1 & 2 Samuel

2 Samuel Chapter 1

David Hears of Saul's Death

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel was originally all one book but was divided later by authors of the Septuagint translation. This was about 285 B.C. This was also done to the books of Kings, Chronicles each originally one book. Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book also. 2 Samuel records the life of David as we move beyond the life of Saul.

2Samuel 1:1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

David here seems to be hoping the young man was mistaken. David did not want this to be true. Perhaps David just didn't want to take the word of this person or perhaps he saw through the man's deceit and wondered what else was on his mind.

2Samuel 1:6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

We don't know whether this account is true or not but it could have happened that way. Saul did try to kill himself but perhaps he didn't succeed. It could be Saul was already dead and this young man took the crown of Saul and the bracelet and thought up a story to get himself a reward, not knowing the soul and character of David. David never once gloated and rejoiced over Saul's death. He recognized the anointing of the Lord that was once upon Saul. This is another reason that God called David a man after His own heart.

God sees deeper than we sometimes see. That is why we need to be very cautious in bad mouthing our spiritual leaders as well as national leaders. In voting try to find out the issues they stand for and vote according our conscience, not a political party. When it comes to pastors and teachers of the word, if they get into false doctrine speak out against the doctrine but be careful in accusing any of false teaching if we heard it from the news media, or someone's word and we didn't hear it ourselves from the mouth of the teacher. We don't want to be mouth pieces for the accuser of the brethren. I hear people online call people false prophets and teachers all the time without giving a reason or saying anything about what false teaching they are accusing them of. They are just repeating what they heard but stating it as fact. We need to be careful with this.

The young man assumed David would reward him for killing Saul. This assumption cost him his life. We assume things especially when someone we trust in to speak truth tells us something. However, they might have heard it from someone else who isn't so trustful. God knows the hearts of all of us. We don't have to take it upon ourselves to repeat assumptions and rumors. We all should be able to spot false teaching by studying the word diligently ourselves.

2Samuel 1:11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

David and his men's immediate response was to grieve and mourn. Later he returns to the young man with more questions.

2Samuel 1:13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?
15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

The young man might not have been the one to kill Saul but took advantage of an opportunity to gain some reward or praise. It cost him his life. This was an Amalekite who did remove the crown from Saul. Chuck Smith commented on this saying that if Saul would have originally obeyed the Lord and wiped out all the Amalekites when he had the chance, this man young man would not be have been there to slay him. Also in Finis Dake's commentary he mentioned that an Amalekite removed the crown of Saul. So because of Saul's disobedience that cost him the kingdom, removing that crown seemed to be symbolic.

David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan

2Samuel 1:17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

David who wrote most of the Psalms, wrote this ode to honor Saul and Jonathan. Their deaths were hard on him. He remembers the good deeds they did and not the bad things Saul did. He remembers his deep love for Jonathan. They were very close faithful friends. A person is fortunate indeed if they have friends that are truthful, faithful and stay that way until we depart from this life. To mourn Jonathan is not surprising but to mourn Saul shows his true character. David remembered the good times. He forgives the bad, he doesn't think of the bad time after hearing of his death. That is why David was a man after God's heart. He loves, he forgives and he is a ardent worshiper of God. DC

2 Samuel Chapter 2