Bible Strands
2 Samuel 1:4
“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David questions a fleeing survivor immediately after the battle at Mount Gilboa, demanding to know the military result. The survivor answers directly, reporting Israel’s flight and the deaths of Saul and Jonathan.
The words — The Hebrew phrase מֶה הָיָה הַדָּבָר (meh ha-yah ha-davar) literally renders "what was the matter?" and is paired with the imperative הַגֶּד־נָא (ha-ged-na), meaning "please tell."
The thread — David’s urgent inquiry mirrors Eli’s question to the fleeing soldier in 1 Samuel 4:16 and aligns with the recorded flight and heavy casualties on Mount Gilboa in 1 Samuel 31:1 and 1 Chronicles 10:1.
Why it lands — The text records a direct request for factual confirmation of a battlefield outcome followed by a blunt report of royal deaths. It requires the reader to acknowledge that political transition begins only after the unambiguous reporting of military collapse.
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
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.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 1 Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
- 1 Chronicles 10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.