Daniel P. Barron

  ⁱ 1 And it was, after Saul's death, so David returned from striking the Amalekite. And David stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 And it was, on the third day, and behold, a man came from the camp from with Saul, and his clothes were torn and dirt was upon his head. And it was, in his coming to David, so he fell to earth and bowed. 3 And David said to him, “Where from this do you come?” And he said to him, “I escaped from Israel's camp.”

4 And David said to him, “What is the word? Please tell me.” And he said that, “The people fled from the battle, and also many fell from the people and died. And also, Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.” 5 And David said to the young man telling him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 And the young man telling him said, “I happened to meet on mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaning upon his spear. And behold, the chariots and those possessing horses followed hard after him. 7 And he turned after me and saw me and called to me. And I said, 'Here I am.' 8 And he said to me, 'Who are you?' And I said ⁱⁱ to him, 'I am an Amalekite.' 9 And he said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for the agony ⁱⁱⁱ has seized me, for my soul is all still in me.' 10 And I stood over him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his fall. And I took the crown which was upon his head and a bracelet that was upon his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 And David grabbed his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they lamented and wept and fasted until the evening over Saul and over Jonathan his son and over all Yehvah's people and over Israel's house, because they fell by the sword.

13 And David said to the young man telling him, “Where from this are you?” And he said, “Son of a sojourner man, I am an Amalekite.” 14 And David said to him, “How were you not afraid to send your hand to destroy Yehvah's anointed?” 15 And David called to one from the young men and said, “Draw near. Attack him.” And he struck him, and he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your bloods ^iv are upon your head, for your mouth answered against you, saying, 'I killed Yehvah's anointed.” 17 And David recited ^v this elegy ^vi over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18 and he said to teach Judah's sons, “Bow.” ^vii Behold, it is written upon the book of the Upright. ^viii

19 “The gazelle ^ix of Israel is slain upon your high places. How mighty ones have fallen! 20 Tell not in Winepress. Proclaim no news ^x in Asheklon's streets, lest Philistine's daughters rejoice; lest the daughters of the foreskinned triumph. 21 The mountains at Gilboa, no dew and no rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. For there mighty ones' shields were cast away, Saul's shield not anointed in the oil. 22 From blood of slain ones, from fat of mighty ones, Jonathan's bow did not turn back, and Saul's sword did not return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were the beloved ones and the pleasant ones in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, mightier than lions. 24 Daughters of Israel, weep to Saul, the one who clothed you, scarlet with luxury, ornaments of gold upon your clothing. 25 How the mighty ones have fallen in the midst of the battle. Jonathan, slain upon your high places. 26 Distress is to me, over you, my brother Jonathan. You were very pleasant to me. Your love was more wonderful to me than love of women. 27 How mighty ones have fallen, and weapons of war have perished.”

1 Samuel 31 - 2 Samuel 2

Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.

1. This is the Hebrew title. The Greek (LXX) title is “2 Kings.” ^
2. Read רר ממַא') omar) “I said”; written ר מאמר ַי) yo'mer) “he said.” LXX has “I said” εἶπα (eipa). ^
3. ץ בץ שץ ר ה) hashâvâts) “the agony”; uncertain word, only found here. LXX “terrible darkness” σκότος δεινόν (skotos deinon). ^
4. Written יך מר דץ) dâmeykhâ) “your bloods”; read ך מך דץ) dâmkhâ) “your blood” ^
5. ןן מנַיךק) yeqonên) “recited” MEV; “chanted” NAS; “sang” Green; “lamented” NKJV – this verb is from the same root as the following “elegy.” ^
6. הָק) qiynâh) “elegy” (“a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead” Oxford) BDB; “dirge” TLB; “death-dirge” Green; “lamentation” NKJV – this noun is also found in 2 Chronicles 35:25(2x); Jeremiah 7:29; 9:10(H9), 20(H19); Ezekiel 2:10; 19:1, 14(2x); 26:17; 27:2, 32; 28:12; 32:2, 16; Amos 5:1; 8:10, and for a location in Joshua 15:22 (footnote). ^
7. קץשרת) qâshet) “Bow”; YLT “the Bow”; NKJV “the Song of the Bow.” ^
8. ר יץשץ) yâshâr) “Upright” - see Joshua 10:13 and footnote. ^
9. י ניָב צך) tseviy) “gazelle” NIV; “gazelles” MSG; “beauty” NKJV; “glory” JUB - Can be either “gazelle” (Deuteronomy 12:15; Isaiah 13:14) or “beauty” (e.g. Isaiah 4:2; 13:19) or “glory” (e.g. Isaiah 24:16). Asahel is likened to a gazelle (same word) in 2 Samuel 2:18, and some Gadites are likened to gazelles in 1 Chronicles 12:8. ^
10. רשךרו תךב) tevasseru) “Proclaim . . . news” - same verb and idea (contextually) in 1 Samuel 31:9. ^