2 Samuel 1:5 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

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

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

David asked the young man who brought him the news, 'How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

David is questioning a messenger to verify the shocking news that King Saul and his beloved friend Jonathan have died in battle.

📚 Historical Context

This takes place after the battle of Mount Gilboa where Saul and his sons fought against the Philistines. David had been in exile from Saul's court and was not present at the battle, so he's receiving secondhand news of their deaths. The messenger is an Amalekite who will claim he helped kill Saul, though this contradicts the earlier account in 1 Samuel 31.

Explore Similar Verses

1 Samuel 19:7

Jonathan called David and told him everything that had happened. Then Jonathan brought David back to Saul, and David served in the king's presence just like he had before.

2 Samuel 21:13

And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan; and they also gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.

1 Samuel 20:8

So please be kind to me, your servant, because you have made a sacred promise with me before the LORD. But if I have done anything wrong, kill me yourself—why would you hand me over to your father?

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