2 Samuel 1:2 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 1:2 nkjv

on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

2 Samuel 1:2 niv

On the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

2 Samuel 1:2 esv

And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.

2 Samuel 1:2 nlt

On the third day a man arrived from Saul's army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.

2 Samuel 1 verses

2 Samuel 1 2 Meaning

This verse vividly portrays the arrival of a messenger to David after the significant battle of Gilboa. His appearance, marked by torn clothes and dust on his head, immediately signals deep distress, mourning, and the delivery of tragic news. His prostration before David further conveys humility, respect, and possibly fear or the gravity of his message, setting a solemn tone for the pivotal revelation of Saul's and Jonathan's deaths.

2 Samuel 1 2 Context

This verse immediately follows the account of Saul's death on Mount Gilboa. It finds David in Ziklag, a Philistine city, where he had sought refuge from Saul's relentless pursuit. David and his men had recently returned from a raid on the Amalekites (1 Sam 30). The historical context is crucial: Israel's kingdom under Saul is collapsing, defeated by the Philistines. The arrival of this man signals a profound shift, the end of one era and the imminent beginning of another. The cultural practices of rending garments and casting dust upon the head were widely recognized signs of profound grief, shock, or abject despair across the ancient Near East, signifying calamitous news and a state of utter humility and distress before God or a superior. This arrival also positions David not as an immediate beneficiary of Saul's downfall, but as someone receiving news that brings sorrow, preparing the ground for his lament, not celebration.

2 Samuel 1 2 Word analysis

• It came about on the third day (וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי way·hi bay·yō·wm haš·šə·lī·šī): The phrase wa·ye·hi ("and it happened" or "and it was") often introduces a significant narrative development. "On the third day" carries symbolic weight throughout the Bible, frequently marking decisive moments, turnarounds, or divine interventions (e.g., God's raising up or crucial disclosures). Here, it denotes a crucial time lapse after the battle, emphasizing the importance of the forthcoming revelation and perhaps suggesting a period of intense anticipation or uncertainty.
• that behold, a man came (וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ בָּא wə·hin·nêh ’îš bā’): The interjection wə·hin·nêh ("behold" or "lo") serves to draw immediate attention to the sudden, impactful arrival, creating a sense of dramatic revelation. It emphasizes the unexpected nature and significance of the messenger's appearance.
• from Saul’s camp (מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה מִשָּׁאוּל min-ham·ma·ḥă·neh miš·šā·’ūl): This phrase indicates the man's direct proximity to the recent battle and to Saul himself. It underscores that he brings firsthand information or was deeply immersed in the immediate aftermath of the event. It specifies his origin, confirming the news's authenticity.
• with his clothes torn (בְּגָדָיו קְרֻעִים bə·ḡā·ḏāw qə·ru·‘îm): A visible, unambiguous cultural indicator of severe distress, mourning, and anguish. Tearing one's garments was a deeply embedded gesture expressing profound sorrow, shock, and sometimes outrage or spiritual lament, reflecting inner turmoil externally.
• and dust on his head (וַאֲדָמָה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ wa·’ă·ḏā·māh ‘al-rō·šōw): Another potent visual sign of grief, humiliation, and desolation. Applying dust or ashes to the head symbolized abject sorrow, submission to divine judgment, or identification with the deceased or a devastated situation. It spoke of deep humility in the face of tragedy.
• and he came to David (וַיָּבֹא אֶל־דָּוִד way·yā·ḇō ’el-dā·wiḏ): Highlights the messenger's specific destination, indicating that David, though outcast, was the rightful recipient of such momentous news concerning Israel's king. This points to David's unique standing.
• and prostrated himself on the ground (וַיִּפֹּל אַרְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּחוּ way·yip·pōl ’ar·ṣāh way·yiš·tā·ḥū): This double action, "fell to the earth" and "bowed down," signifies the utmost respect, deference, and submission. It could also convey a desperate plea, an act of homage to a superior, or intense humility while bearing such dire tidings. It foreshadows David's rise to kingship, receiving such veneration.

2 Samuel 1 2 Bonus section

The immediate cultural impact of torn clothes and dust on the head would have instantly signaled to any ancient Israelite listener or reader that calamitous news, likely involving death or immense defeat, was about to be revealed. This pre-conditions the audience for tragedy before a single word is spoken by the messenger, enhancing the narrative's tension and emotional depth. This particular messenger's account, presented to David in this symbolic posture, is crucial not only for conveying the news but also for demonstrating the messenger's reverence and, implicitly, acknowledging David's future regal status, as such prostration was typically reserved for kings or those of supreme authority. While not explicitly stated in this verse, the messenger's identity as an Amalekite, revealed later in the chapter, adds layers of irony and divine judgment, given Amalek's historical enmity with Israel and God's command to Saul concerning them. This initial visual is solely about the dire message itself, divorced from the sender's origin story for the moment.

2 Samuel 1 2 Commentary

2 Samuel 1:2 is a profound narrative bridge, masterfully setting the stage for the revelation of Israel's king and heir's demise. The messenger's dramatic arrival, marked by the universally understood symbols of intense mourning (torn clothes, dust on head), immediately telegraphs the gravitas of the news he bears. This is not merely a report; it is an emotionally charged declaration. The "third day" context, while historically noting a period after the battle, resonates with biblical themes of significant divine timing and climactic moments. His act of prostration before David acknowledges David's burgeoning authority and signifies the messenger's desperate need for acceptance and mercy, knowing the devastating impact of his message. The verse emphasizes that David, though persecuted by Saul, remains the focal point for significant events in Israel's history, even in mourning the fall of his adversary. It positions David as the recipient of sovereign tidings, preparing the way for his lament, not a celebratory accession.