2 Samuel 1:15

15 Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near, and execute him!" And he struck him so that he died.

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 Then David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite."

14 So David said to him, "How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?"

15 Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near, and execute him!" And he struck him so that he died.

16 So David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the Lord's anointed.' "

17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,