2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 1:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the absence of any law or governing authority that dictates otherwise, murder remains unlawful, even if an individual desires and petitions for it due to an inability to continue living. This principle is illustrated in the Holy Scriptures, particularly in the Book of Kings, where King David condemned to death the man who claimed to have slain King Saul. The man argued that he had ended the suffering of the injured and mortally wounded Saul at his own request, believing he had liberated the king’s spirit from the agony of his physical condition.

Some criticize David for executing the man who brought news of Saul's death. The prophet and king should be astonished rather than judgmental, for upon hearing of the death of his enemy, David wept profoundly. The messenger, who was not at all distressed by Saul, displayed contempt for death itself, while both Saul and Jonathan—a noble warrior—had perished, along with a significant portion of the army. The man not only misrepresented the situation by claiming the title of Saul's murderer but was also an Amalekite, a group long condemned to death by the Lord. The prophet's words themselves are quite remarkable. He questioned, “Why did not all of you fear to raise up your hand to destroy the Lord's Anointed? Your blood is on your head, as your mouth proclaims, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord's Anointed’” (2 Sam. 1:14-16).

It is clear that David transgressed the stipulations of the law, despite Moses’ instruction to treat his adversaries justly. Rather than obeying this command, he embraced his tormentors with love, earnestly prayed to the Lord on their behalf, grieved profoundly for them, and when they were killed, he sought justice for their plight.