2 Samuel 1:4

4 And David said unto him, "How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."

2 Samuel 1:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 1:4

And David said unto him, how went the matter? I pray thee, tell
me
That is, how went the battle? on which side the victory?

and he answered, that the people are fled from the battle;
meaning the people of Israel, they had given way, and turned their backs upon their enemies, and were fled:

and many of the people also are fallen and dead;
fell by the sword in the pursuit of them, and were not only wounded, but were slain, and these great numbers of them:

and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also;
which are mentioned last, because they fell some of the last; and this part of the account is reserved by the messenger to the last, because it was the article of the greatest importance; the death of these two persons, the one the enemy, and the other the friend of David, and the death of both made way for his accession to the throne.

2 Samuel 1:4 In-Context

2 it came even to pass on the third day that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent and earth upon his head; and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth and did obeisance.

3 And David said unto him, "From whence comest thou?" And he said unto him, "Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped."

4 And David said unto him, "How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."

5 And David said unto the young man who told him, "How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"

6 And the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.