II Samuel 1

שמואל ב׳ פרק א׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: II Samuel | Chapter: 1 of 24 | Day: 77 of 742

Date: April 29, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

II Samuel opens not with a coronation but with a eulogy. Chapter 1 is a bridge chapter in the most literal sense: it reaches back into the closing verses of I Samuel, where Saul fell on his sword on Mount Gilboa, and forward into the new political world that David is about to inherit. Yet the narrative refuses to stage David’s accession as triumph. Instead, it pauses — for a full chapter, for three days of silence in Ziklag, for the stunned arrival of a messenger, for the tearing of clothes and a public fast, for the execution of the messenger himself, and finally for one of the most beautiful poems in all of Tanakh. The chapter’s literary shape is deliberate: the kingdom cannot be inherited until the previous king is mourned, and it cannot be mourned properly until the pretender who boasts of his death has been punished. The episode establishes, at the very threshold of David’s reign, the moral posture that will define it.

The central problem of the chapter is the conflict between two reports of Saul’s death. I Samuel 31 narrates in third-person certainty that Saul fell on his own sword after his armor-bearer refused to kill him. II Samuel 1 presents an Amalekite youth who claims he delivered the coup de grâce at Saul’s request and produces the royal crown and armlet as proof. The classical commentators handle this contradiction in different ways. Rashi, following the Gemara (Nazir 23b, Horayot 10b), reads the Amalekite as a liar — he stumbled on the already-dead king, stripped the regalia, and fabricated a story to ingratiate himself with David. Radak offers a more harmonizing reading in which the youth may have genuinely administered a final blow to a dying Saul. Either way, the narrative itself renders a verdict: David executes the Amalekite on his own testimony, “your mouth has testified against you.” Rashi’s observation sharpens the irony — this Amalekite, claiming to be the son of a ger (convert), has forgotten what every Amalekite should remember: Shaul’s kingdom was lost precisely for sparing Amalek, and now an Amalekite’s self-serving confession of killing him becomes the first royal act of the Davidic throne. The symmetry is chilling and exact.

The heart of the chapter, however, is the קינה — David’s elegy over Saul and Yonatan, known by its first distinctive phrase as “Keshet” (“the Bow”) and preserved, the text tells us, in the lost Sefer HaYashar. Verses 19-27 are among the most celebrated Hebrew poetry in Scripture: tightly structured, heavy with parallelism, anchored by the thrice-repeated refrain “איך נפלו גבורים” (“How are the mighty fallen!”). The dirge moves outward in concentric circles. It begins with the national catastrophe (“הצבי ישראל על במותיך חלל”), widens to political imagery (“tell it not in Gath”), narrows to the geography of the defeat (“הרי בגלבע”), focuses on the warriors themselves and their weapons, and closes with two intimate figures — the daughters of Israel mourning Saul who had clothed them in crimson, and David mourning Yonatan whose love was “wonderful to me, more than the love of women.” That final line has drawn endless commentary; the classical reading (Radak, Rashi) understands it as describing the exalted purity of covenant-friendship, untouched by the self-interest that shadows romantic attachment. Whatever its precise register, the poem’s refusal to gloat over Saul — the king who had pursued him for years — is the moral hinge on which David’s kingship will now turn.

Taken together, the chapter functions as a moral prologue to the whole of II Samuel. David’s response to power is defined here, before any throne is his: he does not rejoice at his enemy’s fall, he does not accept stolen symbols from an opportunist, he does not elevate himself by diminishing his predecessor. Instead he mourns publicly, fasts, executes the would-be regicide, and composes a poem that enters the canon of the nation’s self-understanding. When the book ends twenty-three chapters later with David’s final song (chapter 22) and last words (chapter 23), the reader will be meant to remember that the reign began the same way — with David as singer, not as conqueror. The Amalekite’s severed opportunism and Yonatan’s cherished memory are the two poles between which the entire book will now unfold.

פרק א׳ · Chapter 1

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַֽיְהִ֗י אַֽחֲרֵי֙ מ֣וֹת שָׁא֔וּל וְדָוִ֣ד שָׁ֔ב מֵהַכּ֖וֹת אֶת־הָעֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב דָּוִ֛ד בְּצִֽקְלָ֖ג יָמִ֥ים שְׁנָֽיִם׃

English:

After the death of Saul—David had already returned from defeating the Amalekites—David stayed two days in Ziklag.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וְהִנֵּה֩ אִ֨ישׁ בָּ֤א מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ מֵעִ֣ם שָׁא֔וּל וּבְגָדָ֣יו קְרֻעִ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַֽיְהִי֙ בְּבֹא֣וֹ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּפֹּ֥ל אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃

English:

On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes rent and earth on his head;aearth on his head Another sign of mourning. and as he approached David, he flung himself to the ground and bowed low.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה תָּב֑וֹא וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו מִמַּחֲנֵ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נִמְלָֽטְתִּי׃

