2 Samuel 1:15

15 Then David called one of his men and said, "Kill him!" The man struck the Amalekite and mortally wounded him,

2 Samuel 1:15 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 1:15

And David called one of the young men
His servants that attended on him:

and said, go near, [and] fall upon him;
by smiting him with his sword:

and he smote him, that he died;
his orders were instantly obeyed. Kings and generals of armies had great power in those times and countries to execute a man immediately, without any other judge or jury: what may serve, or David might think would serve, to justify him in doing this, is what follows.

2 Samuel 1:15 In-Context

13 David asked the young man who had brought him the news, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I'm an Amalekite, but I live in your country."

14 David asked him, "How is it that you dared kill the Lord's chosen king?"

15 Then David called one of his men and said, "Kill him!" The man struck the Amalekite and mortally wounded him,

16 and David said to the Amalekite, "You brought this on yourself. You condemned yourself when you confessed that you killed the one whom the Lord chose to be king."

17 David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,