Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After Saul's death, David returned from the Amalekite slaughter and stayed two days in Ziklag. On the third day, a man emerged from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head, falling to the ground in reverence as he approached David.

David asked him where he was from, and he replied that he had escaped from the Israelites' camp. David pressed for details about what happened: "Tell me what happened. How did it go?" The man reported that many of Saul's soldiers had fled or fallen in battle, including Saul himself and his son Jonathan.

David asked the young man to confirm that Saul and Jonathan were dead. As he chanced upon Mount Gilboa, he saw Saul being overpowered by chariots and horsemen, leaning on his spear as they closed in. When Saul looked back, he called out to him, identifying himself as an Amalekite. Saul asked him to stand on top of him and kill him because he felt his life slipping away.

The young man stood over Saul and killed him, taking the crown from his head and the armlet from his arm before bringing them to David. When David heard this news, he tore his clothes in grief, as did all the men with him. They mourned and wept until evening for Saul, Jonathan, the people of the Lord, and the house of Israel, who had fallen by the sword.

David asked the young man about his background: "Where are you from?" He replied that he was an Amalekite. David rebuked him for not being afraid to harm the Lord's anointed, ordering one of his men to strike down the messenger. As he died, the young man's words condemned him, saying he had killed the Lord's anointed.

David lamented over Saul and Jonathan in a sorrowful song:

The beauty of Israel lies slain upon your high places; how have the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice and the women of the uncircumcised people exult.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, nor fields that yield offerings, for it is there that the shield of Saul's mighty power was shamefully cast aside. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan's bow did not falter and Saul's sword returned unsatisfied.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in death they remained unbroken, swift as eagles and strong as lions. You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and adorned you with ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle! O Jonathan, you were slain on your high places.

I am deeply distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and their warlike power has been destroyed.