1 ¹ After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag; 1 ² and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance. 1 ³ David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." 1 ⁴ And David said to him, "How did it go? Tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead." 1 ⁵ Then David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" 1 ⁶ And the young man who told him said, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa; and there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 1 ⁷ And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.' 1 ⁸ And he said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.' 1 ⁹ And he said to me, 'Stand beside me and slay me; for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.' 1 ¹⁰ So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown which was on his head and the armlet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

1 ¹¹ Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and so did all the men who were with him; 1 ¹² and they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of Yahweh and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 1 ¹³ And David said to the young man who told him, "Where do you come from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite." 1 ¹⁴ David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh'S anointed?" 1 ¹⁵ Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go, fall upon him." And he smote him so that he died. 1 ¹⁶ And David said to him, "Your blood be upon your head; for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have slain Yahweh'S anointed.' "