2 Samuel 1:2

2 The next day a young man arrived from Saul's camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect.

2 Samuel 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 1:2

It came to pass on the third day
After the battle was fought, in which Saul was slain:

that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul;
that is, from them who were in the camp with Saul, for he was dead. Some say ^F4 this was Doeg the Edomite, which is not likely that he should come with such tidings to David; besides, if he was Saul's armourbearer, as others say, see ( 1 Samuel 31:4 ) ; he died with Saul; nor his son, as others ^F5, which is not at all probable, though his being an Edomite is no objection, since the Amalekites were of the race of Edom:

with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head:
in token of mourning, and was the bringer of bad tidings, see ( 1 Samuel 4:12 ) ;

and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and
did obeisance;
as being the rising sun, Saul's successor, and now king.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Pesikta in Jarchi in loc.
F5 Tanchuma in Yalkut in loc. Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 lib. Reg. fol. 77. C.

2 Samuel 1:2 In-Context

1 After Saul's death David came back from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days.

2 The next day a young man arrived from Saul's camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect.

3 David asked him, "Where have you come from?" "I have escaped from the Israelite camp," he answered.

4 "Tell me what happened," David said. "Our army ran away from the battle," he replied, "and many of our men were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan were also killed."

5 "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" David asked him.