2 Samuel 1:4-12

EasyEnglish Bible

⁴ David said, ‘Tell me what happened in the battle.’

The man replied, ‘The Israelites ran away and the enemy killed many of them. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.’

⁵ When the young man told this to David, David asked him, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?’

⁶ The young man said, ‘I was on Gilboa mountain. I saw Saul there. He had to use his spear like a stick to help him to stand. The enemy army with its horses and chariots were getting very near to him. ⁷ Saul turned round and he saw me. He shouted to me and I said, “Here I am, sir.”

⁸ He asked me, “Who are you?”

I said to him, “I am an Amalekite.”

⁹ He said to me, “Stand over me and kill me. I have a lot of pain and I am almost dead.”

¹⁰ I knew that he would soon fall down. He was too weak to live. So I stood over him and I killed him. Then I took the crown from his head and the ring that was on his arm. I have brought them here to you, my lord.’

¹¹ Then David tore his clothes because he was very upset. The men who were with him did the same thing. ¹² They cried and they wept until the evening. They did not eat any food. They were very upset about Saul and Jonathan, and all the Lord's people.^[a] They were sad because so many Israelites had died in the battle.