Bible Strands
2 Samuel 1:2
On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David is in Ziklag after the Amalekite campaign when a man arrives from Saul’s camp, falls to the ground to pay homage, and prepares to report the king’s death.
The words — The Hebrew בָּא (ba') denotes "was coming" or "arrived," marking the messenger’s approach from the camp, while אִישׁ ('ish), "a man," identifies the unnamed figure bearing torn garments and dust.
The thread — The physical markers of torn clothes and dust on the head recur in 1 Samuel 4:12 when a runner flees Shiloh, and Joshua 7:6 records Joshua and the elders tearing their clothes and falling facedown before the ark. 2 Samuel 4:10 later notes David executing a man who claimed to bring good news of Saul’s death.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to note how outward signs of mourning and submission frame a report that David will immediately verify before responding.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 4:12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
- 2 Samuel 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news!
- Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.
- 1 Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
- Genesis 22:4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
- Genesis 37:7 We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.”
- Genesis 37:29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,
- Genesis 37:34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
- Genesis 43:28 “Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.
- 1 Samuel 4:16 “I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli. “I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.