The news of the defeat of the Is'ra-el-ites by the Phi-lis'tines and of the death of Saul and his sons was brought to Da'vid three days after he and his men had returnt to the ruins of Zik'lag. There rushed into the camp a man in tattered clothes and with the appearance of having gone through a terrific struggle. Thinking that Da'vid would be pleased to hear the unhappy end of the one who had persecuted him for so many years, the stranger told Da'vid of the tragic death of Saul. No doubt seeking a reward from Da'vid, he pretended that he had taken an important part in the tragedy, saying:
" I happened by chance to come upon Saul as he leant upon his spear, hard pressed by the chariots and horsemen of the enemy; and at his own request, because he did not wish to undergo the shame of being slain by the Phi-lis'tines, I slew him with my own hands. I have brought you the metal cap which he wore to protect his temples and as an emblem of power; and his armlet, the mark of his royal dignity."
This man, who said that he was an Am'a-lek-ite, misjudged the nobility of Da'vid. The story which he told was only partially true, and the claims which he made for himself were wholly false. Instead of bringing praise and reward, his scheme brought down upon his head the anger of the man he sought to please and the punishment of death.
Da'vid's heart was filled with sorrow at the news of the death of Saul and his bosom friend Jon'a-than. His feelings broke forth in overwhelming grief and in violent anger toward the man who claimt to have slain the king. He proclaimt a season of deep mourning among his men for Saul and Jon'a-than and for all the Is'ra-el-ites who had fallen by the sword of the Phi-lis'tines.
He then called for the man who had brought the news of the death of Saul and his sons, and asked him who he was. The man replied that he was an Am'a-lek-ite who had moved into the land of Is'ra-el. Then the one who had never been disloyal to his king, and who had twice spared his life, said to the stranger, "Thou art condemned by the words of thine own mouth, for the penalty of death must be inflicted upon any man who slays the LORD'S anointed." He then directed one of his valiant men to execute the self-confessed criminal, and the sentence was immediately carried out.
Da'vid then uttered a lament over the death of Saul and Jon'a-than which holds an honored place among ancient writings of this kind. It is arranged in three strophes, gradually diminishing in power and scope:
