2 Samuel

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;

1Saul the king had died. David had just come back from fighting the Amalekites. He had been staying in the town of Ziklag for two days.

2It 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.

2On the third day a man came from Saul's army camp. His clothes were torn and there was dirt on his head. He came to David, bowed low, and put his face to the ground.

NoteTearing your clothes and putting dirt on your head was how people showed deep sadness in those days.

3And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

3David asked him, "Where have you come from?" The man said, "I got away from Israel's camp."

4And 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 also.

4David asked, "What happened? Please tell me." The man said, "Our soldiers ran away from the fight. Many of them fell and died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too."

5And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

5David asked the young man who told him this, "How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

6And 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 after him.

6The young man said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. Saul was there, leaning on his spear. Enemy chariots and men on horses were coming closer and closer.

7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

7Then Saul turned around and saw me. He called out to me. I answered, 'I am here.'

8And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

9He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

9Then he said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me. I am in great pain, but I am still alive.'

10So 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.

10So I stood over him and killed him. I knew he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown off his head and the gold band off his arm. I brought them here to you, my master."

11Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

11Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them. All the men who were with him tore their clothes too.

12And 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.

12They cried and were very sad. They ate no food until evening. They grieved for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the LORD's people, and for all Israel. So many of them had died in the battle.

13And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

13David asked the young man who told him this, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner. I am an Amalekite."

14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

14David said to him, "Saul was the king the LORD chose. Why were you not afraid to lift your hand and kill him?"

NoteThe KJV says "the LORD's anointed." That means the king God chose. Oil was poured on his head to show it.

15And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

15Then David called one of his young men over. He said, "Go and put him to death." So the young man struck him down, and he died.

16And 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.

16David said to the Amalekite, "What has happened to you is your own fault. Your own mouth said you killed the king the LORD chose."

17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

17Then David sang a sad song about Saul and about his son Jonathan.

18(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

18He said the people of Judah should be taught this song. It is called the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jasher.

NoteThe KJV says David told them to teach "the use of the bow." That is the name of this song, the Song of the Bow. It does not mean lessons in shooting arrows.

19The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

19"Israel, your best and finest men lie dead on your hills. See how the strong ones have fallen!

20Tell 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.

20Do not tell the news in the town of Gath. Do not say it in the streets of Ashkelon. The women of the Philistines must not be glad. The daughters of our enemies must not cheer.

21Ye 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.

21Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you. May no grain grow in your fields for gifts to God. There a strong man's shield was thrown down and left in the dirt. It was Saul's shield, and no one rubbed it with oil anymore.

22From 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.

22Jonathan's bow did not turn back from the enemies it struck. Saul's sword never came home without doing its work. They fought the strongest men and won.

23Saul 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.

23People loved Saul and Jonathan and were glad to be near them. In life and in death, the two of them stayed together. They were faster than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

24Women of Israel, cry for Saul. He gave you fine red clothes and other good things. He put gold on the clothes you wore.

25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

25See how the strong ones have fallen right in the middle of the fight! Jonathan lies dead on your hills.

26I 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.

26I am very sad for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful. It meant more to me than the love of women.

27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

27See how the strong ones have fallen! The weapons of war are broken and gone."