This is a very difficult passages and this makes it even more confusing or difficult, from 1 Samuel 31: "But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day." Whether the Amalekite was telling the truth or not, it cost him his life. When we don't understand Scripture, it's time to draw closer to the Author. He is Truth, Life, Wisdom, and Knowledge.
It doesn't get any better within the next section of text either. 2 Samuel 2:16: "Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim."
More difficult scripture. Is this how men lived when they weren't seeking the Lord? :( This comes across as either trying to prove who was better for the sake of hierarchy or sport. Either way, it's just terrible. :( Maybe sometimes God allows "bad things to happen" just to show a glimpse of how ugly sin can be and why we need a Saviour. I'm fairly certain that sin can get far more ugly than anything we've ever seen. :(