11 And David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who 'are' with him, 12 and they mourn, and weep, and fast till the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword. 13 And David saith unto the youth who is declaring 'it' to him, 'Whence 'art' thou?' and he saith, 'Son of a sojourner, an Amalekite, I 'am'.' 14 And David saith unto him, 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?' 15 And David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, 'Draw nigh—fall upon him;' and he smiteth him, and he dieth; 16 and David saith unto him, 'Thy blood 'is' on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I—I put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:11-16
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:11-16
(Read 2 Samuel 1:11-16)
David was sincere in his mourning for Saul; and all with him humbled themselves under the hand of God, laid so heavily upon Israel by this defeat. The man who brought the tidings, David put to death, as a murderer of his prince. David herein did not do unjustly; the Amalekite confessed the crime. If he did as he said, he deserved to die for treason; and his lying to David, if indeed it were a lie, proved, as sooner or later that sin will prove, lying against himself. Hereby David showed himself zealous for public justice, without regard to his own private interest.