2 Samuel 1

David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin

2 Samuel 1

Guzik - It was the sad ending of a tragic life, concluding the story of a man who came to the throne humble but left it hardened, bitter against both God and man. Warren

2 Samuel 1

Guzik - We shouldn’t think that this is a “missing” book of the Bible. It is a completely unjustified leap over logic to say that if the Bible mentions an ancient writing, and if that ancient writing has any material in common with biblical books, that writing is genuinely Scripture and is a “lost” book of the Bible. Our Bibles are complete and completely inspired. Utley on song of the bow - The Masoretic Text has only "the people of Judah should be taught the bow." The word "bow" is missing in the LXX. The Peshitta has "teach the children of Judah the use of the bow." However, the UBS Text Project supports the Masoretic Text inclusion of "the bow" with a "B" rating (some doubt). The bow may refer to (1) how Saul was killed by the Philistine archers (1 Samuel 31; LXX), (2) a tribute to Jonathan's use of his bow in battle (2 Sam. 1:22), (3) a call for Judah to prepare for war (Peshitta), (4) the funeral dirge for Saul and Jonathan. 2 Samuel 1:19 "Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How have the mighty fallen! BGT 2 Samuel 1:19 στήλωσον Ισραηλ ὑπὲρ τῶν τεθνηκότων ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου τραυματιῶν πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοί LXE 2 Samuel 1:19 Set up a pillar, O Israel, for the slain that died upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! KJV 2 Samuel 1:19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! NET 2 Samuel 1:19 The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! CSB 2 Samuel 1:19 The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! ESV 2 Samuel 1:19 "Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! NIV 2 Samuel 1:19 "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! NLT 2 Samuel 1:19 Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! NRS 2 Samuel 1:19 Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! NJB 2 Samuel 1:19 Does the splendour of Israel lie dead on your heights? How did the heroes fall? beauty: 2Sa 1:23 De 4:7,8 1Sa 31:8 Isa 4:2 53:2 La 2:1 Zec 11:7,10 how: 2Sa 1:25,27 La 5:16 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE GLORY OF SAUL & JONATHAN SLAIN ON GILBOA Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! - CSB - "The splendor of Israel" Mount Gilboa, where Saul died. How have the mighty (gibbor; Lxx = dunatos - possessing power) fallen ("slain," "lies dead") - This is David's theme in his lament. NLT = "How the mighty heroes have fallen!" David used the very word to describe his own men, the "mighty [gibbor] men of David" (2Sa 23:8+). David places great emphasis on the fact that both were mighty men, repeating "mighty" in 2Sa 1:25, 27. THOUGHT - David's song is a beautiful example of not returning evil for evil which is the fallen world's way, but instead returning good for evil (once he almost did not not do this - 1Sa 25:21+ but God sent Abigail to the rescue!) As Paul wrote "Do not be overcome (present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) by evil, but overcome (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) evil with good." (Ro 12:21+). How did David do this? I will submit to you that the same way and the only way you and I can do this - by the power of the the Holy Spirit giving us the desire to do it and power to follow through (see Php 2:13NLT+). You say David was in the OT and the Holy Spirit was not as active. 1Sa 16:13+ suggests that the Holy Spirit was continually active in David's life (except of course when he sinned and grieved or quenched Him) for the text clearly says "and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward." Note "from that day forward," which I think includes the day he learned of Saul and Jonathan's deaths and wrote a eulogy (speech in praise of or in honor of). A natural man cannot do that! I submit that David was a Spirit empowered man when he wrote this song honoring the man who had sought his life for 10 years! Mighty (01368) gibbor cp related verb gabar = be strong, accomplish, excel, prevail) is from a root which is commonly associated with warfare and has to do with the strength and vitality of the successful warrior. And thus this adjective means powerful, strong, brave, mighty. Warrior. Hero. Gibbor is used of God Himself -- Jehovah is "the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty and the awesome God" (Dt 10:17), the "King of glory, Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle" (Ps 24:8), "a victorious warrior (gibbor)" (Zeph 3:17), the "Mighty One (gibbor - in context a prophecy of the Messiah)" (Ps 45:3) QUESTION - What is the significance of the words, “How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27)? ANSWER - At the end of 1 Samuel, Saul and Jonathan are killed in Israel’s battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:4–6). When David hears of their deaths, he sings a song of lament, called “the Song of the Bow” (2 Samuel 1:18, BSB), that includes the words, “How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19 and 27). The rest of the song, against the backdrop of David’s relationships with Saul and David, illustrates the significance of those words. Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, was chosen by God and anointed by Samuel to be Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 10:24). Saul’s administration was still young when he disobeyed God and was rejected by God as king (1 Samuel 15:22–23). Still, he had been anointed as king, and even though David was chosen by God to replace Saul as king (1 Samuel 16:12), David did not want to raise his own hand against the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 24:6). It seemed as though David cared for Saul, even though Saul—growing increasingly threatened by David’s popularity—attempted to assassinate David. While David demonstrated respect (at least) for Saul, he loved Saul’s son Jonathan. David and Jonathan were very close (1 Samuel 18:1), and Jonathan—even though, by lineage, he was heir to Saul’s throne—made a covenant with David. Jonathan loved David as himself (1 Samuel 18:3). Saul and Jonathan had many mighty exploits and victories in battle themselves, but David had quickly ascended to popularity and was given command over Saul’s men of war (1 Samuel 18:5). As David’s popularity grew, so did Saul’s suspicion of David (1 Samuel 18:9). Still, David would not threaten Saul’s rule