2 Samuel 1 – NIV & BPH

New International Version

2 Samuel 1:1-27

David Hears of Saul’s Death

1After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

3“Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”

4“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

“The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

5Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I 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 in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’

10“So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

11Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. 12They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?”

“I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite,” he answered.

14David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

15Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. 16For David had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, 18and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

19“A gazelle1:19 Gazelle here symbolizes a human dignitary. lies slain on your heights, Israel.

How the mighty have fallen!

20“Tell it not in Gath,

proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,

lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad,

lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.

21“Mountains of Gilboa,

may you have neither dew nor rain,

may no showers fall on your terraced fields.1:21 Or / nor fields that yield grain for offerings

For there the shield of the mighty was despised,

the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.

22“From the blood of the slain,

from the flesh of the mighty,

the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,

the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.

23Saul and Jonathan—

in life they were loved and admired,

and in death they were not parted.

They were swifter than eagles,

they were stronger than lions.

24“Daughters of Israel,

weep for Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet and finery,

who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.

25“How the mighty have fallen in battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;

you were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful,

more wonderful than that of women.

27“How the mighty have fallen!

The weapons of war have perished!”

Bibelen på hverdagsdansk

2. Samuelsbog 1:1-27

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.