Second Samuel begins with David finding out that king Saul and Jonathan both died in battle against the Philistines. The news was brought by an unnamed Amalekite who escaped from the Israelite camp. Now he said, he found Saul on his sword, but he was not dead yet, so he killed the Lord's anointed, and brought David Saul's crown and armband. Once David and the men heard the news, they mourned, wept, and fasted until evening. David then asked the man why he was not afraid to kill the Lord's anointed, and we do not know his response. It seems that this man thought he would be rewarded for bringing David the king's crown, but instead it brought his death. Then chapter one gives us the lament, or funeral song of sorrow, that David wrote. It was recorded in the Book of Jashar, which is also mentioned in Joshua 10:13, which we do not have a copy of, but it could be a record of stories or songs about the various wars of Israel. The phrase, "How the mighty have fallen," is located in the beginning, middle, and end of the song. It mentions the Philistines and how they would rejoice to know that Saul is dead. It mentioned Mt. Gilboa, the place where Saul and Jonathan died. It mentioned the blessings of Israel with Saul and Jonathan as their leaders, and then David weeps about the death of his best friend, Jonathan. The song ends, "How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished." Saul and Jonathan have perished.
