And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ And he said to me, Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’S anointed.’”
Comment: Upon hearing of Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths and the defeat of the army by the Philistines, according to their custom they tore their clothes, started wailing and fasted. They were greatly concerned for the defeat and deaths of their leaders and the army. If you could call it a ‘wake’ then it was very short. It says until the evening. I guess David and his friends were in the resultant mess of a shocking defeat of their army but I’m surprised if the mourning period was not much longer than that! The messenger was killed. David reasoned that the messenger should not have slain Saul. Maybe David didn’t know that Saul had fallen on his own sword. If he knew then I think he was a bit tough. There were no army hospitals and surgeons there, and Saul requested the finalizing of his failed death by falling on his own sword, which would, with little doubt, have led to an agonizing death.
Prayer: Give me wisdom please if and when I have to make difficult decisions.
As I read it! 