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.

2 SAMUEL 1:4KJV
Know the Bible

2 Samuel 1:4 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 1:4 mean?

2 Samuel 1:4 describes a moment when David asks a messenger about the outcome of a recent battle, and the messenger replies that the Israelite people have fled, many have died, and both King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead. This verse reports the devastating news that marks a turning point for David and Israel.

David is speaking to a man who has come from the battlefield, eager to hear what happened after the fighting. The messenger’s answer is blunt and tragic: the army has been defeated, and Israel’s king and his heir are dead. This sets the stage for David’s reaction and the transition of leadership in Israel.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 1:4

  • The word for "people" is עָם (ʿam, H5971), which refers to the nation or community, emphasizing that it was not just soldiers but the whole group that suffered.
  • "Fled" is נוּס (nus, H5127), meaning to run away or escape, highlighting the panic and defeat of Israel’s forces.
  • "Fallen" is נָפַל (nafal, H5307), often used for dying in battle, underscoring the loss of life among the people.
  • "Dead" is מוּת (muth, H4191), a straightforward word for dying, but its repetition for both Saul and Jonathan stresses the completeness of the loss.

Why 2 Samuel 1:4 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the defeat was total: not only did Israel lose the battle, but its king and his son were killed, leaving the nation leaderless.
  • The report sets up the emotional and political context for the rest of the chapter, especially David’s grief and the coming changes in Israel’s leadership.
  • By naming both Saul and Jonathan, the verse highlights the personal loss for David, since Jonathan was his close friend, and Saul was the anointed king.

Where else these words appear

“How” Hebrew H4100 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
  • Numbers 23:8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
  • Psalms 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

“Jonathan” Hebrew H3083 · used in 73 verses

  • Judges 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
  • 1 Samuel 20:28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
  • 2 Samuel 9:6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

“fled” Hebrew H5127 · used in 143 verses

  • Genesis 14:10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
  • Judges 8:12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
  • 1 Chronicles 19:14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.