1:1 After the death of Saul,¹ when David returned from defeating the Amalekites,² he stayed at Ziklag³ for a couple of days. 1:2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with torn garments and dirt on his head.⁴ When he approached David, He fell prostrate to the ground.⁵

1:3 David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 1:4 David inquired, “How were things going?⁶ Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle, and many of them⁷ fell dead.⁸ Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.” 1:5 David said to the soldier⁹ who was recounting this to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”¹⁰ 1:6 The soldier who was telling him this¹¹ said, “I happened to be on mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning for support on his spear. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him. 1:7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, ‘Here I am’. 1:8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I’m¹² an Amalekite’. 1:9 He said to me, ‘Stand over me and put me to death.¹³ I’m completely disoriented,¹⁴ even though I’m still alive’.¹⁵ 1:10 So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn’t live after such an experience.¹⁶ Then I took the crown which was on his head and the¹⁷ bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.”¹⁸

1:11 At this David grabbed his own garments¹⁹ and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. 1:12 They lamented and wept and fasted until the evening over Saul, his son Jonathan, the LORD’s people, and the house of Israel, because they had fallen in death by the sword.

1:13 David said to the soldier who was telling this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident alien.”²⁰ 1:14 David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” 1:15 Then David called one of the soldiers and said, “Come here and strike him!” So he struck him, and he died. 1:16 David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the LORD’s anointed to death.’”

1:17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. 1:18 He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.”²¹ Indeed, it is written in the Book of Yashar.²²

1:19 The beauty²³ of Israel is slain on your high places,
How are the mighty fallen!
1:20 Don’t report it in Gath;
don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,²⁴
lest the daughters of the Philistines be made happy,
lest the sons of the uncircumcised exult.
1:21 O mountains of Gilboa,
may there be neither dew nor rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings.²⁵
For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled;²⁶
the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.²⁷
1:22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors,
the bow of Jonathan was not turned away.
The sword of Saul never returned²⁸ empty.
1:23 Saul and Jonathan were beloved and dear in their lives,
and not even in their deaths were they separated.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
1:24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet²⁹ along with adornments,
who put golden adornment on your clothing.
1:25 How have the warriors fallen
in the midst of battle!
Jonathan is slain on your high places!
1:26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan!
You were very dear to me.
your love was more special to me than the love of women.
1:27 How are the warriors fallen!
The weapons of war³⁰ are destroyed!