11 Now it came about after the death of Saul , when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites , that David remained two days in Ziklag . 2 On the third day , behold , a man came out of the camp from Saul , with his clothes torn and [1]dust on his head . And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. 3 Then David said to him, "From where do you come ?" And he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel ." 4 David said to him, " How did things go ? Please tell me." And he said , "The people have fled from the battle , and also many of the people have fallen and are dead ; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also ." 5 So David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead ?" 6 The young man who told him said , "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa , and behold , Saul was leaning on his spear . And behold , the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely . 7 "When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said , 'Here I am.' 8 "He said to me, 'Who are you?' And I [2]answered him, ' I am an Amalekite .' 9 "Then he said to me, 'Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my [3]life still lingers in me.' 10 "So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen . And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm , and I have brought them here to my lord ."
11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of the Lord and the house of Israel , because they had fallen by the sword . 13 David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" And he [4]answered , " I am the son of an alien , an Amalekite ." 14 Then David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord'S anointed ?" 15 And David called one of the young men and said , "Go , [5]cut him down ." So he struck him and he died . 16 David said to him, " Your blood is on your head , for your mouth has testified against you, saying , 'I have killed the Lord'S anointed .' "
17 Then David chanted with this lament over Saul and Jonathan his son , 18 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow ; behold , it is written in the book of Jashar . 19 "[6]Your beauty , O Israel , is slain on your high places ! How have the mighty fallen ! 20 " Tell it not in Gath , Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon , Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice , The daughters of the uncircumcised will exult . 21 " O mountains of Gilboa , Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings ; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled , The shield of Saul , not anointed with oil . 22 " From the blood of the slain , from the fat of the mighty , The bow of Jonathan did not turn back , And the sword of Saul did not return empty . 23 "Saul and Jonathan , beloved and pleasant in their life , And in their death they were not parted ; They were swifter than eagles , They were stronger than lions . 24 "O daughters of Israel , weep over Saul , Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet , Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:1-24
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.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:17-27
(Read 2 Samuel 1:17-27)
Kasheth, or "the bow," probably was the title of this mournful, funeral song. David does not commend Saul for what he was not; and says nothing of his piety or goodness. Jonathan was a dutiful son, Saul an affectionate father, therefore dear to each other. David had reason to say, that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful. Next to the love between Christ and his people, that affection which springs form it, produces the strongest friendship. The trouble of the Lord's people, and triumphs of his enemies, will always grieve true believers, whatever advantages they may obtain by them.