2 Samuel 1:2 - Forerunner Commentary

2 Samuel 1:2

The Report of Saul’s Death

1 Now it came to pass after the ^adeath of Saul, when David had returned from ^bthe slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

2 on the third day, behold, it happened that ^aa man came from Saul’s camp ^bwith his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he ^cfell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 Then David said to him, ^a“How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and ^bJonathan his son are dead also.”

5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on ^aMount Gilboa, there was ^bSaul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for¹ anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’

10 So I stood over him and ^akilled him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and ^atore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

12 And they ^amourned and wept and ^bfasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the ^cpeople of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

14 So David said to him, “How ^awas it you were not ^bafraid to ^cput forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

15 Then ^aDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.

16 So David said to him, ^a“Your blood is on your own head, for ^byour own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”

The Song of the Bow

17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

18 ^aand he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written ^bin the Book of Jasher:

Verse Comparison: 2 Samuel 1:2

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American Standard Version
it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

Amplified® Bible
When on the third day a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.

Contemporary English Version
Three days later, a soldier came from Saul's army. His clothes were torn, and dirt was on his head. He went to David and knelt down in front of him.

Darby English Version
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.

Good News Bible
The next day a young man arrived from Saul's camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect.

King James Version
It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

New American Standard Bible
On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

New International Version
On the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

New King James Version
on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

Revised Standard Version
and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.

Young's Literal Translation
and it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments `are' rent, and earth on his head; and it cometh to pass, in his coming in unto David, that he falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance.

New English Translation
On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.¹ When he approached David, the man² threw himself to the ground.³

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