2 Samuel 1:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

NIV: Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them.

NASB: Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him.

CSB: Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.

NLT: David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news.

KJV: Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

NKJV: Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

Second Samuel 1:11–16 describes the fate of a lying Amalekite. His attempt to gain glory earns him the sword instead. Philistine archers had gravely wounded king Saul. Instead of facing mistreatment, he committed suicide (1 Samuel 31:1–4). An Amalekite has come to David with Saul's crown and armband, claiming that he finished Saul off by the king's command (2 Samuel 1:1–10). David orders a soldier to execute the Amalekite for killing the Lord's anointed. David then writes a heartfelt lament for the loss of the king and Jonathan and spreads it throughout Judah (2 Samuel 1:17–27).

An Amalekite tells David that Saul and three of his sons have died in battle against the Philistines. The man lies and says he killed the wounded king at Saul's request. David has him executed for killing the Lord's anointed. David writes a psalm of lament for Saul's and Jonathan's deaths and celebration of their lives as warriors. Soon, David will be king of Judah, but Saul's son Ish-bosheth will be king of the rest of Israel (2 Samuel 2:1–4). David will finally wear the crown of Israel in another seven years (2 Samuel 5:1–5).

David learns his fight with Saul is over. Achish, David's Philistine benefactor, excused David from fighting with him against Saul. Three of Saul's sons died in battle, and the wounded Saul killed himself (1 Samuel 29; 31). David hears the news and mourns the king and his friend Jonathan. David will be king of Judah, but he'll have to fight Saul's son Ish-bosheth and his army commander Abner for another seven years before he's king over all Israel (2 Samuel 2; 2 Samuel 5:1–5).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 10/20/2025 1:50:02 PM