2 Samuel 1:1-10

David Learns of Saul's Death

1¹ After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. ² On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance. ³ David said to him, "Where have you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." ⁴ David said to him, "How did things go? Tell me!" He answered, "The army fled from the battle, but also many of the army fell and died; and Saul and his son Jonathan also died." ⁵ Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan died?" ⁶ The young man reporting to him said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa; and there was Saul leaning on his spear, while the chariots and the horsemen drew close to him. ⁷ When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, "Here sir.' ⁸ And he said to me, "Who are you?' I answered him, "I am an Amalekite.' ⁹ He said to me, "Come, stand over me and kill me; for convulsions have seized me, and yet my life still lingers.' ¹⁰ So I stood over him, and killed him, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."