English:

David said to him, “Where are you coming from?” He answered, “I have just escaped from the camp of Israel.”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֥יו דָּוִ֛ד מֶה־הָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַגֶּד־נָ֣א לִ֑י וַ֠יֹּ֠אמֶר אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨ס הָעָ֜ם מִן־הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה ו��גַם־הַרְבֵּ֞ה נָפַ֤ל מִן־הָעָם֙ וַיָּמֻ֔תוּ וְגַ֗ם שָׁא֛וּל וִיהוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנ֖וֹ מֵֽתוּ׃

English:

“What happened?” asked David. “Tell me!” And he told him how the troops had fled the battlefield, and that, moreover, many of the troops had fallen and died; also that Saul and his son Jonathan were dead.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד אֶל־הַנַּ֖עַר הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֑וֹ אֵ֣יךְ יָדַ֔עְתָּ כִּֽי־מֵ֥ת שָׁא֖וּל וִיהוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנֽוֹ׃

English:

“How do you know,” David asked the young man who brought him the news, “that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֜אמֶר הַנַּ֣עַר ׀ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֗וֹ נִקְרֹ֤א נִקְרֵ֙יתִי֙ בְּהַ֣ר הַגִּלְבֹּ֔עַ וְהִנֵּ֥ה שָׁא֖וּל נִשְׁעָ֣ן עַל־חֲנִית֑וֹ וְהִנֵּ֥ה הָרֶ֛כֶב וּבַעֲלֵ֥י הַפָּרָשִׁ֖ים הִדְבִּקֻֽהוּ׃

English:

The young man who brought him the news answered, “I happened to be at Mount Gilboa, and I saw Saul leaning on his spear, and the chariots and riders closing in on him.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיִּ֥פֶן אַחֲרָ֖יו וַיִּרְאֵ֑נִי וַיִּקְרָ֣א אֵלַ֔י וָאֹמַ֖ר הִנֵּֽנִי׃

English:

He looked around and saw me, and he called to me. When I responded, ‘At your service,‘

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לִ֖י מִי־אָ֑תָּה (ויאמר) [וָאֹמַ֣ר] אֵלָ֔יו עֲמָלֵקִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃

English:

he asked me, ‘Who are you?’ And I told him that I was an Amalekite.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י עֲמׇד־נָ֤א עָלַי֙ וּמֹ֣תְתֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י אֲחָזַ֖נִי הַשָּׁבָ֑ץ כִּֽי־כׇל־ע֥וֹד נַפְשִׁ֖י בִּֽי׃

English:

Then he said to me, ‘Stand over me, and finish me off, for I am in agony and am barely alive.‘bfor I am in agony … alive Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וָאֶעֱמֹ֤ד עָלָיו֙ וַאֲמֹ֣תְתֵ֔הוּ כִּ֣י יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִֽחְיֶ֖ה אַחֲרֵ֣י נִפְל֑וֹ וָאֶקַּ֞ח הַנֵּ֣זֶר ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־רֹאשׁ֗וֹ וְאֶצְעָדָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־זְרֹע֔וֹ וָאֲבִיאֵ֥ם אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י הֵֽנָּה׃

English:

So I stood over him and finished him off, for I knew that he would never rise from where he was lying.che would never rise … lying Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Then I took the crown from his head and the armlet from his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיַּחֲזֵ֥ק דָּוִ֛ד בִּבְגָדָ֖ו וַיִּקְרָעֵ֑ם וְגַ֥ם כׇּל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

English:

David took hold of his clothes and rent them, and so did all the men with him.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּסְפְּדוּ֙ וַיִּבְכּ֔וּ וַיָּצֻ֖מוּ עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב עַל־שָׁא֞וּל וְעַל־יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֗וֹ וְעַל־עַ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ וְעַל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י נָפְל֖וּ בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ {פ}

English:

They lamented and wept, and they fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of GOD dGOD Septuagint reads “Judah.” and the House of Israel who had fallen by the sword.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד אֶל־הַנַּ֙עַר֙ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ אֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בֶּן־אִ֛ישׁ גֵּ֥ר עֲמָלֵקִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃

English:

David said to the young man who had brought him the news, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am the son of a resident alien, an Amalekite.”

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו דָּוִ֑ד אֵ֚יךְ לֹ֣א יָרֵ֔אתָ לִשְׁלֹ֙חַ֙ יָֽדְךָ֔ לְשַׁחֵ֖ת אֶת־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

“How did you dare,” David said to him, “to lift your hand and kill GOD’s anointed?”

