2 Samuel 1:1-10

David Learns of Saul’s Death

¹Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed two days in Ziklag. ²And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it happened when he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. ³Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” ⁴David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” ⁵Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” ⁶The young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen had overtaken him. ⁷When he looked behind himself, he saw me, and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’ ⁸Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ ⁹And he said to me, ‘Please stand next to me and finish me off, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’ ¹⁰So I stood next to him and finished him off, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the band which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

David’s Song of Mourning for Saul and Jonathan