11 And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David abode two days in Ziklag. 2 And it came to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his garments rent, and earth upon his head; and as soon as he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance. 3 And David said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said to him, What has taken place? I pray thee, tell me. And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and many of the people also had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son were dead also. 5 And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, I happened by chance to be upon mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called to me. And I said, Here am I. 8 And he said to me, Who art thou? And I said to him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me; for anguish has seized me; for my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he would not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.
11 Then David took hold of his garments and rent them; and all the men that were with him [did] likewise. 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, I am the son of an Amalekite stranger. 14 And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed? 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, Draw near, [and] fall on him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:1-16
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:1-10
(Read 2 Samuel 1:1-10)
The blow which opened David's way to the throne was given about the time he had been sorely distressed. Those who commit their concerns to the Lord, will quietly abide his will. It shows that he desired not Saul's death, and he was not impatient to come to the throne.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:11-16
(Read 2 Samuel 1:11-16)
David was sincere in his mourning for Saul; and all with him humbled themselves under the hand of God, laid so heavily upon Israel by this defeat. The man who brought the tidings, David put to death, as a murderer of his prince. David herein did not do unjustly; the Amalekite confessed the crime. If he did as he said, he deserved to die for treason; and his lying to David, if indeed it were a lie, proved, as sooner or later that sin will prove, lying against himself. Hereby David showed himself zealous for public justice, without regard to his own private interest.