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ��א דָוִ֗ד לְאַחַד֙ מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים וַיֹּ֖אמֶר גַּ֣שׁ פְּגַע־בּ֑וֹ וַיַּכֵּ֖הוּ וַיָּמֹֽת׃

English:

Thereupon David called one of the attendants and said to him, “Come over and strike him!” He struck him down and he died.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ דָּוִ֔ד (דמיך) [דָּמְךָ֖] עַל־רֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ כִּ֣י פִ֗יךָ עָנָ֤ה בְךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָנֹכִ֥י מֹתַ֖תִּי אֶת־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

And David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I put GOD’s anointed to death.’”

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיְקֹנֵ֣ן דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־הַקִּינָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את עַל־שָׁא֖וּל וְעַל־יְהוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנֽוֹ׃

English:

And David intoned this dirge over Saul and his son Jonathan—

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לְלַמֵּ֥ד בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה קָ֑שֶׁת הִנֵּ֥ה כְתוּבָ֖ה עַל־סֵ֥פֶר הַיָּשָֽׁר׃

English:

He ordered the Judahites to be taught [The Song of the] Bow.eHe ordered the Judahites … Bow Meaning of Heb. uncertain. It is recorded in the Book of Jashar.fBook of Jashar See note at Josh. 10.13.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

הַצְּבִי֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַל־בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ חָלָ֑ל אֵ֖יךְ נָפְל֥וּ גִבּוֹרִֽים׃

English:

Your glory, O Israel,Lies slain on your heights;How have the mighty fallen!

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

אַל־תַּגִּ֣ידֽוּ בְגַ֔ת אַֽל־תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּ בְּחוּצֹ֣ת אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן פֶּן־תִּשְׂמַ֙חְנָה֙ בְּנ֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּֽן־תַּעֲלֹ֖זְנָה בְּנ֥וֹת הָעֲרֵלִֽים׃

English:

Tell it not in Gath,Do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,Lest the daughters of the Philistine rejoice,Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

הָרֵ֣י בַגִּלְבֹּ֗עַ אַל־טַ֧ל וְאַל־מָטָ֛ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם וּשְׂדֵ֣י תְרוּמֹ֑ת כִּ֣י שָׁ֤ם נִגְעַל֙ מָגֵ֣ן גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים מָגֵ֣ן שָׁא֔וּל בְּלִ֖י מָשִׁ֥יחַ בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃

English:

O hills of Gilboa—Let there be no dew or rain on you,Or bountiful fields,gOr bountiful fields Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “springs from the deep” (cf. Ugaritic shrʻthmtm, and Gen. 7.11; 8.2). For there the shield of warriors lay rejected,The shield of Saul,Polished with oil no more.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

מִדַּ֣ם חֲלָלִ֗ים מֵחֵ֙לֶב֙ גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים קֶ֚שֶׁת יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן לֹ֥א נָשׂ֖וֹג אָח֑וֹר וְחֶ֣רֶב שָׁא֔וּל לֹ֥א תָשׁ֖וּב רֵיקָֽם׃

English:

From the blood of slain,From the fat of warriors—The bow of JonathanNever turned back;The sword of SaulNever withdrew empty.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

שָׁא֣וּל וִיהוֹנָתָ֗ן הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤ים וְהַנְּעִימִם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם לֹ֣א נִפְרָ֑דוּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֣ים קַ֔לּוּ מֵאֲרָי֖וֹת גָּבֵֽרוּ׃

English:

Saul and Jonathan,Beloved and cherished,Never partedIn life or in death!They were swifter than eagles,They were stronger than lions!

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

בְּנוֹת֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־שָׁא֖וּל בְּכֶ֑ינָה הַמַּלְבִּֽשְׁכֶ֤ם שָׁנִי֙ עִם־עֲדָנִ֔ים הַֽמַּעֲלֶה֙ עֲדִ֣י זָהָ֔ב עַ֖ל לְבוּשְׁכֶֽן׃

English:

Daughters of Israel,Weep over Saul,Who clothed you in crimson and finery,Who decked your robes with jewels of gold.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

אֵ֚יךְ נָפְל֣וּ גִבֹּרִ֔ים בְּת֖וֹךְ הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן עַל־בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ חָלָֽל׃

English:

How have the mighty fallenIn the thick of battle—Jonathan, slain on your heights!

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

צַר־לִ֣י עָלֶ֗יךָ אָחִי֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נָעַ֥מְתָּ לִּ֖י מְאֹ֑ד נִפְלְאַ֤תָה אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙ לִ֔י מֵאַהֲבַ֖ת נָשִֽׁים׃

English:

I grieve for you,My brother Jonathan,You were most dear to me.Your love was wonderful to meMore than the love of women.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

אֵ֚יךְ נָפְל֣וּ גִבּוֹרִ֔ים וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

How have the mighty fallen,The weapons of warhweapons of war I.e., Saul and Jonathan. perished!

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