2 Samuel 1:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

NIV: Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

NASB: Then David said to the young man who told him, 'How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?'

CSB: David asked the young man who had brought him the report, "How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

NLT: How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?' David demanded of the young man.

KJV: And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

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

Second Samuel 1:1–10 records the moment when David learns that King Saul and Jonathan have been killed. Because of Saul's egregious sin against God, God has allowed the Philistines to kill three of Saul's sons. Archers wounded Saul, and Saul fell on his own sword (1 Samuel 31:1–7). A foolish Amalekite arrives, claiming that he killed the wounded Saul. He doesn't understand David's reverence for the Lord's anointed king. David mourns the loss and then has the Amalekite executed (2 Samuel 1:11–16).

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 10/25/2025 6:36:50 AM