4. David asked him, “Please tell me, who won the battle?” The man answered, “Our people ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed in the battle. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
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 badly 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 brought them here to you, my lord.”
11. Then David tore his clothes to show he was very sad. All the men with him 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, 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?” The young soldier answered, “I am the son of a foreigner. I am an Amalekite.”
14. David said to the young soldier, “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’S chosen king?”
15-16. Then David told the Amalekite, “You are responsible for your own death. You said you killed the Lord’S chosen king, so your own words prove you are guilty.” Then David called one of his young servants and told him to kill the Amalekite. So the young Israelite killed him.
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,” and it is written in the Book of Jashar.