1 After the death of Saul, when David
had returned from the slaughter of the
Amalekites, and David had stayed two
days in Ziklag,

2 on the third day, behold,† a man came
out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes
torn and earth on his head. When he came
to David, he fell to the earth and showed
respect.

3 David said to him, “Where do you come
from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out ofthe
camp of Israel.”

4 David 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 dead also.”

5 David said to the young man who told
him, “How do you know that Saul and
Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 The young man who told him said, “As
I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa,
behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and
behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.

7 Whenhe lookedbehindhim, he sawme
and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8 He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me,
and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of
me because my life lingers in me.’

10 So I stood beside him and killed him,
because I was sure that he could not 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.”

11 Then David took hold on his clothes
and tore them; and all the men who were
with him did likewise.

12 They mourned, wept, and fasted until
evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son,
and for the people of Yahweh,‡ and for the
house of Israel, because they had fallen by
the sword.

13 David said to the young man who told
him, “Where are you from?”
He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

14 David said to him, “Why were you not
afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy
Yahweh’s anointed?”