Notes:

The Second Book of Samuel

[1:1] It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; [1:2] it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. [1:3] David said to him, From whence come you? He said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. [1:4] David said to him, How went the matter? Please tell me. He answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. [1:5] David said to the young man who told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? [1:6] The young man who told him said, As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. [1:7] When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, Here am I. [1:8] He said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite. [1:9] He said to me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me. [1:10] So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord. [1:11] Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him: [1:12] and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. [1:13] David said to the young man who told him, Whence are you? He answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite. [1:14] David said to him, How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed? [1:15] David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. He struck him, so that he died. [1:16] David said to him, Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain Yahweh's anointed.

[1:17] David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son [1:18] (and he bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):