2 Samuel 1 - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

The Amalekite is put to death.

David was sincere in his mourning for Saul; and all with him humbled themselves under the hand of God, laid so heavily upon Israel by this defeat. The man who brought the tidings, David put to death, as a murderer of his prince. David herein did not do unjustly; the Amalekite confessed the crime. If he did as he said, he deserved to die for treason; and his lying to David, if indeed it were a lie, proved, as sooner or later that sin will prove, lying against himself. Hereby David

showed himself zealous for public justice, without regard to his own private interest. (2Sa 1:17-27)