I stood upon him, and slew him: it is most probable this was a lie, devised to gain David's favour, as he supposed. For,
1. Saul was not killed by a spear, as he pretends, but by his sword, 1 Samuel 31:4.
2. It is expressly said that Saul's armour-bearer, being yet living, saw that Saul was dead, 1 Samuel 31:5; which doubtless he would very thoroughly examine and know, before he would kill himself upon that account, as he did.
3. Saul's death is manifestly ascribed to his own action, even to his falling upon his sword, 1 Samuel 31:4,5. I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: this he addeth by way of caution and excuse, that it might be thought all act of necessity and kindness, and not of choice or ill will, that he killed Saul. But here also he betrays himself; for how could this be true, when Saul's life was whole within him, as he had now said, 2 Samuel 1:9 ? The crown that was upon his head; not that he then wore it; which would have exposed him too much, and that unnecessarily, to the rage of the Philistines; but that he used to wear it. It is not likely that he found it now actually upon Saul's head, but that he met with it in some part of the camp, whither Saul had brought it to wear it when he saw fit. Unto my lord; unto thee, whom, now Saul is dead, I own for my lord and king.