Shmuel Bais 1:12

12 And they mourned, and wept, and did a tzom until the erev, for Sha’ul, and for Yonatan bno, and for the Am Hashem, and for Bais Yisroel; because they were fallen by the cherev.

Shmuel Bais 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 1:12

And they mourned and wept
Inwardly mourned, and outwardly wept, no doubt sincerely:

and fasted until even;
ate no food all that day until it was evening, the manner in which fasts used to be kept:

for Saul, and for Jonathan his son;
it is no wonder that David and his men should mourn for Jonathan, a good man, and a valiant one, and a dear and faithful friend of David's; but it may seem not so clear a thing that they should, mourn for Saul, a wicked man, and a persecutor of David without cause: but it should be observed that he had been reconciled to David, and had not since attempted anything against him; besides, he was his prince, his father-in-law, and the rather he might be grieved for his death, and his men with him, because it was matter of joy to the Philistines, and they would endeavour to avail themselves of it; and especially the manner of his death, that he should be the cause of it himself, and die without repentance, as it might be feared, and quickly after consultation with a witch, and when left of God, if these particulars were known to David:

and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel;
that is, the people of the Lord, even the house of Israel, or who were of the house of Israel; or if they are to be distinguished, the former may respect the people of the Lord who died in battle, for whom mourning was made; and the latter the people that survived, the whole kingdom of Israel, which had sustained a great loss by the slaughter made in this battle, as it follows:

because they were fallen by the sword;
so many of them.

Shmuel Bais 1:12 In-Context

10 So I stood over him, and slaughtered him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen; and I took the nezer (crown, diadem) that was upon his rosh, and the etzadah (bracelet, band) that was on his zero’a, and have brought them here unto adoni.

11 Then Dovid took hold on his clothes, and made the kri’ah on them; and likewise all the anashim that were with him;

12 And they mourned, and wept, and did a tzom until the erev, for Sha’ul, and for Yonatan bno, and for the Am Hashem, and for Bais Yisroel; because they were fallen by the cherev.

13 And Dovid said unto the na’ar that told him, From where art thou? And he answered, I am ben ish ger, an Amaleki.

14 And Dovid said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine yad to destroy Hashem’s moshiach?