2 Samuel 1:4

2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

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

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
KJV
And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
WEB
David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
ASV
And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
DARBY
And David said to him, What has taken place? I pray thee, tell me. And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and many of the people also had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son were dead also.
BLB
And David said to him, “What is the report? Please tell me.” And he answered, “That people have fled from the battle, and many are fallen of the people and died. And also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.”
ÅB
Da sa David til ham: Hvordan er det gått? Fortell meg det! Han svarte: Folket flyktet fra striden; mange av folket falt og døde, og Saul og hans sønn Jonatan er også død.
OTB
David sa: «Hva har skjedd? Fortell meg.» Han svarte: «Troppene flyktet fra slaget; mange falt og døde. Saul og hans sønn Jonatan er døde.»
B1930
Da sa David til ham: Hvorledes er det gått? Fortell mig det! Han svarte: Folket flyktet fra striden; mange av folket falt og døde, og Saul og hans sønn Jonatan er også død.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 4:16

    And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 31:1–6

    Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 10:1–6

    Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

    Read in context