2 Samuel 1 · WEB
David Mourns Saul and Jonathan
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After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, David stayed two days in Ziklag.
2On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.
3David said to him, "Where do you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped out of the camp of Israel."
4David said to him, "How did it go? Please tell me." He answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead."
5David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"
6The young man who told him said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. Behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.
7When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'
8He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'
9He said to me, 'Please stand beside me and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is still in me.'
10So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he couldn't live after he had fallen. 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."
11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him.
12They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite."
14David said to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed?"
15David called one of the young men and said, "Go near and cut him down." He struck him so that he died.
16David said to him, "Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have slain Yahweh's anointed.'"
17David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
18(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
19"Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20Don't tell it in Gath. Don't publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was dishonored, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan's bow didn't turn back. Saul's sword didn't return empty.
23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
24You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with other delights, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25How are the mighty fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places.
26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"
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Summary
Following the defeat at Mount Gilboa, an Amalekite arrives at Ziklag claiming to have killed the dying Saul and brings David Saul's crown and bracelet. David and his men mourn deeply, and David executes the Amalekite for claiming to have killed the Lord's anointed. David then composes the "Song of the Bow," a moving lament for Saul and Jonathan that honors their memory and expresses the depth of his love for Jonathan.
Themes
- Grief and lamentation as a godly response to loss
- Reverence for God's anointed, even in death
- The depth and beauty of covenant friendship (David and Jonathan)
- Honoring legacy without regard for personal political gain
Key verses
- 2 Sam 1:12 — “They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”
- 2 Sam 1:14 — “How is it that you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed?”
- 2 Sam 1:23 — “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided.”
- 2 Sam 1:26 — “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.”
Context & background
This chapter picks up immediately after 1 Samuel ends with the deaths of Saul and Jonathan at the Battle of Mount Gilboa, a mountain ridge in northern Israel still visible today near modern Beit She'an. David was stationed at Ziklag in southern Judah during the battle. The Amalekite's claim to have killed Saul may have been a fabrication meant to curry favor with David; the account in 1 Samuel 31 indicates Saul fell on his own sword. The "book of Jashar" mentioned in verse 18 was apparently a collection of heroic poetry no longer extant.
Cross-references
- 1 Sam 24:6 — David's earlier refusal to harm Yahweh's anointed
- 1 Sam 31:1-6 — The account of Saul's actual death at Mount Gilboa
- 2 Sam 9:1 — David's later kindness to Jonathan's son, fulfilling covenant loyalty
- Phil 4:8 — Thinking on what is honorable, as David honors Saul in death
- Psalm 35:13-14 — David's posture of mourning and fasting for enemies