6 And the youth who is declaring 'it' to him saith, I happened to meet in mount Gilboa, and lo, Saul is leaning on his spear; and lo, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him; 7 and he turneth behind him, and seeth me, and calleth unto me, and I say, Here 'am' I. 8 And he saith to me, Who 'art' thou? and I say unto him, An Amalekite I 'am'.' 9 'And he saith unto me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and put me to death, for seized me hath the arrow, for all my soul 'is' still in me. 10 And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he doth not live after his falling, and I take the crown which 'is' on his head, and the bracelet which 'is' on his arm, and bring them in unto my lord hither.'
11 And David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who 'are' with him, 12 and they mourn, and weep, and fast till the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword. 13 And David saith unto the youth who is declaring 'it' to him, 'Whence 'art' thou?' and he saith, 'Son of a sojourner, an Amalekite, I 'am'.' 14 And David saith unto him, 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?' 15 And David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, 'Draw nigh—fall upon him;' and he smiteth him, and he dieth; 16 and David saith unto him, 'Thy blood 'is' on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I—I put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'
17 And David lamenteth with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son; 18 and he saith to teach the sons of Judah 'The Bow;' lo, it is written on the book of the Upright:— 19 'The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places 'is' wounded; How have the mighty fallen! 20 Declare 'it' not in Gath, Proclaim not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice—The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult—The daughters of the Uncircumcised! 21 Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of heave-offerings! For there hath become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul—without the anointed with oil.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:6-21
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.