Kings II 1:5

5 And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

Kings II 1:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 1:5

And when the messengers turned back unto him
To Ahaziah king of Israel, as they did as soon as Elijah was gone from them; concluding from his habit, his gravity, and the authority with which he spoke, that he was a prophet of the Lord, and especially from his knowledge of them, and of what they were sent about: he said unto them, why are ye now turned back?
for, by the time they had been gone, he knew they could never have been at Ekron and returned.

Kings II 1:5 In-Context

3 And David said to him, Whence comest thou? and he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.
4 And David said to him, What the matter? tell me. And he said, The people fled out of the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.
5 And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?
6 And the young man that brought the tidings, said to him, I happened accidentally to be upon mount Gelbue; and, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, behold, the chariots and captains of horse pressed hard upon him.
7 And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, I.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.