David’s Lament Over Saul and Jonathan (The Song of the Bow)

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Then David pronounced this lament over Sha'ul and over Y'honatan his son,

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in order to teach the people of Y'hudah [not to underestimate] archery (the lament has been written down in the book of Yashar):

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"Your glory, Isra'el, lies dead on your high places! How the heroes have fallen!

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Don't speak of it in Gat; don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon; then the daughters of the P'lishtim won't rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised won't gloat.

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"Mountains of Gilboa - may there be on you no dew, no rain, no fields with good crops; because there the shields of the heroes were dishonored, the shield of Sha'ul was no longer rubbed with oil.

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"From the blood of the dead, from the flesh of heroes, the bow of Y'honatan did not retreat or the sword of Sha'ul return unsatisfied.

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Sha'ul and Y'honatan, loved and gracious while alive, were not separated even in death; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

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"Daughters of Isra'el, weep over Sha'ul! He clothed you luxuriously in scarlet and put gold jewelry on your clothing.

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"How the heroes have fallen in the heat of battle, Y'honatan killed on your high places!

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I grieve for you, my brother Y'honatan, you meant so much to me! Your love for me was deeper than the love of women.

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How the heroes have fallen and the weapons of war perished"

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