When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
When someone came to me and said, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing me good news, I grabbed him and killed him in Ziklag. He thought I would reward him for this news.
David is explaining how he executed the messenger who claimed to have killed Saul, even though the man expected a reward for what he thought was good news.
📚 Historical Context
This refers back to 2 Samuel 1, when an Amalekite messenger came to David claiming he had killed King Saul at Saul's own request during the battle at Mount Gilboa. David had the messenger executed for laying hands on God's anointed king, even though Saul had been David's enemy. David is now using this example to warn Rechab and Baanah, who have just killed Ishbosheth and expect a reward.
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