John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 1:8

"And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite." — 2 Samuel 1:8 (ASV)

And he said unto me, who [are] you ?
&c.] Being willing to know whether a friend or an enemy, which by his coming behind him he could not tell:

and I answered him, I [am] an Amalekite :
which he might be; but it is not likely he should tell Saul he was, which would not recommend him to him; though indeed he was now in such circumstances, that the Amalekites had nothing to fear from him; and if he was slain by him, as Josephus ^F6 affirms he was, it seems to be a just retaliation on him for sparing any of that race, contrary to the will of God.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F6: Antiqu. l. 6. c. 14. sect. 7.