now 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
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 did obeisance
and david said unto him from whence comest thou and he said unto him out of the camp of israel am i escaped
and david said unto him how went the matter i pray thee tell me and he answered that 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
and david said unto the young man that told him how knowest thou that saul and jonathan his son be dead
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 horsemen followed hard
and when he looked behind him he saw me and called unto me and i answered
and he said unto me who art thou and i answered him i am an amalekite
he said unto me again stand i pray thee upon me and slay me for anguish is come upon me because my life
so i stood upon 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
then david took hold on his clothes and rent them and likewise all the men
and they mourned 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
and david said unto the young man that told him whence art thou and he answered i am the son of a stranger an amalekite
and david said unto him how wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the lords anointed
and david called one of the young men and said go near and fall upon him and he smote him that he died
and david said unto him thy blood be upon thy head for thy mouth hath testified against thee saying i have slain the lords anointed
and david lamented with this lamentation over saul and over jonathan his son
also he bade them teach the children of judah the use of the bow behold it is written in the book of jasher
the beauty of israel is slain upon thy high places how are the mighty fallen
tell it not in gath publish it not in the streets of askelon lest the daughters of the philistines rejoice lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph
ye mountains of gilboa let there be no dew neither let there be rain upon you nor fields of offerings for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away the shield of saul as though he had not been anointed with oil
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
saul and jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided they were swifter than eagles they were stronger than lions
ye daughters of israel weep over saul who clothed you in scarlet with other delights who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel
how are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle o jonathan thou wast slain in thine high places
i am distressed for thee my brother jonathan very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of women
how are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished