2 Samuel 1
Bob Utley · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 1
Utley adds that "Saul made a crucial military mistake by attempting to engage the Philistines on the flat plains where their chariots could function. He left himself no way of escape. This is probably why he ran to Mount Gilboa." (See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARIOTS) TSK NOTE - The story of this young man appears to be wholly a fiction, formed for the purpose of ingratiating himself with David, as the next probable successor to the crown. There is no fact in the case, except for the bringing of the diadem and bracelets of Saul, as a sufficient evidence of his death, which, as he appears to been a plunderer of the slain, he seems to have stripped from the dead body of the unfortunate monarch. It is remarkable, that Saul, who had forfeited his crown by his disobedience and ill-timed clemency with respect to the Amalekites, should now have the insignia of royalty stripped from his person by one of those very people. 2 Samuel 1:7 "When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, 'Here I am.' Here am I: 2Sa 9:6, 9:54 1Sa 22:12 Isa 6:8 Isa 65:1 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE FABRICATED STORY CONTINUED When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, 'Here I am" (Literally "behold me" = hinneh; Lxx = idou) - The man's lies continues in an attempt to ingratiate himself to David. Utley on Here I am - This is a Semitic idiom for a servant's availability to a superior's request (cf. Gen. 22:1,7,11; 27:1; 31:11; 46:2; Exod. 3:4; 1 Sam. 3:4,5,6,8,10; 22:12; 2 Sam. 1:7). 2 Samuel 1:8 "He said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.' Amalekite: Ge 14:7 Ex 17:8-16 Nu 24:20 De 25:17-19 1Sa 15:3 27:8 1Sa 30:1,13,17 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 17:14+ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Deuteronomy 25:17-19+ Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, 18how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God. 19“Therefore it shall come about when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget. 1 Samuel 15:2-3+ “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. 3‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” 1 Samuel 15:28+ So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you IRONY OF IDENTIFICATION OF AN AMALEKITE He said to me, 'Who are you?' - He is recounting his conversation with Saul, which was a lie. And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite - Can we not see the bitter irony, for it was Saul's failure to obey God and eradicate the Amalekites that resulted in his downfall (1Sa 15:2-3, 28+)! David's ears must have perked up at the news this man was an Amalekite! What had the Amalekites just done to David and his men at Ziklag? (1Sa 30:1-2, 13-18+) One can imagine that the town still reeked of smoke (see below), the smell of which can linger for weeks (or longer)! So with a bad smell in his nostrils and now a bad man (an enemy of Israel) in his presence, David's ember of righteous anger must have been in the process of igniting! Smoke smell - After a fire in your building, it could take several weeks for the smells to go away. During this time, it's important to clean thoroughly and ventilate as much as possible to improve indoor air quality. 2 Samuel 1:9 "Then he said to me, 'Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.' 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AMALEKITE LIES THAT HE WAS AN ANGEL OF MERCY Then he said to me, 'Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me - The Amalekite claims Saul gave him two commands, adding details which would he felt surely would make David see him as an "angel of mercy" who would obey the king's commands and put an end to Saul's agony. 2 Samuel 1:10 "So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord." BGT 2 Samuel 1:10 καὶ ἐπέστην ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐθανάτωσα αὐτόν ὅτι ᾔδειν ὅτι οὐ ζήσεται μετὰ τὸ πεσεῖν αὐτόν καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ βασίλειον τὸ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν χλιδῶνα τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ βραχίονος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνήνοχα αὐτὰ τῷ κυρίῳ μου ὧδε LXE 2 Samuel 1:10 So I stood over him and slew him, because I knew he would not live after he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them hither to my lord. KJV 2 Samuel 1:10 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. NET 2 Samuel 1:10 So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn't live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord." CSB 2 Samuel 1:10 So I stood over him and killed him because I knew that after he had fallen he couldn't survive. I took the crown that was on his head and the armband that was on his arm, and I've brought them here to my lord." ESV 2 Samuel 1:10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord." NIV 2 Samuel 1:10 "So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord." NLT 2 Samuel 1:10 "So I killed him," the Amalekite told David, "for I knew he couldn't live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord." killed: Jdg 1:7, Jdg 9:54 1Sa 22:18 31:4,5 Mt 7:2 crown: 2Sa 12:30 La 5:16 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL'S CROWN AND BRACELET AFFIRM HIS CLAIM So (therefore , for this reason) - Because Saul was in agony and had given him a command. I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord - An Amalekite calling David my lord! What a hypocrite! He had prostrated himself to David as lord and now mouths lying words in an attempt to deceive David. He would have been honest had he said "my enemy!" Presumably he was the first to come to Saul's body (for Philistines would never have left Saul's crown) and thereby obtained the crown and bracelet which were presumptive evidence that he was telling the truth. Little did he know that this validation of his lie would cost his life! The question this text raises is where did this Amalekite get the crown and bracelet, for we know the Philistines had searched the battle field for spoil, "the next day...to strip the slain." (1Sa 31:8+) and that they identified Saul. Presumably his royal robe would have given away his identity. Vos says, “There are at least two particulars that cast real doubt on the validity of the Amalekite’s story: The intimation that Saul was alone and unattended by Israelite warriors, and that Saul would call on a pagan Amalekite to kill him in order to save himself from the uncircumcised Philistines. Evidently, the Amalekite found Saul after he had died, but before the Philistines came to strip the dead on the battlefield. He made off with the king’s crown and arm band, and took them to David with the report that he had killed the king—no doubt hoping for some reward from David.” TSK on bracelet: This was probably worn as an ensign of royalty, as is frequently the case in the East. When the Khalif Cayem Bemrillah granted the investiture of certain dominions to an Eastern prince, the ceremony was performed by sending him letters patent, a crown, chain, and bracelets. The bracelet, says Mr. Morier, are ornaments fastened above the elbows, composed of precious stones of great value, and are only worn by the king and his sons. Walton - The headwear mentioned here would more accurately be rendered “diadem,” referring to an object hung at the forehead or on the front of a headpiece. It often is a symbol of authority. As early as the Sumerian period the diadem is one of the insignias of royal power bestowed on the king by the god Anu. Perhaps the best-known example of this in the ancient world is the serpent (uraeus) on the front of a pharaoh’s crown, which was believed to be a protective device. In the descriptions of Israel’s high priest’s garments the diadem is generally associated with a “golden plate” (NIV; see comment on Lev 8:9). The armband is not referred to in any other Old Testament passages. Armbands were a frequent adornment in the first millennium. The earliest examples found by archaeologists in Israel date to the eleventh century. Armbands and a diadem are mentioned in a list of jewelry that the Assyrian king Sennacherib gave to his son (and successor) Esarhaddon. (IVP Background Commentary-OT) Utley on fallen - This same VERB (BDB 656, KB 709, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) is used several times in this context. 1 Sam. 31:1 ‒ to fall in battle 1 Sam. 31:4,5 ‒ to commit suicide 1 Sam. 31:8 ‒ same as #1 2 Sam. 1:2 ‒ pay homage 2 Sam. 1:4 ‒ same as #1 2 Sam. 1:10 ‒ in a weak state or fall to the ground 2 Sam. 1:12 ‒ same as #1 1:19,25,27 ‒ shame of losing the battle 2 Samuel 1:11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. rent: 2Sa 3:31 13:31 Ge 37:29,34 Ac 14:14 likewise: Ro 12:15 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Proverbs 17:5 He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished. DAVID'S INTENSE REACTION TO THE BAD NEWS Then - Marks progression in the narrative and shows David's reaction to the news, which was not sham but sincere. David and his men were visibly shaken over Saul's death. David Guzik When David heard of Saul’s death, he mourned. We might have expected celebration at the death of this great enemy and rival, but David mourned.. Out of pure jealousy, hatred, spite, and ungodliness, Saul took away David’s family, home, career, security, and the best years of David’s life – and Saul was utterly unrepentant to the end. Yet David mourned and wept and fasted when he learned of Saul’s death. This contrast powerfully demonstrates that our hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness are chosen, not imposed on us. As much as Saul did against David, David chose to become better instead of bitter. David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him - Like king, like men, so all expressed immediate and intense grief and emotion to the news of Saul and Jonathan's death. The Amalekite knows he has struck a chord in David's heart, but has no idea that the very "boomerang" he had just thrown was soon to return to strike him fatally in the head! Is there not a touch of poetic irony here? Saul had torn Samuel's robe symbolizing the tearing of the kingdom from him (1Sa 15:27-29+). Here David tears his own robe because Saul's kingdom has been torn from him. Walton - Along with placing ashes in the hair, the tearing of clothing was a common form of mourning in the ancient Near East. One example outside the Bible is found in the Ugaritic Epic of Aqhat (c. 1600 B.C.), in which the sister of the hero tears her father’s garment as she foretells a coming drought. Such an act often implied grief over the death of a relative, friend or prominent individual. (IVP Background Commentary-OT) THOUGHT - David and his mighty men showed sincere sorrow and grief. Are you too macho to cry? "They were not ashamed to grieve. Today, some people consider expressing emotions to be a sign of weakness. Those who wish to appear strong try to hide their feelings. But expressing our grief can help us deal with our intense sorrow when a loved one dies." (Life Application Study Bible borrow) As an aside the old Puritans used to pray for the gift of tears! When was the last time you wept over your sin against your Father? Listen to Keith Greene's soul piercing song My Eyes Are Dry (here is the long version) "The old Puritans used to pray for 'the gift of tears.' A man has the power to harden himself against one of God's greatest gifts. If in order to dissolve a piece of ice, you take a hammer and smash it up, you simply break it into so many pieces of ice; but put the ice out in the sunshine and it quickly disappears. That is just the difference between man's handling of wrong and God's. Man's handling may cause it to crumble, but it is only so much crumbled-up wrong; when God handles it, it becomes repentance, and the man turns to God and his life becomes a sacrament of experimental repentance." --Oswald Chambers, in Baffled to Fight Better Don Anderson - David had a spirit of forgiveness. This is also seen in JESUS as he is being nailed to the cross. He prays, “Father, forgive them, for they are not knowing what they are doing.” STEPHEN reflects this same attitude in Acts 7 when he is being stoned to death. Matthew
2 Samuel 1
Utley on weapons - The Philistines captured Saul's and Jonathan's weapons and they confiscated all the agricultural implements used as weapons by Israel's soldiers (cf. 1 Sam. 31:8). Many commentators (e.g., John MacArthur) think "the weapons" referred to Saul and Jonathan themselves.