2 Samuel 1

¹ Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;The Argument – This book and the former are called Samuel, because they contain the conception, birth and the whole course of his life, and also the lives and acts of two kings, that is, of Saul and David, whom he anointed and consecrated kings by the ordinance of God. The first book contains those things which God brought to pass among this people under the government of Samuel and Saul. This second book declares the noble acts of David, after the death of Saul when he began to reign, to the end of his kingdom, and how it was expanded by him. It also contains the great troubles and dangers he sustained both within his house and without, the horrible and dangerous insurrections, uproars, and treasons wrought against him, partly by false counsellors, feigned friends and flatterers and partly by his own children and people. By God's assistance he overcame all difficulties, and enjoyed his kingdom in rest and peace. In the person of David the scripture sets forth Christ Jesus the chief king, who came from David according to the flesh, and was persecuted on every side with outward and inward enemies, as well in his own person, as in his members, but at length he overcomes all his enemies, and gives his Church victory against all power both spiritual and temporal; and so reigns with them, king for ever.

² It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul withSeeming to lament the overthrow of the people of Israel.his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

³ Then Dauid saide vnto him, Whence commest thou? And he said vnto him, Out of the host of Israel I am escaped.

⁴ And Dauid saide vnto him, What is done? I pray thee, tell me. Then he said, that the people is fled from the battel, and many of the people are ouerthrowen, and dead, & also Saul and Ionathan his sonne are dead.

⁵ And Dauid saide vnto the yong man that tolde it him, Howe knowest thou that Saul and Ionathan his sonne be dead?

⁶ And the young man that told him said,As I fled the chase.As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

⁷ And when he looked backe, he saw me, and called me; I answered, Here am I.

⁸ And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him, I [am] anHe was an Amalekite born, but renounced his country and joined with the Israelites.Amalekite.

⁹ He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because myI am sorry, because I am yet alive.life [is] yet whole in me.

¹⁰ So I came vpon him, and slewe him, and because I was sure that hee coulde not liue, after that hee had fallen, I tooke the crowne that was vpon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arme, and brought them hither vnto my lord.

¹¹ Then Dauid tooke hold on his clothes, & rent them, and likewise al the men that were with him.

¹² And they mourned and wept, and fasted vntil euen, for Saul and for Ionathan his sonne, & for the people of the Lorde, and for the house of Israel, because they were slaine with the sword.

¹³ After the lamentation, he examined him again.And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

¹⁴ And Dauid said vnto him, How wast thou not afrayd, to put forth thine hand to destroy the Anoynted of the Lord?

¹⁵ Then Dauid called one of his yong men, and said, Goe neere, and fall vpon him; hee smote him that he dyed.

¹⁶ And David said unto him,You are justly punished for your fault.Thy blood [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

¹⁷ Then Dauid mourned with this lamentation ouer Saul, and ouer Ionathan his sonne,

¹⁸ (Also he bade them teach the children of JudahThat they might be able to match their enemies the Philistines in that art.[the use of] the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)

¹⁹ The beauty of Israel isMeaning Saul.slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

²⁰ Tell it not in Gath, nor publish it in the streetes of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistims reioyce, lest the daughters of the vncircumcised triumph.

²¹ Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, norLet their fertile fields be barren, and bring forth no fruit to offer to the Lord.fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.

²² The bow of Ionathan neuer turned backe, neither did the sword of Saul returne emptie from the blood of the slaine, and from the fatte of the mightie.

²³ Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were notThey died both together in Gilboa.divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

²⁴ Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet,As rich garments and costly jewels.with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

²⁵ Howe were the mightie slaine in the mids of the battel! O Ionathan, thou wast slaine in thine hie places.

²⁶ I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love ofEither toward their husbands or their children.women.

²⁷ Howe are the mightie ouerthrowen, and the weapons of warre destroyed!