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The Blue Letter Bible

2 Samuel 1 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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David Hears of Saul’s Death

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:1 - After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:2 - And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:3 - David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:4 - And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:5 - Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:6 - And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:7 - And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:8 - And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:9 - And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:10 - So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:11 - Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:12 - 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.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:13 - 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 Amalekite.”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:14 - David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:15 - Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:16 - And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:17 - And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:18 - and he said it[fn] should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.[fn] He said:
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:19 - “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 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 exult.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:21 - “You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fields of offerings![fn]
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 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.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:23 - “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:24 - “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:25 - “How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!
“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:26 - I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:27 - “How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”
ESV Footnotes
Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament’s tune
Or of the upright
Septuagint firstfruits
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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2 Samuel Chapter 1 — Additional Translations: