David Learns of Saul's Death
1 After Saul's death David came back from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days. 2 The next day a young man arrived from Saul's camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect. 3 David asked him, “Where have you come from?”
“I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he answered.
4 “Tell me what happened,” David said.
“Our army ran away from the battle,” he replied, “and many of our men were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan were also killed.”
5 “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David asked him.
6 He answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and I saw that Saul was leaning on his spear and that the chariots and cavalry of the enemy were closing in on him. 7 Then he turned around, saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Yes, sir!’ 8 He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite. 9 Then he said, ‘Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I'm about to die.’ 10 So I went up to him and killed him, because I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them to you, sir.”
11 David tore his clothes in sorrow, and all his men did the same. 12 They grieved and mourned and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan and for Israel, the people of the Lord, because so many had been killed in battle.
13 David asked the young man who had brought him the news, “Where are you from?”
He answered, “I'm an Amalekite, but I live in your country.”
14 David asked him, “How is it that you dared kill the Lord's chosen king?” 15 Then David called one of his men and said, “Kill him!” The man struck the Amalekite and mortally wounded him, 16 and David said to the Amalekite, “You brought this on yourself. You condemned yourself when you confessed that you killed the one whom the Lord chose to be king.”
David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan
17 David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. (It is recorded in The Book of Jashar.)
19 “On the hills of Israel our leaders are dead!
The bravest of our soldiers have fallen!
20 Do not announce it in Gath
or in the streets of Ashkelon.
Do not make the women of Philistia glad;
do not let the daughters of pagans rejoice.
21 “May no rain or dew fall on Gilboa's hills;
may its fields be always barren!
For the shields of the brave lie there in disgrace;
the shield of Saul is no longer polished with oil.
22 Jonathan's bow was deadly,
the sword of Saul was merciless,
striking down the mighty, killing the enemy.
23 “Saul and Jonathan, so wonderful and dear;
together in life, together in death;
swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 “Women of Israel, mourn for Saul!
He clothed you in rich scarlet dresses
and adorned you with jewels and gold.
25 “The brave soldiers have fallen,
they were killed in battle.
Jonathan lies dead in the hills.
26 “I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan;
how dear you were to me!
How wonderful was your love for me,
better even than the love of women.
27 “The brave soldiers have fallen,
their weapons abandoned and useless.”
Dāvids uzzina par Saula nāvi
1 Kad Sauls bija miris un Dāvids atgriezies no amālēkiešu sakāves, viņš divas dienas pavadīja Ciklagā, 2 un trešajā dienā, redzi, nāca kāds vīrs no Saula nometnes, drēbes tam bija saplēstas un pīšļi uz galvas, viņš pienāca pie Dāvida, krita pie zemes un zemojās. 3 Dāvids viņam jautāja: “No kurienes tu tāds nāc?” Viņš tam atbildēja: “Es izglābos no Israēla nometnes.” 4 Dāvids viņam teica: “Kas tur notika, stāsti taču man!” Un viņš stāstīja, ka ļaudis bēguši no kaujas lauka, ka daudzi krituši un ir beigti, ka arī Sauls un viņa dēls Jonatāns ir miruši. 5 Dāvids jautāja puisim, kas viņam to stāstīja: “Kā tu zini, ka Sauls un viņa dēls Jonatāns ir miruši?” 6 Puisis, kas viņam stāstīja, atbildēja: “Es nejauši nokļuvu Gilboas kalnā, un, redzi, Sauls atspiedās uz sava šķēpa, un, redzi, kararati un jātnieku virsnieki jau bija tam uz papēžiem. 7 Viņš pagriezās atpakaļ, ieraudzīja mani un uzsauca man, un es teicu: es te! – 8 Viņš man prasīja: kas tu esi? – un es viņam atbildēju: esmu amālēkietis. 9 Viņš man teica: jel nostājies pie manis un nogalē mani, jo mani sagrābuši krampji, bet dzīvība aizvien vēl ir manī! 10 Tad es nostājos pie viņa un nogalēju viņu, jo zināju, ka pēc kritiena viņš vairs nedzīvos. Un es paņēmu kroni, kas viņam galvā, un sprādzi, kas ap augšdelmu, un, redzi, atnesu savam kungam!” 11 Tad Dāvids sagrāba savas drēbes un pārplēsa tās, tāpat arī visi viņa vīri. 12 Viņi sēroja, raudāja un gavēja līdz vakaram par Saulu un viņa dēlu Jonatānu un par Kunga tautu, Israēla namu, ka tie krituši no zobena.
13 Un Dāvids prasīja puisim, kas viņam stāstīja: “No kurienes tu pats esi?” Tas atbildēja: “Es esmu svešinieka amālēkieša dēls.” 14 Dāvids viņam teica: “Kā tu nebaidījies pacelt roku, lai iznīcinātu Kunga svaidīto!?” 15 Tad Dāvids pasauca vienu no puišiem un teica: “Nāc šurp, uzbrūc viņam!” Un viņš tam cirta, un tas bija beigts. 16 Dāvids sacīja: “Tavas asinis lai paliek uz tavas galvas, jo tava mute liecināja pret tevi, sacīdama: es nonāvēju Kunga svaidīto.”
Dāvida žēlabu dziesma par Saulu un Jonatānu
17 Dāvids dziedāja žēlabu dziesmu par Saulu un viņa dēlu Jonatānu. 18 Viņš lika mācīt loka šāvēju dziesmu Jūdas dēliem, redzi, tā ir rakstīta Taisnīgo grāmatā.
19 “Tavs krāšņums, Israēl, guļ nokauts augstienēs.
Ak vai, varoņi krituši!
20 Jel nestāstiet to Gatā,
nesludiniet Aškelonas ielās,
lai filistiešu meitas nepriecājas,
lai neapgraizīto meitas negavilē!
21 Jūs, Gilboas kalni, augstieņu lauki,
lai nav jums ne rasas, ne lietus! –
jo tur tika nosviests varoņu vairogs,
Saula vairogs, ar eļļu nesvaidīts.
22 Bez nokauto asinīm, bez varoņu taukiem
negriezās atpakaļ Jonatāna loks,
un Saula zobens nekad nenāca atpakaļ tukšā.
23 Sauls un Jonatāns – tik mīļi un dārgi,
dzīvē un nāvē tie netika šķirti!
Viņi bija straujāki par ērgļiem, stiprāki par lauvām.
24 Israēla meitas, raudiet par Saulu,
kas tērpa jūs smalkā audeklā un rotās,
kas rotāja jūsu tērpus ar zeltu!
25 Ak vai, varoņi krituši kaujas vidū!
Jonatāns guļ nokauts augstienēs.
26 Man sāp par tevi, brāli Jonatān,
mans tik mīļotais!
Tava mīlestība man bija pārāka
par sievu mīlestību.
27 Ak vai, varoņi krituši
un kaujas ieroči pagalam!”
