2 Samuel 1:1–27 David Hears About the Death of Saul

[Study Aired September 14, 2026]

Our study for today is centered on David receiving the news of the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan. The study also shows how the messenger of the death of Saul was executed by David for confessing to the killing of God’s anointed king, treating him as a murderer regardless of whether his story was true or a boastful lie. The study ends with David composing the famous lament, “How the mighty have fallen.”

The News of Saul’s Death

2Sa 1:1  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2Sa 1:2 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.

Ziklag means ‘winding.’ David abiding in Ziklag for two days after the slaughter of the Amalekites implies how the Lord is making our crooked (winding) path straight as we become His witnesses (the significance of the number two) through our victory over the flesh. 

Isa 45:2  I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
Isa 45:3  And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 

The fact that it was three days after the death of Saul when a messenger came to David with the message of the death of Saul, is to show us that it is through the process of trials that we mature to discern the spiritual death of our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world or Babylon, represented here by the death of Saul and his sons. The man coming out of the camp of Saul represents our brothers and sisters in Babylon. The man, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head, signifies that our brothers and sisters in Babylon have rejected the righteousness of Christ and have rather embraced their own righteousness.  

Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. 

The man having earth upon his head denotes that when we were in the churches of this world, our thinking was influenced greatly by our flesh, which is represented here as earth. 

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

The fact that the man came to bow before David and did obeisance or paid respect to him, indicates that in the fullness of time, our brothers and sisters shall come and bow before us just as Joseph’s brothers bowed before him. 

Gen 42:6  And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. 

2Sa 1:3  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 
2Sa 1:4  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 

The man telling David that he came out of the camp of Israel in verse 3, is to reiterate the point that he represents our brothers and sisters in Babylon. His confession that the people of Israel fled from the battle with the Philistines is to let us know that when we were in Babylon, we were overcome by our flesh. As a result, we were spiritually dead together with our leaders in Babylon. 

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

2Sa 1:5  And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 
2Sa 1:6  And the young man that 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. 

David wanted to be sure that Saul and Jonathan were dead and so he asked the young man how he came across that knowledge. In answering, the young man stated that he was there on Mount Gilboa where Saul fell. Mount Gilboa here signifies the assembly of the church system of this world where we were part of, at a certain stage of our walk. We were therefore witnesses of the lifestyle of those in leadership, which do not conform to the word of the Lord. By this we know that they are spiritually dead. 

Tit 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 
Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

Here in verse 6, the young man reported that Saul leaned upon his spear. As indicated in the previous study, Saul leaning upon his spear signifies that the leaders of Babylon die spiritually through leaning on their false doctrines. We were also dead spiritually during our time in Babylon when we also leaned on our spears or false doctrines. 

The first time that chariots and horsemen were following after the people of Israel in the Bible was when the Egyptians went with Joseph to bury Jacob. The second time that chariots and horsemen appeared in the Bible relates to the Egyptians pursuing the Israelites. Egypt means the world. This implies that one of the potential dangers during our walk in Babylon is the tendency to conform to the standards of this world as the devil pursues us aggressively to put us to death by luring us to the world. 

Gen 50:9  And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen [from Egypt]: and it was a very great company. 

Exo 14:23  And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 

2Sa 1:7  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 
2Sa 1:8  And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 
2Sa 1:9  He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 
2Sa 1:10  So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. 

As we explained in previous studies, the Amalekites represent our flesh. The young man being an Amalekite therefore shows us that it is our flesh that destroys us spiritually. It is important to note that in verse 9, Saul wanted to die rather than bear more suffering. 

2Sa 1:9  “He said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me. I’m alive, but I’m suffering.’ (GW)

It portrays how we did not want to have anything to do with suffering when we were in Babylon. We did not know then that it is rather through suffering that our flesh is put to death. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

In verse 10, we see the Amalekite slew Saul and took away the crown upon his head and the bracelet that was upon his arm. It shows how we sacrifice our crown of life for a life of comfort, when we were in Babylon. The word of the Lord warns us against losing our crown.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

The first time that a bracelet was used in the Bible was when Abraham’s servant put bracelets on Rebecca’s hand as a sign of her being chosen to be married to Isaac. A bracelet therefore is the sign of our engagement or the promise given by the Lord to become His future bride. The Amalekite removing the bracelet from Saul’s arm, therefore signifies how we are disqualified from the marriage feast of Christ because of our indulgence in the flesh.  

Gen 24:22  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; 

Gen 24:30  And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 
Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 

David Mourned Saul and Jonathan

2Sa 1:11  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
2Sa 1:12  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 

David and his men taking hold of the man’s clothes and renting it is to indicate that they rejected the righteousness which results in rejoicing when our enemy is dead or in trouble and embracing the righteousness which is of Christ which enjoins us to love our enemies. 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

The fact that David and his men mourned, wept and fasted for Saul and his son Jonathan suggests that as the Lord’s elect, when we hear of news of the victims of the devil, as we hear of the evil behavior of the leaders of the church system of this world, we should not be glad. We should behave like David, a symbol of the Lord’s elect. He did not want such information to be broadcast among the heathen. 

