INTRODUCTION: When you compare the description of Saul’s death in this chapter with that in 1 Samuel 31, you will find two different stories of how Saul died. 1 Samuel 31:4-5 [4] Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. [5] And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
See All... tells us that he died at his own hand by falling on his own sword. In 2 Samuel 1:9-10 [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
See All..., we are told that he was killed by the Amalekite. Is there a contradiction? No. The second account is that of the Amalekite himself who thought he would receive a reward for killing David’s enemy. He was surprised when he was killed instead. Did David know he was lying? Perhaps. He covers himself when he says, “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee” (2 Samuel 1:16And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.
See All...). The Amalekite died because he testified that he had killed the Lord’s anointed. The fact that he was lying did not change his fate.

1. THE AMALEKITE TESTIFIES OF SAUL’S DEATH (2 Samuel 1:1-12 [1] Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; [2] 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. [3] And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. [4] And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. [5] And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? [6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. [8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. [11] Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: [12] And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
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1. The Return of David (2 Samuel 1:1Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
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1. David returned to Ziklag from the slaughter of the Amalekites.
2. He had been in Ziklag for two days.
2. The Visit from an Amalekite (2 Samuel 1:2-10 [2] 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. [3] And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. [4] And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. [5] And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? [6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. [8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
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1. The circumstances of his visit (2 Samuel 1:2It 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.
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1. He arrives on the third day of David’s return to Ziklag.
2. He comes with his clothes rent and earth upon his head.
3. He falls to the earth before David and does obeisance.
2. The questions of his visit (2 Samuel 1:3-10 [3] And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. [4] And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. [5] And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? [6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. [8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
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1. The question of his location (2 Samuel 1:3And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
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1. David asks him where he came from.
2. He states that he escaped out of the camp of Israel.
2. The question of the battle (2 Samuel 1:4And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
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1. David asks how the battle went.
2. He responds with bad news.
1. The people are fled from the battle.
2. Many of the people are fallen and dead.
3. Saul and Jonathan are dead.
3. The question of his information (2 Samuel 1:5-10 [5] And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? [6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. [8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
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1. David asks how the young man obtained this information (2 Samuel 1:5And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
   See All...).
2. The young man gives his account of the events of the battle (2 Samuel 1:6-10 [6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. [8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
   See All...).
1. He “happened by chance” to the place where Saul was fallen from his wound (2 Samuel 1:6And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
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2. Saul leaned upon his spear because the chariots and horsemen were following hard after him (2 Samuel 1:6And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
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3. Saul happened to see this young man and asked him to slay him (2 Samuel 1:7-9 [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. [8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. [9] He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
   See All...).
4. He stood upon Saul and slew him out of mercy (2 Samuel 1:10So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
   See All...). Note: See notes on Euthanasia.
3. The purpose of his visit (2 Samuel 1:10So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
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1. The young man took the crown from Saul’s head and the bracelet from his arm.
2. He brought them to David.
3. The Reaction of David and His Men (2 Samuel 1:11-12 [11] Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: [12] And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
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1. They rent their clothes (2 Samuel 1:11Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
   See All...).
2. They mourned, wept, and fasted until even for (2 Samuel 1:12And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
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1. Saul
2. Jonathan
3. The people of the Lord
4. The house of Israel
2. THE AMALEKITE DIES FOR HIS TESTIMONY (2 Samuel 1:13-16 [13] 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. [14] And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? [15] And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. [16] And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.
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1. David Rebukes the Young Man (2 Samuel 1:13-14 [13] 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. [14] And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
   See All...).
1. David asks the young man about his place of birth (2 Samuel 1:13And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
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2. The young man states that he is the son of a stranger, an Amalekite (2 Samuel 1:13And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
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3. David questions his lack of reverence for the life of the Lord’s anointed (2 Samuel 1:14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
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2. David Orders the Death of the Young Man (2 Samuel 1:15-16 [15] And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. [16] And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.
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1. David calls upon one of his young men to execute the Amalekite (2 Samuel 1:15And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
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2. David explains the reasons of execution to the Amalekite (2 Samuel 1:16And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.
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1. Thy blood be upon thy head.
2. Thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.
3. DAVID LAMENTS THE LOSS OF SAUL AND JONATHAN (2 Samuel 1:17-27 [17] And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: [18] (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) [19] The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! [20] Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. [21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. [22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. [23] Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. [24] Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. [25] How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. [26] I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. [27] How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
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1. David Speaks Concerning Saul’s Death (2 Samuel 1:17-18 [17] And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: [18] (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
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1. He laments a lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
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2. He bade the people to teach the children of Judah the use of the bow (2 Samuel 1:18(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
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1. This is said to be recorded in the book of Jasher.
2. The book of Jasher is also mentioned in Joshua 10:13And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
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3. We have absolutely no reason to believe this book ought to have been included in the canon of Scripture.
2. The Content of David’s Lamentation (2 Samuel 1:19-27 [19] The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! [20] Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. [21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. [22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. [23] Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. [24] Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. [25] How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. [26] I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. [27] How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
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1. The slaying of the beauty of Israel (2 Samuel 1:19The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
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1. The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places. Note: David remembers Saul in the light of his position in the Lord rather than in light of his rebellion against the Lord.
2. The mighty are fallen.
2. The need for silence (2 Samuel 1:20Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
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1. A need to keep silence in the land of the Philistines
1. Tell it not in Gath.
2. Publish it not in the streets of Askelon.
2. Lest the Philistines rejoice over Saul’s death
3. The curse upon Gilboa (2 Samuel 1:21-22 [21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. [22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
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1. No dew or rain upon Gilboa (2 Samuel 1:21Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
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2. Because this was the location of Saul and Jonathan’s death (2 Samuel 1:21-22 [21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. [22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
   See All...).
4. The legacy of Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
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1. They were lovely and pleasant in their lives.
2. In their death they were not divided.
3. They were swifter than eagles.
4. They were stronger than lions.
5. The mourning for Saul (2 Samuel 1:24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
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1. Who clothed them in scarlet
2. Who put on ornaments of gold upon their apparel
6. The mourning for Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:25-26 [25] How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. [26] I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
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1. He was slain in his high places (2 Samuel 1:25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
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2. He had been “very pleasant” unto David (2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
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3. His love had passed the love of women for David (2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
   See All...). Note: This does not suggest an ungodly relationship between David and Jonathan; rather, it signifies the strength of friendship held by them.
7. The concluding thoughts (2 Samuel 1:27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
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1. The mighty are fallen.
2. The weapons of war are perished.

CONCLUSION: The candle of Saul’s life is out, but David is not rejoicing. He takes the life of the young man who claimed to take Saul’s life, and he presents a beautiful lamentation at the remembrance of Saul and Jonathan.