1Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That 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.1.4 How…: Heb. What was, etc 5And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6And 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 hard after him. 7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.1.7 Here…: Heb. Behold me 8And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.1.9 anguish…: or, my coat of mail (or, my embroidered coat) hindereth me, that my, etc 10So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, 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 unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed? 15And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, 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 bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)1.18 of Jasher: or, of the upright 19The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 22From 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. 23Saul 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.1.23 pleasant: or, sweet 24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
大衛得知掃羅的死訊
1大衛戰勝了亞瑪力人之後便回到洗革拉，在那裡住了兩天。那時掃羅已經死了。 2第三天，有一個衣服撕裂、頭蒙灰塵的人從掃羅軍營中跑到大衛面前，俯伏下拜。 3大衛問他：「你從哪裡來？」那人答道：「我是從以色列軍營逃出來的。」 4大衛說：「請告訴我那邊的情況。」他說：「以色列軍潰逃，傷亡慘重，掃羅和他兒子約拿單都死了！」 5大衛又問報信的青年：「你怎麼知道掃羅和他兒子約拿單死了？」 6青年說：「我偶然到基利波山，看見掃羅在那裡扶槍而立，敵人的戰車騎兵緊緊追來。 7他回頭看到我，便呼喚我。我說，『我在這裡。』 8他問我是什麼人。我告訴他我是亞瑪力人。 9掃羅說他痛苦難當，卻又死不掉，要我殺了他。 10我知道他身受重傷，必死無疑，就把他殺了，並取下他頭上的王冠和臂上的鐲子帶來獻給我主。」
11大衛就撕裂衣服，他的隨從也撕裂衣服。 12他們因掃羅、他的兒子約拿單和耶和華的子民——以色列同胞陣亡而悲哀痛哭，禁食直到黃昏。 13大衛又問報信的青年：「你是哪裡的人？」他答道：「我是寄居在以色列的亞瑪力人。」 14大衛說：「你怎麼敢下手殺耶和華所膏立的王？ 15-16你是咎由自取！因為你親口承認自己殺了耶和華所膏立的王。」大衛隨即命令一個年輕的隨從殺死他，隨從便殺死了他。
大衛的哀歌
17大衛作了一首輓歌哀悼掃羅和他兒子約拿單， 18並吩咐人教導猶大人唱這首弓歌。這首歌記在《雅煞珥書》上，歌詞說：
19「以色列啊，
你榮耀的王伏屍山上，
偉大的勇士竟然倒下！
20不要在迦特宣告，
不要在亞實基倫的街上傳揚，
免得非利士的婦女幸災樂禍，
免得未受割禮之人的女子歡喜雀躍。
21「基利波山啊，願你沒有雨露，
你的田地不長獻祭用的五穀，
因為在那裡勇士的盾牌污跡斑斑，
掃羅的盾牌沒有抹油。
22「約拿單的弓射敵無數，
掃羅的劍不殺強敵不收回。
23「掃羅和約拿單深受愛戴，
生死不分離。
他們比鷹更敏捷，
比獅子還強壯。
24「以色列的女子啊，
為掃羅哀哭吧！
他曾使你們衣服華美，
穿金戴銀。
25「勇士竟戰死沙場！
約拿單竟伏屍山上！
26我的兄弟約拿單啊，
我為你悲傷，
你對我情深義重，
你對我的愛勝過女人的戀情。
27「偉大的勇士竟然倒下！
兵器竟然長埋！」
