David Learns of the Deaths of Saul and Jonathan
1:1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days.
The Amalekites burned Ziklag, but there was still enough of the city left for David and his 600 men to remain there for a few days.
1:2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.
On the third day, a man with torn and dirty clothes entered the camp and fell at the feet of David.
1:3 David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
The man escaped from the camp of Israel.
1:4 David inquired, “How were things going? Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!”
David and his group had been so busy rescuing their loved ones from the Amalekites that they did not know the results of the Philistine-Israelite battle.
1:5 David said to the young man who was telling him this, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
David wanted to know the details of Saul and Jonathan’s death.
1:6 The young man who was telling him this said, “I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him.
The young man was a witness of the battle.
1:7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, ‘Here I am!’
Saul was injured. He called out to the young man.
1:8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’
The young man was an Amalekite. They were very evil people under the חרם (cherem) curse. Saul was commanded to commit genocide on every male, woman, child, and livestock of the Amalekites, but he was disobedient to this command. During the Book of Esther, the Amalekites will attempt to exterminate the Jews so that the Messiah cannot be born.
1:9 He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off! I’m very dizzy, even though I’m still alive.’
The Amalekite is telling a lie to David. According to 1 Samuel 31, Saul committed suicide.
1:10 So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn’t live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.”
The Amalekite told another lie to David, perhaps wanting to receive a reward for killing David’s nemesis. Saul actually killed himself.
1:11 David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him.
David and his men tore their clothing in grief and shock.
1:12 They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.
David’s men lamented, wept, and fasted until evening. The Philistines had wiped out the Saul monarchy in one day.
1:13 David said to the young man who told this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.”
The young man admitted that he was an Amalekite. He was a member of a cursed race. The Amalekites were so evil, that God commanded their removal from the earth.
1:14 David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
Saul had been anointed by Samuel to become the King of Israel. This Amalekite had no right to kill the Lord’s anointed. Only God could bring death to an anointed King of Israel.
1:15 Then David called one of the soldiers and said, “Come here and strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died.
This Amalekite expected a huge reward, but instead, he was executed for killing the Lord’s anointed king. The Amalekite was operating on human viewpoint, while David was operating on divine viewpoint.
1:16 David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the Lord’s anointed to death.’”
It was not the truth of the Amalekite’s story, but it was his testimony which led to his execution.
David’s Tribute to Saul and Jonathan
1:17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.
David was not only a man of war, but he was a gifted musician as well. A lament is a funeral song. David wrote and sang a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan.
1:18 (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.)
This lamination was to become one of the national songs of Israel. The name of the song was “The Song of the Bow." Israel had no iron weapons, so Saul taught Israel how to master the bow and arrow. The bow may have been chosen with reference to David and Jonathan’s last meeting. The Book of Yashar (or Jasher) was a collection of poems of Israel’s greatest wars and heroes. This song was added to this book. This book is no longer in existence.
1:19 The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
Jonathan was the beauty of Israel. He was slain on the mountains.
1:20 Don’t report it in Gath, don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!
Gath and Ashkelon were the two main cities of the Philistines. David did not want the Philistines to rejoice over the death of Saul and Jonathan.
1:21 O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.
David asked God not to allow any rain or dew to fall upon Gilboa. Saul was killed on the mountain of Gilboa. The dew and rain would rust the shield, making it useless. The shield must be oiled and kept in a moist area to keep the leather from cracking.
1:22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors, the bow of Jonathan was not turned away. The sword of Saul never returned empty.
Saul and Jonathan were very powerful and skilled warriors. Saul mastered the sword, while Jonathan mastered the bow and arrow.
1:23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
Even though Saul attempted to kill David many times. David still possessed a great love for him and especially for Jonathan. This is called divine love. Only believers can possess divine love. Divine love comes from the study and application of Scripture.
1:24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry, who put gold jewelry on your clothes.
Saul made Israel a wealthy nation. Israel was to weep for Saul.
1:25 How the warriors have fallen in the midst of battle Jonathan lies slain on your high places!
Jonathan and all of his soldiers were killed in battle on the high hills of Mount Gilboa.
1:26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan! You were very dear to me. Your love was more special to me than the love of women.
This was not homosexual love, but a noble, loyal, and selfless devotion to each other as men of God and men of war. David married at least six wives, including Jonathan’s sister.
1:27 How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war are destroyed!
Saul and Jonathan were mighty weapons of war who had fallen in battle.