John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:15
And David called one of the young men ,.... His servants that attended on him: and said, go near, and fall upon him ; by smiting him with his sword: and he smote him, that he died ; his orders were instantly obeyed. Kings and generals of armies had great power in those times and countries to execute a man immediately, without any other judge or jury: what may serve, or David might think would serve, to justify him in doing this, is what follows. read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:11-16
Here is, I. David's reception of these tidings. So far was he from falling into a transport of joy, as the Amalekite expected, that he fell into a passion of weeping, rent his clothes (2 Sam. 1:11), mourned and fasted (2 Sam. 1:12), not only for his people Israel and Jonathan his friend but for Saul his enemy. This he did, not only as a man of honour, in observance of that decorum which forbids us to insult over those that are fallen, and requires us to attend our relations to the grave with... read more