2 Samuel 1 - Easy To Read Version

¹ David went back to Ziklag after defeating the Amalekites. This was just after Saul had been killed. David had been there two days.

² Then, on the third day, a young soldier came to Ziklag. This man was from Saul’s camp. The man’s clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. [1] The man came to David and bowed with his face to the ground.

³ David asked the man, “Where have you come from?”

⁴ David said to the man, “Please tell me, who won the battle?”

⁵ David said to the young soldier, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

⁶ The young soldier said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The Philistine chariots and horse soldiers were coming closer and closer to Saul.

⁷ Saul looked back and saw me. He called to me and I answered him.

⁸ Then Saul asked me who I was. I told him that I was an Amalekite.

⁹ Then Saul said, ‘Please kill me. I am hurt badly. And I am about to die anyway.’

¹⁰ He was hurt so bad that I knew he wouldn’t live. So I stopped and killed him. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm. And I brought them here to you, my lord.”

¹¹ Then David tore his clothes to show he was very sad. All the men with David did the same thing.

¹² They were very sad and cried. They did not eat until evening. They cried because Saul and his son Jonathan were dead. David and his men cried for the Lord’s people {that had been killed}, and they cried for Israel. They cried because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many Israelites had been killed in battle.

¹³ Then David talked with the young soldier who had told him about Saul’s death. David asked, “Where are you from?”

^14-15-16 David said to the young soldier, “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s chosen king?”

¹⁷ David sang a sad song about Saul and his son Jonathan.

¹⁸ David told {his men} to teach the song to the people of Judah. {This song is called} The Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar. [2]

¹⁹ “Israel, your beauty was ruined on your hills. Oh, how those heroes fell!

²⁰ Don’t tell the news in Gath, [3] Don’t announce it in the streets of Ashkelon. [4] Those Philistine cities would be happy! Those foreigners [5] would be glad.

²¹ I hope no rain or dew falls on the mountains of Gilboa. I hope there will be no offerings coming from those fields. The shields of the heroes rusted there. Saul’s shield was not rubbed with oil.

²² Jonathan’s bow killed its share of enemies. And Saul’s sword killed its share! They have spilled the blood of men now dead. They cut into the fat of strong men.

²³ Saul and Jonathan loved and enjoyed each other in life, and even death did not separate them! They were faster than eagles and stronger than lions.

²⁴ Daughters of Israel, cry for Saul! Saul gave you beautiful red dresses and covered them with gold jewelry!

²⁵ Strong men have fallen in the battle. Jonathan is dead on Gilboa’s hills.

²⁶ Jonathan, my brother, I miss you so much! I enjoyed being with you so much. Your love for me was more wonderful than the love of women.

²⁷ Strong men have fallen in battle. The weapons of war are gone.”