THE third day after David returned from his expedition against the Amalekites, a man came from Saul’s camp, clothes torn and dust on the head; he came to David and prostrated.

David asked him, “Where are you from? He replied, “I escaped from the Israelite camp.”

“What was the outcome? Tell me,” David asked him. “The troops fled from the battle,” he answered. “Many of the troops have fallen and are dead. Also, Saul and his son, Jonathan, are dead.”

David asked further, “How did you get to know that Saul and his son, Jonathan, are dead?”

“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear. At that very moment, the chariots and the cavalry were closing in on him. 

When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: ‘I’m at your service.’

He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him: ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 

He, then, begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for I’m mortally wounded, but my life still lingers.’

So, I stood over him and killed him because I knew that after he had fallen, he couldn’t survive. I took the crown that was on his head and his armband, and I’ve brought them here to my master.”

 David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. 

They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died in the battle – Saul, his son, Jonathan, the people of the Self-existent, and the house of Israel.

In the evening, David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I’m the son of a foreigner,” he said. “I am an Amalekite.”

David questioned him, “How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to kill the anointed of the Self-existent?” 

David, then, summoned one of his servants and said, “Come here and kill him!” The servant struck him, and he died. 

David, then, said over the Amalekite, “Your blood is on your own head because your very mouth testified against you by saying, ‘I killed the anointed of the Self-existent’.”

David sang the following lament for Saul and his son, Jonathan, 

and he ordered that the Judahites be taught it - the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jasher:

Prominent Israelites are the ones slain in their exalted offices like this!  How have mighty men fallen!

Do not tell it in Gath, don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon, otherwise, the people₁₁₂₁ of the Philistines will rejoice – the nation₁₁₂₁ of the uncircumcised will exult.

Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain fall on you (or on your fields of offerings); there the shield of the mighty – the shield of Saul – was despised as if he had not been anointed with oil.

Jonathan’s bow was never unstained with the blood of casualities, Saul’s sword, with the fat of warriors.

Saul and Jonathan – how friendly and pleasant they both were in their lifetimes – even in death, they were undivided. They were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.

People of Israel, weep for Saul; he clothed you in scarlet and other luxurious things; and decked your garments with gold ornament.

How mighty men have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan, you are the one slain like that in your exalted office.

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were such a friend to me. Your love for me was wonderful – more than the love of a woman.

Oh! Mighty men fell! Oh! Weapons of war perished!