David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan
11 Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and so did all the men who were with him; 12 and they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amal′ekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, fall upon him.” And he smote him so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be upon your head; for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the Lord’s anointed.’”
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it[a] should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.[b] He said:
19 “Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places!
How are the mighty fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath,
publish it not in the streets of Ash′kelon;
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor upsurging of the deep![c]
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan turned not back,
and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
who clothed you daintily in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
in the midst of the battle!
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was wonderful,
passing the love of women.
and the weapons of war perished!”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 1:18 Gk: Heb the Bow
- 2 Samuel 1:18 Or The upright
- 2 Samuel 1:21 Cn: Heb fields of offerings