2 Samuel 1
How the Mighty Have Fallen
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The Amalekite Reports Saul’s Death
1:1After Saul died, David returned from striking Amalek. David stayed in Ziklag for two days.
1:2On the third day, look, a man came from the camp, from Saul’s people, with his garments torn and earth on his head. When he came in to David, he fell to the ground and bowed down to him.
1:3David said to him, “Where have you come from?” He said to him, “I have come safely away from Israel’s camp.”
1:4David said to him, “What is this report? Tell me.” He said, “The people fled from the war, and many of the people have fallen and died. Saul also died, and Jonathan his son died.”
1:5David said to the young man reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son have died?”
1:6The young man reporting to him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. Look, Saul was leaning on his spear, and look, the chariots and cavalry commanders had closed in on him.
1:7He looked behind him and saw me. He called me, and I said, ‘Here I am.’
1:8He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
1:9He said to me, ‘Stand over me now and put me to death, for terrible darkness has seized me, for my whole soul is in me.’
1:10I stood over him and put him to death, for I knew he would not live after he had fallen. I took the royal crown on his head and the armlet on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan
1:11David took hold of his garments and tore them, and all the men with him tore their garments.
1:12They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for Judah’s people, and for the house of Israel, because they had been struck by the sword.
The Amalekite Put to Death
1:13David said to the young man reporting to him, “Where are you from?” He said, “I am the son of an Amalekite resident alien.”
1:14David said to him, “How were you not afraid to bring your hand against the Lord’s anointed to destroy him?”
1:15David called one of his young men and said, “Come near and strike him.” He struck him, and he died.
1:16David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your mouth answered against you, saying, ‘I put the Lord’s anointed to death.’”
The Lament of the Bow
1:17David lamented this lament over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
1:18and he said to teach the sons of Judah—look, it is written in the Book of the Upright—
1:19“Set up a memorial, Israel, for the dead, slain upon your heights!
How the mighty have fallen!
1:20Do not report it in Gath, and do not proclaim good news in Ashkelon’s exits, lest the daughters of the foreigners rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
1:21Mountains in Gilboa, let no dew descend and no rain upon you, nor fields of firstfruits!
For there the shield of the mighty was treated with contempt;
Saul’s shield was not anointed with oil.
1:22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow did not turn back empty, and Saul’s sword did not return empty.
1:23Saul and Jonathan, loved and beautiful, not separated, splendid in their life and not separated in their death: swifter than eagles, they proved stronger than lions.
1:24Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with your adornment, who put gold adornment upon your clothing.
1:25How the mighty have fallen in the midst of war!
Jonathan lies slain upon your heights.
1:26I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan.
You were very beautiful to me.
Your love for me was wondrous, beyond the love of women.
1:27How the mighty have fallen, and the equipment of war has perished!”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.