1 And it came to be after the death of Sha’ul, when Dawiḏ had returned from smiting the Amalĕqites, that Dawiḏ remained two days in Tsiqlaḡ.
2 And it came to be on the third day, that see, a man came out of the camp from Sha’ul with his garments torn and dust on his head. And it came to be, when he came to Dawiḏ, that he fell to the ground and did obeisance.
3 And Dawiḏ said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Yisra’ĕl.”
4 And Dawiḏ said to him, “What was the matter? Please inform me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Sha’ul and Yahonathan his son are dead too.”
5 And Dawiḏ said to the young man who informed him, “How do you know that Sha’ul and Yahonathan his son are dead?”
6 And the young man who informed him said, “By chance I was on Mount Gilboa and saw Sha’ul leaning on his spear. And see, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 “And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me, and I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8 “And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalĕqite.’
9 “And he said to me, ‘Please stand over me and put me to death, for agony has seized me, but my life is still in me.’
10 “So I stood beside him and put him to death, for I knew he would not live after he had fallen. And I took the diadem that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my master.”
11 And Dawiḏ took hold of his own garments and tore them, and also all the men who were with him.
12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Sha’ul and for Yahonathan his son, and for the people of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 and for the house of Yisra’ĕl, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then Dawiḏ asked the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalĕqite.”
14 And Dawiḏ said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the anointed of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄?”
15 And Dawiḏ called one of the young men and said, “Draw near and fall on him!” And he smote him so that he died.
16 And Dawiḏ said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has witnessed against you, saying, ‘I myself have put to death the anointed of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.’ ”
17 Then Dawiḏ lamented with this lamentation over Sha’ul and over Yahonathan his son,
18 and he ordered “The Bow” to be taught to the children of Yahuḏah. See, it is written in the Book of Yashar:
19 “The splendour of Yisra’ĕl
Is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
20 “Declare it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashqelon,
Lest the daughters of the Pelishtites rejoice,
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21 “Mountains of Gilboa!
No dew or rain be upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For there the shield of the mighty lay rejected,
The shield of Sha’ul, not anointed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Yahonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Sha’ul did not return empty.
23 “Sha’ul and Yahonathan were beloved
And pleasant in their lives,
And in their death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
24 “Daughters of Yisra’ĕl – weep over Sha’ul,
Who wrapped you in scarlet, with finery;
Who decked your robes with ornaments of gold.
25 “How the mighty have fallen
In the midst of the battle!
Yahonathan was slain in your high places.
26 “I am distressed for you, my brother Yahonathan.
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was wondrous,
Surpassing the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of battle perish!”