen”, skulle synges over hele Israel. Den citeres her fra „De Retskafnes Bog”:1,17-18 Eller: Yashars Bog, en i øvrigt ukendt bog. Der henvises også til den i Jos. 10,13.
19Israels helte ligger slagne på bjergene,
vore bedste krigere faldt i kampen.
20Råb det ikke ud på gaden i Gat,
tal ikke om det på Ashkalons torve.
Filistrenes døtre vil danse af glæde,
det uomskårne folk vil fryde sig.
21Måtte Gilboahøjen blive ramt af tørke,
måtte intet mere gro derpå.
Heltenes skjolde havnede i sølet,
Sauls skjold ligger ledigt hen.
22Mange forblødte for Jonatans bue,
Sauls sværd slog utallige ned.
23Saul og Jonatan, elskede var I,
selv i døden skiltes I ikke.
I var hurtige som ørne på jagt,
stærke som stolte løver.
24Israels kvinder, sørg over Saul,
som klædte jer i purpur og smykker af guld.
25Vore helte faldt i kampens hede.
Jonatans lig ligger henslængt på højen.
26Jonatan, mit hjerte er knust,
jeg elskede dig, som var du min bror!
Dit venskab var noget helt specielt,
mere end kærlighed fra en kvinde.
27Alle vore helte er faldet,
deres våben ligger ubrugte hen.
David Hears That Saul Has Died
1After Saul died, David returned to Ziklag. He had won the battle over the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days. 2On 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 show him respect.
3“Where have you come from?” David asked him.
He answered, “I’ve escaped from Israel’s camp.”
4“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”
He said, “Israel’s men ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5David spoke to the young man who brought him the report. He asked him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6“I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said. “Saul was there too. He was leaning on his spear. The enemy chariots and chariot drivers had almost caught up with him. 7Then he turned around and saw me. He called out to me. I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’
8“He asked me, ‘Who are you?’
“ ‘An Amalekite,’ I answered.
9“Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I’m close to death, but I’m still alive.’
10“So I stood beside him and killed him. I did it because I knew that after he had lost the battle he would be killed anyway. So I took the crown that was on his head. I also took his armband. I’ve brought them here to you. You are my master.”
11Then David tore his clothes. And all his men tore their clothes. 12All of them were filled with sadness. They mourned over the whole nation of Israel. They didn’t eat anything until evening. That’s because Saul and Jonathan and the Lord’s army had been killed by swords.
13David spoke to the young man who had brought him the report. He asked, “Where are you from?”
“I’m the son of an outsider, an Amalekite,” he answered.
14David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to kill the Lord’s anointed king?”
15Then David called for one of his men. He said, “Go! Strike him down!” So he struck the man down, and the man died. 16That’s because David had said to him, “Anything that happens to you will be your own fault. What your own mouth has spoken is a witness against you. You said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed king.’ ”
David’s Song of Sadness About Saul and Jonathan
17David sang a song of sadness about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18He ordered that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is a song that is played on a stringed instrument. It is written down in the Book of Jashar. David sang,
19“Israel, a gazelle lies dead on your hills.
Your mighty men have fallen.
20“Don’t announce it in Gath.
Don’t tell it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be glad.
The daughters of men who haven’t been circumcised will be joyful.
21“Mountains of Gilboa,
may no dew or rain fall on you.
May no showers fall on your hillside fields.
The shield of the mighty king wasn’t respected there.
The shield of Saul lies there. It isn’t rubbed with oil anymore.
22The bow of Jonathan didn’t turn back.
The sword of Saul didn’t return without being satisfied.
They spilled the blood of their enemies.
They killed mighty men.
23“When they lived, Saul and Jonathan were loved and respected.
When they died, they were not parted.
They were faster than eagles.
They were stronger than lions.
24“Daughters of Israel, mourn over Saul.
He dressed you in the finest clothes.
He decorated your clothes with ornaments of gold.
25“Your mighty men have fallen in battle.
Jonathan lies dead on your hills.
26My brother Jonathan, I’m filled with sadness because of you.
You were very special to me.
Your love for me was wonderful.
It was more wonderful than the love of women.
27“Israel’s mighty men have fallen.
Their weapons of war are broken.”
