John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 1

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul
The third day after, as appears from the next verse:

when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites ;
as related in (1 Samuel 30:17) ;

and David had abode two days in Ziklag ;
which, though fired by the Amalekites, was not utterly consumed, but there was still some convenience for the lodging of David and his men; within this time he sent his presents to several places in the tribe of Judah, of which mention is made in the chapter before quoted, and at the same time it was that so many mighty men came to him from several tribes spoken of in (1 Chronicles 12:1–40) .

It came to pass on the third day
After the battle was fought, in which Saul was slain:

that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul ;
that is, from them who were in the camp with Saul, for he was dead. Some say ^F4 this was Doeg the Edomite, which is not likely that he should come with such tidings to David; besides, if he was Saul's armourbearer, as others say, see (1 Samuel 31:4) ; he died with Saul; nor his son, as others ^F5 , which is not at all probable, though his being an Edomite is no objection, since the Amalekites were of the race of Edom:

with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head :
in token of mourning, and was the bringer of bad tidings, see (1 Samuel 4:12) ;

and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and
did obeisance ;
as being the rising sun, Saul's successor, and now king.

FOOTNOTES:

• F4: Pesikta in Jarchi in loc.
• F5: Tanchuma in Yalkut in loc. Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 lib. Reg. fol. 77. C.

And David said to him, from where you come ?
&c.] It is very likely by his appearance and circumstances he suspected from where he came:

and he said to him, out of the camp of Israel I have escaped ;
which plainly suggested that that was in danger, confusion, and distress.

And David said unto him, how went the matter? I pray thee, tell
me
That is, how went the battle? on which side the victory?

and he answered, that the people are fled from the battle ;
meaning the people of Israel, they had given way, and turned their backs upon their enemies, and were fled:

and many of the people also are fallen and dead ;
fell by the sword in the pursuit of them, and were not only wounded, but were slain, and these great numbers of them:

and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also ;
which are mentioned last, because they fell some of the last; and this part of the account is reserved by the messenger to the last, because it was the article of the greatest importance; the death of these two persons, the one the enemy, and the other the friend of David, and the death of both made way for his accession to the throne.

And David said to the young man that told him
These tidings:

how know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead ?
this he particularly inquired after, as what most affected him, and was most material for him to know; and his meaning is, whether he had this of his own sight and knowledge, or by report.