David is told of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths and sings a lament for them.

• What do you think the Amalekite messenger expected from David? How does his account square with what really happened (1 Sam 31:4–5)?
• In verse 21 of David’s lament he calls for God to judge Philistia. This is called an imprecation, a prayer for God’s judgment on His enemies. This is based on the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants (Gen 12:3; Deut 28:7).
• Note in verse 23 that David did not gloat over Saul or speak ill of him. Do you remember what Saul did to David? What can you learn from this?