2Sa 1:20  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 

David and his men mourning for Saul and his son Jonathan implies that it is not only the people of this world, but we, His elect, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, are groaning within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of the body. 

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 

2Sa 1:13  And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 
2Sa 1:14  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed? 
2Sa 1:15  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 
2Sa 1:16  And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed. 

The lesson we can learn from these verses is that we should not put a stumbling block before our brothers and sisters to cause them to become spiritually dead. We destroy the Lord’s anointed or slay the Lord’s anointed through false doctrines. Therefore, this stumbling block is false doctrines which cause our hearts and minds to be darkened such that we cannot see the truth of the Lord’s words to set us free. 

Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

These verses also serve as a warning to the leaders of the church system of this world who peddle false doctrines, that they shall face the consequences of their action in the fullness of time, just as the Amalekite faced his death at the hands of David’s men. 

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

2Sa 1:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 
2Sa 1:18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 
2Sa 1:19  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 
2Sa 1:20  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 

As indicated earlier, David lamenting over Saul and Jonathan signifies that it is not only the people of this world and our brothers and sisters in Babylon, but we, His elect, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, are groaning within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of the body. 

David urging the people of Israel to teach the people of Judah about his lamentation over Saul and Jonathan means that in every generation, we must make the Lord’s elect aware of God’s people being slain in high places. These, God’s people, represent our brothers and sisters in Babylon who are succumbing or yielding to false doctrines, and as a result, they are slain upon high places of the church system of this world. 

The fact that in verse 20, we are admonished not to publish it in the streets of Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, indicates that as the Lord’s elect, we should not make known to the people of this world (daughters of the Philistines), the evil going on in the churches of this world – how our brothers and sisters are dying spiritually through false doctrines. Here in verse 20, we are given reason why we should not be criticizing the church system of this world to the people of this world. It makes the people of this world (daughters of the uncircumcised) triumph over God’s people. In other words, it undermines the honor that the people of this world should accord to God’s people and to God.

I will take this opportunity to talk about this Book of Jasher. Several years ago, during my quest to know the truth, I purchased this supposed Book of Jasher online. When I started reading, I came to the conclusion that this book is not going to help me in my walk with Christ. It is filled with mystics and does not reflect the character of God. It may be that what is being sold as the Book of Jasher is an adulterated version of the original book.

2Sa 1:21  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 

As indicated in several studies, mountains represent a place of worship in the scriptures. Mountains can positively signify the assembly of the Lord’s elect or negatively indicate the churches of this world or Babylon. 

Isa 2:2  And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Mic 4:1  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 

Isa 65:7  Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Deu 12:2  Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

Jer 50:6  My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.

Referring to verse 21, David said that there should not be any dew or rain or fields of offerings on mount Gilboa because the shield of the mighty or that of Saul is cast away as though he had not been anointed. Mount Gilboa here represents Babylon or the church system of this world, where there is no truth of the word of the Lord, signified by no dew nor rain and as a result, the Lord’s people, represented by our brothers and sisters in Babylon, are being slain, as they are not given to understand the word of the Lord in the spirit. 

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  

2Sa 1:22  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 
2Sa 1:23  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Verse 22 is suggesting that Saul and Jonathan all started well in their walk with Christ. They won some victories over their flesh. The bow of Jonathan and the sword of Saul all indicate the truth of the word of the Lord. However, they all became victims of the flesh in Babylon. 

In verse 23, we are given the reason why Jonathan, a close friend of David who knew that his father Saul was wrong, died alongside his father. As stated here in verse 23, Saul and Jonathan were not divided or separated in their death. It shows how Jonathan could not separate himself from his ties to his father, to come out of Babylon or the church system of this world, to join the Lord’s elect, symbolized by David and his men. The word of the Lord clearly enjoins us to come out of Babylon.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

2Sa 1:24  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 
2Sa 1:25  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 

Here in verse 24, we discover that Saul clothed the daughters of Israel with scarlet and put ornaments of gold upon their apparel. Being clothed with scarlet and putting on ornaments of gold implies being prepared for rulership, as shown in the case of Daniel. 

Dan 5:7  The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Dan 5:16  And I have heard of thee [Daniel], that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Dan 5:29  Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Verse 24, therefore, means that the leaders of the Lord’s people are required to help the people be clothed with Christ’s righteousness, which guarantees being made a ruler when Christ appears. However, as we can see in verse 25,  Saul and Jonathan (the mighty) lay slain in the high places. That is to say that the leaders of the church system of this world or Babylon are spiritually dead and therefore cannot be of help to us in our pursuit to be crowned kings in the fullness of time. 

2Sa 1:26  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 
2Sa 1:27  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! 

Jonathan knew that his father Saul was evil, yet he chose to stay with him even unto death, instead of leaving the comfort of his life to suffer with David, a symbol of the Lord’s elect. There are many brothers and sisters in Babylon, whose love for us was genuine, but their inability to leave Babylon and join us in Jerusalem above has made them victims of this war against our flesh. These brothers and sisters are the mighty who have fallen, as they have lost their weapons of war. The Lord is urging us, His elect, to ensure that we arm ourselves with these weapons of war as shown in the following verses:

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

May the Lord help us to continue in Him as we see the day approaching. Amen!