2 Samuel 1:12 Explained in Context

Read It With

• 2 Samuel 1:11–16

Read 2 Samuel 1:12 with 1:11–16. The wording “And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for…” supplies one step in the thought unit through its next reported action, speech, or consequence; the surrounding verses supply the causes, responses, and outcome summarized here: David and his men mourn before David tests the messenger's identity and orders his death for claiming to strike the LORD's anointed.

Why This Verse Appears Here

Within “David Mourns and Executes the Messenger,” 2 Samuel 1:12 advances the thought unit through its next reported action, speech, or consequence through the wording “And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for….” Its placement is governed by this reviewed relationship: 2 Samuel 1:1–10 establishes this prior movement: An Amalekite arrives from Saul's camp, reports Israel's defeat, and claims that he killed the wounded king at Saul's request. 2 Samuel 1:11–16 brings the preceding movement toward a consequence or close; that demonstrated relationship, rather than sequence alone, explains its placement.