2 Samuel 1:1-16 - The Report Of Saul's Death By The Amalekite

¹ Saul was dead. David defeated the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag. ² Three days later a soldier came from Saul's army. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head. He knelt down in front of David. ³ David asked: Where did you come from? The man answered: I escaped from Israel's army.

⁴ How did the battle go? David asked. The man said: Our army turned and ran. Many were wounded and died. King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.

⁵ David asked: How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?

⁶ He answered: I was on Mount Gilboa. I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The chariots and cavalry of the enemy closed in on him. ⁷ He looked my way and called me. I said: 'Yes here I am.' ⁸ He asked: 'Who are you.' I told him I was an Amalekite. ⁹ Then he said: 'Come here and kill me! I am badly wounded and about to die.' ¹⁰ I went up to him and killed him. I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm. Here, I have brought them to you.

¹¹ David and all his men tore their clothes in sorrow. ¹² They grieved and mourned and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan and for Israel, the people of Jehovah, because so many had been killed in battle.

¹³ David asked the young man who brought him the news: Where are you from? He answered: I am an Amalekite, son of a foreign resident.

¹⁴ David asked: Why were you not afraid to take it upon yourself to destroy Jehovah's (YHWH) anointed king? ¹⁵ David called one of the young men and said: Execute him! So he struck him and he died. ¹⁶ David said to him: Your blood is on your head. Your mouth has testified against you. For you admit that you killed Jehovah's anointed.