Saul’s Death Reported to David (1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)
1 UDB After Saul died, David and the men who were with him returned to the town of Ziklag after defeating the descendants of Amalek. They stayed in Ziklag for two days. BSB BSB: After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.
2 UDB On the third day, a man unexpectedly arrived there who had been in Saul's army. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show that he was grieving. He came to David and prostrated himself on the ground in front of David to show respect for him. BSB BSB: On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.
3 UDB David asked him, "Where have you come from?" The man replied, "From the Israelite army." BSB BSB: “Where have you come from?” David asked. “I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied.
4 UDB David asked him, "What happened? Tell me about the battle!" The man replied, "Our soldiers ran away. Many of them were killed. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead." BSB BSB: “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
5 UDB David said to the young man, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" BSB BSB: Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 UDB The young man replied, "I was on Mount Gilboa where the fighting was. I saw Saul; he was leaning on his spear. The enemy chariots and their drivers were coming very close to him. BSB BSB: “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.
7 UDB Saul turned around and saw me, and he called out to me. I answered him and said, 'What do you want me to do?' BSB BSB: When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I answered, ‘Here I am!’
8 UDB He replied, 'Who are you?' I replied, 'I am a descendant of Amalek.' BSB BSB: ‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 UDB Then he said to me, 'Come over here and kill me. I am in very much pain.' BSB BSB: Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’
10 UDB So I went to him and killed him because I saw that he was wounded very badly and would not continue to live. I took the crown from his head and his armband, which I have brought to you, my master." BSB BSB: So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
11 UDB Then David took hold of his clothing and he tore it apart, and all the men who were with him tore their clothes apart as well. BSB BSB: Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.
12 UDB They tore their clothing because they were very sad, and they refused to eat anything until evening because they remembered that Saul and his son Jonathan had died and that so many of the people of Yahweh had died, and they were sad because of the great dangers the descendants of Israel had gone through and because so many of them died in battle. BSB BSB: They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 UDB But David asked the young man who had told him about the battle, "Where are you from?" He replied, "My father is a descendant of Amalek, but we live in Israel." BSB BSB: And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”
14 UDB David asked him, "Why were you not afraid that you would be punished if you killed Saul, whom Yahweh made king? BSB BSB: So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15 UDB You yourself said, 'I killed the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king.' So you have made yourself guilty; you deserve to die!" Then David summoned one of his soldiers and said to him, "Kill him!" So the soldier killed him. BSB BSB: Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.
David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan 17 UDB Then David composed this sad song about Saul and Jonathan, BSB BSB: Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,
18 UDB and he ordered the men with him to teach it to the people of Judah. The song is called "The Bow," and it has been written down in the Book of Jashar: BSB BSB: and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:
19 UDB "You Israelite people, your glorious leaders have been killed on the mountains! It is very sad that these mighty men have died! BSB BSB: “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
20 UDB Do not tell it to our enemies in the region of Philistia. Do not tell the people who live in the city of Gath. Do not proclaim it in the streets of the city of Ashkelon, or their women would celebrate. Do not allow those pagan women to rejoice. BSB BSB: Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21 UDB I hope there will be no rain or dew ever again on the mountains of Gilboa and that no grain will grow in the fields there, because it was there that the shield of Saul, the mighty king, fell to the ground. Now there is no one to rub olive oil on Saul's shield. BSB BSB: O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
22 UDB Jonathan's arrows were his servants who always pierced his enemies and drew their blood, and Saul's sword was his servant who always struck his enemies. BSB BSB: From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23 UDB Saul and Jonathan were loved; they pleased many people. They were together while they lived and when they died. In battle they were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions. BSB BSB: Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.
24 UDB You women in Israel, weep about Saul. He provided beautiful scarlet clothes for you and gave you gold ornaments to put on. BSB BSB: O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.
25 UDB It is very sad that my brother Jonathan has died. He was a mighty soldier, and his enemies killed him on the mountain. BSB BSB: How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 UDB Jonathan, my dear friend, I grieve for you. You were very dear to me. You loved me in a wonderful manner. It was even better than the way that a woman loves her husband and her children. BSB BSB: I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
27 UDB It is very sad that these mighty men have died and that their weapons are now no more! BSB BSB: How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.