1 Samuel 31:2

Followed hard. The disastrous defeat taught the Israelites the folly of adopting the ways of the world in demanding a king. When that king became a tyrant, the whole nation became a party to his shortcomings, and shared responsibility with him.

Slew Jonathan. The question naturally arises, Why did the Lord permit Jonathan to be slain along with his father when his attitudes were totally contrary to those of Saul? Why could not he, a spiritual-minded soul, disavowing his father’s ideals, and sympathetically knitting himself with David in following the opening providences of the Lord, have been permitted to live? Why could not Ishbosheth have gone in his place, instead of living on to follow in his father’s footsteps? This is a question beyond the ability of man to answer (see GC 47). The records of sacred history reveal that persecution and death have been the lot of the righteous in all ages. Because of the implications of the great controversy Satan must be granted an opportunity to afflict the righteous. But the Christian’s comfort is that though the adversary may be able to destroy the body, he is not able to destroy the soul (Matt. 10:28). Once the relationship of the soul to God has been unalterably decided upon, the continuance or discontinuance of this present life is not of prime importance. We may magnify Christ “by life, or by death” (Phil. 1:20-23).

The third day. That is, the third day after David’s return to Zildag, not necessarily the third day after the death of Saul.

His clothes rent. As if to indicate sorrow for the defeat that had befallen David’s people (see Joshua 7:6; 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 15:32; Job 2:12).

Did obeisance. The messenger was an Amalekite (see on v. 13), of the same race as the people who had attacked the camp of David and whom David had recently smitten (1 Samuel 30:1, 17, 18). His father, however, was a sojourner in Israel, and the man was evidently enlisted in Saul’s army (see on v. 3). His act of obeisance was presumably in recognition of David’s new position as leader in Israel.