2 Samuel 1:5

5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead? ”

2 Samuel 1:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 1:5

And David said unto the young man that told him
These tidings:

how knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
this he particularly inquired after, as what most affected him, and was most material for him to know; and his meaning is, whether he had this of his own sight and knowledge, or by report.

2 Samuel 1:5 In-Context

3 David said to him, “Where do you come from? ” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel. ”

4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me. ” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead. ”

5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead? ”

6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am. ’