Saul’s Death Reported to David (1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)
1 ULT And it happened after the death of Saul that David returned from striking Amalek. And David remained in Ziklag two days. BSB BSB: After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.
2 ULT And it happened on the third day that, behold, a man came from the camp, from with Saul, and his clothes were torn, and dirt{ was} on his head. And it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. 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 ULT And David said to him,“Where from this are you coming?” And he said to him,“I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” BSB BSB: “Where have you come from?” David asked. “I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied.
4 ULT And David said to him,“How was the matter? Declare to me, please.” And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and also many from the people had fallen and died, and also Saul and Jonathan his son had died. 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 ULT And David said to the young man, the one declaring to him,“How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son died?” 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 ULT And the young man, the one declaring to him, said,“Happening to be, I happened to be on the mountain of Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the masters of the horsemen had overtaken 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 ULT And he turned behind him, and he saw me. And he called to me, and I said,‘Behold me.’ BSB BSB: When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I answered, ‘Here I am!’
8 ULT And he said to me,‘Who{ are} you?’ And I said to him,‘I{ am} an Amalekite.’ BSB BSB: ‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 ULT And he said to me,‘Please stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, for my life{ is} still whole in me.’ BSB BSB: Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’
10 ULT So I stood over him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his having fallen. 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.” 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 ULT And David seized his clothes and tore them, and also all of the men who{ were} with him. 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 ULT And they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of Yahweh and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 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 ULT And David said to the young man declaring to him,“Where from this{ are} you?” And he said,“I{ am} the son of a man, a foreigner, an Amalekite.” 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 ULT And David said to him,“How did you not fear to stretch out your hand to destroy the anointed of Yahweh?” BSB BSB: So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15 ULT And David called to one of the young men, and he said,“Approach, attack him!” And he struck him, and he died. 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.
16 ULT And David said to him,“Your blood{ is} on your head, for your mouth answered against you, saying,‘I myself killed the anointed of Yahweh.’” BSB BSB: For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”
David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan 17 ULT Then David lamented this lamentation for Saul and for Jonathan his son. BSB BSB: Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,
18 ULT And he said to teach the sons of Judah“The Bow.” Behold, it is written 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 ULT “The splendor of Israel{ is} slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! BSB BSB: “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
20 ULT May they not declare{ it} in Gath, may they not proclaim{ it} in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 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 ULT Mountains in Gilboa,{ may} not dew and{ may} not rain{ be} upon you, nor fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was loathed, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 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 ULT From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn itself back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty. 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 ULT Saul and Jonathan{ were} being loved and delightful in their lives, and in their death they were not separated. They were swifter than eagles, they were mightier 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 ULT Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, the one having clothed you{ in} scarlet with delights, the one having put an ornament of gold on your clothing. 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 ULT How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan{ is} slain on your high places. BSB BSB: How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 ULT It is narrow to me concerning you, my brother Jonathan! You were very pleasant to me. Your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women. 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 ULT How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!” 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.