1:1 AND 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;
1:2 it 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 prostrated himself.
1:3 And David said unto him: 'From whence comest thou?' And he said unto him: 'Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.'
1:4 And David said unto him: 'How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.' And he answered: '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.'
1:5 And David said unto the young man that told him: 'How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?'
1:6 And 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 the horsemen pressed hard upon him.
1:7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered: Here am I.
1:8 And he said unto me: Who art thou? And I answered him: I am an Amalekite.
1:9 And he said unto me: Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me, for the agony hath taken hold of me; because my life is just yet in me.
1:10 So I stood beside 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.'
1:11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him.
1:12 And they wailed, 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.
1:13 And David said unto the young man that told him: 'Whence art thou?' And he answered: 'I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.'
1:14 And David said unto him: 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the Lord'S anointed?'
1:15 And David called one of the young men, and said: 'Go near, and fall upon him.' And he smote him that he died.
1:16 And 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.'
1:17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
1:18 and said--To teach the sons of Judah the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jashar:
1:19 Thy beauty, O Israel, upon thy high places is slain! How are the mighty fallen!
1:20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
1:21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of choice fruits; for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
1:22 From 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.
1:23 Saul and Jonathan, the lovely and the pleasant in their lives, even in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
1:24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
1:25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan upon thy high places is slain!
1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; wonderful was thy love to me, passing the love of women.
1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!