1 Samuel 31:4

Abuse me. Or, “deal wantonly [or ruthlessly] with me.” Saul was fearful lest the Philistines treat him in much the same way that they had treated Samson. He had shown no such concern for David, but had plotted at one time to have him fall into the hands of the uncircumcised Philistines (ch. 18:21-25).

Feel upon it. Like Judas, he took his own life. Perhaps, influenced by the tauntings of the evil spirit that he was going to die, he lost his reason and sought suicide in order to escape enemy abuse.

Opinions differ as to the exact method of his death. Presumably basing his narrative on the Amalekite’s story (2 Sam. 1:1-10), Josephus says that the Amalekite actually killed him when he found him still alive after falling on his sword (Antiquities vi. 14. 7). However, it appears evident that the young man invented his story for the purpose of winning the approbation of David (see PP 682, 695).

How went the matter? The appearance of the young man, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head (v. 2), gave evidence that Israel had suffered a disastrous defeat. David was anxious for details.