1. After Saul's death David came back from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days.
2. The next day a young man arrived from Saul's camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put earth on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect.
3. David asked him, “Where have you come from?”“I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he answered.
4. “Tell me what happened,” David said.“Our army ran away from the battle,” he replied, “and many of our men were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan were also killed.”
5. “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David asked him.
6. He answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and I saw that Saul was leaning on his spear and that the chariots and horsemen of the enemy were closing in on him.
7. Then he turned round, saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Yes, sir!’
8. He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite.
9. Then he said, ‘Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I'm about to die.’
10. So I went up to him and killed him, because 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, and I have brought them to you, sir.”