2 Samuel 1:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David said to the young man who told him, "Where do you come from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite."

NIV: David said to the young man who brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite," he answered.

NASB: Then David said to the young man who informed him, 'Where are you from?' And he answered, 'I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.'

CSB: David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I’m the son of a resident alien," he said. "I’m an Amalekite."

NLT: Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, 'Where are you from?' And he replied, 'I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.'

KJV: And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

NKJV: 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.”

Second Samuel 1:11–16 describes the fate of a lying Amalekite. His attempt to gain glory earns him the sword instead. Philistine archers had gravely wounded king Saul. Instead of facing mistreatment, he committed suicide (1 Samuel 31:1–4). An Amalekite has come to David with Saul's crown and armband, claiming that he finished Saul off by the king's command (2 Samuel 1:1–10). David orders a soldier to execute the Amalekite for killing the Lord's anointed. David then writes a heartfelt lament for the loss of the king and Jonathan and spreads it throughout Judah (2 Samuel 1:17–27).

An Amalekite tells David that Saul and three of his sons have died in battle against the Philistines. The man lies and says he killed the wounded king at Saul's request. David has him executed for killing the Lord's anointed. David writes a psalm of lament for Saul's and Jonathan's deaths and celebration of their lives as warriors. Soon, David will be king of Judah, but Saul's son Ish-bosheth will be king of the rest of Israel (2 Samuel 2:1–4). David will finally wear the crown of Israel in another seven years (2 Samuel 5:1–5).

David learns his fight with Saul is over. Achish, David's Philistine benefactor, excused David from fighting with him against Saul. Three of Saul's sons died in battle, and the wounded Saul killed himself (1 Samuel 29; 31). David hears the news and mourns the king and his friend Jonathan. David will be king of Judah, but he'll have to fight Saul's son Ish-bosheth and his army commander Abner for another seven years before he's king over all Israel (2 Samuel 2; 2 Samuel 5:1–5).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 11/14/2025 6:27:49 AM