Saul’s Death Reported to David
(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)

1Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag. 2Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced. 3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from the camp of Israel.” 4And David said to him: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.” 5And David said to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?” 6And the youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to him. 7And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,” 8he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to him, “I am an Amalekite.” 9And he said to me: “Stand over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is in me.” 10And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

11Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who were with him. 12And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13And David said to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.” 14And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?” 15And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and he died. 16And David said to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’ ”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way. 18(And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:

19The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?

20Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may exult.

21O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been anointed with oil.

22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23Saul and Jonathan, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

24O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.

25How could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?

26I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.

27How could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”