David Hears of Saul's Death

After Saul's death, David returned from striking the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days. On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp with torn clothes and dirt on his head. He fell to the ground before David in respect.

David asked where he had come from. The man said he had escaped from the camp of Israel. David asked how the battle had gone, and the man said the people had fled, many had fallen and died, and Saul and Jonathan were also dead. Then David asked how he knew this.

The young man said that he happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning on his spear while chariots and horsemen were closing in. He said Saul called to him and asked who he was. The man answered that he was an Amalekite. He then claimed Saul asked him to stand beside him and kill him.

The man said he killed Saul because he was sure Saul could not live after he had fallen. He said he took the crown from Saul's head and the bracelet from his arm and brought them to David. Then David and all the men with him tore their clothes. They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan, and for the people of Israel who had fallen by the sword.

David asked the young man again where he was from, and he answered that he was the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite. David said he had not feared to lift his hand against the Lord's anointed. Then David told one of his young men to strike him down, and the man died. David said his own words had testified against him. What do David's tears and fasting show about the way he responded to Saul's death?