because of David’s respect for Saul and for the God who had appointed Saul in the first place—perhaps also because of David’s love for Jonathan. As David sang his memorial lament for Saul and Jonathan, he three times repeated that “the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27). He referred to the king and prince as Israel’s beauty (2 Samuel 1:19). He did not want the Philistines to rejoice in the deaths of Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:20). In the song, he even cursed the mountains of Gilboa, where they had died (2 Samuel 1:21). The two were valiant and successful in battle (2 Samuel 1:22). David expressed that many loved them and thought them pleasant, and that they were “swifter than eagles” and “stronger than lions” (2 Samuel 1:23). He reminded the people how much Saul was a blessing to them (2 Samuel 1:24) and added—as a woeful refrain—“How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:25). After expressing how much he loved Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:25–26), David repeated the refrain, “How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:27). David introduces his song by exclaiming, “How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19), repeats the refrain after a specific acknowledgment of Saul, and then again after direct reference to Jonathan. “How the mighty have fallen!” seems to be a sort of eulogy to two mighty men in Israel’s history, and David uses it poignantly. David’s respectfulness and love are an excellent reminder that, even when someone tries to harm us (as Saul did David), it is still right and beautiful to treat him with respect as someone created by God. It seemed that David always saw Saul through God’s eyes, rather than through his own hurt at being hated and even harmed. Even when his nemesis was killed, David took no joy in the occasion, but rather wept and sang sincerely, “How the mighty have fallen!”GotQuestions.org 2 Samuel 1:20 "Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. Tell: De 32:26,27 Jdg14:19 16:23,24 1Sa 31:9 Mic 1:10 Philistines: Ex 15:20,21 Jdg 11:34 1Sa 18:6 Eze 16:27,57 uncircumcised: 1Sa 17:26,36 31:4,9 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 18:6-7 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. 7 The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” DO LET THE PHILISTINES KNOW Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon (see map above) - These were two of the 5 chief cities of the Philistines, so that the women would not know to celebrate this temporary setback for Israel in the death of Saul (like the Hebrew women did in 1Sa 18:6-7). Ray Pritchard on "tell it not in Gath" - David’s main concern is the tragic death of Saul not become an occasion for the enemies of God to rejoice. Therefore, he says, keep it quiet. That is a good word for today. In the last few years we have experienced a series of sad and sometimes shocking scandals in the Christian community. And some of us have been too quick to share the news. “Did you hear that Jack and Sandy are getting a divorce?” “Did you know their daughter got pregnant at college?” “He lost his job because he couldn’t get along with his boss.” “I think she’s started drinking again.” And on and on and on it goes. How quick we are to spread bad news, how slow to spread the good. It is all too easy for us to gloat when a Christian brother who we don’t like falls into sin. That sort of thing not only demeans us but it harms the cause of Christ. Whenever a good man falls, it gives the scoffers another reason to laugh at the Christian faith. Please take this to heart. You don’t have to share every piece of bad news you hear. So what if it’s true? Why not keep it to yourself? “Tell it not in Gath!” Keep it to yourself. Shhhhh. Be quiet. Keep your mouth closed about the weaknesses of others. Unless there is an actual biblical reason, and unless you are telling the news to the right people at the right time in order to bring about justice and to promote healing, why not just keep it to yourself? Not everything needs to be broadcast. And even if it’s true, you don’t have to share it with all your friends. (The End of the Beginning)(The End of the Beginning) Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised will exult - David knew the women had celebrated his victories over the Philistines and now their "turnabout would be fair play" and he wanted to make sure they did not have a chance to celebrate Saul and Jonathan's death. 2 Samuel 1:21 "O mountains of Gilboa, Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. BGT 2 Samuel 1:21 ὄρη τὰ ἐν Γελβουε μὴ καταβῇ δρόσος καὶ μὴ ὑετὸς ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς καὶ ἀγροὶ ἀπαρχῶν ὅτι ἐκεῖ προσωχθίσθη θυρεὸς δυνατῶν θυρεὸς Σαουλ οὐκ ἐχρίσθη ἐν ἐλαίῳ LXE 2 Samuel 1:21 Ye mountains of Gelbue, let not dew no rain descend upon you, nor fields of first-fruits be upon you, for there the shield of the mighty ones has been grievously assailed; the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. KJV 2 Samuel 1:21 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. NET 2 Samuel 1:21 O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil. CSB 2 Samuel 1:21 Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain be on you, or fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled-- the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil. ESV 2 Samuel 1:21 "You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. NIV 2 Samuel 1:21 "O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul--no longer rubbed with oil. NLT 2 Samuel 1:21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled; the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil. mountains: 1Sa 31:1 1Ch 10:1,8 dew: Jdg 5:23 Job 3:3-10 Isa 5:6 Jer 20:14-16 offerings: Joe 1:9 2:14 anointed: 1Sa 10:1 Isa 21:5 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID'S CURSE ON GILBOA O mountains of Gilboa, Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings - This declaration amounts to a curse on Mt Gilboa so that it would now be arid and barren. NET Note - Instead of the Masoretic Text's "fields of grain offerings" the Lucianic recension of the LXX reads "your high places are mountains of death." Cf. the Old Latin montes mortis ("mountains of death"). For there the shield of the mighty (gibbor; Lxx = dunatos - possessing power) was defiled (ga'al) - How would it be defiled? Presumably by being splattered with blood. NET Note - This is the only biblical occurrence of the Niphal of the verb גָּעַל (ga’al). This verb usually has the sense of “to abhor” or “loathe.” But here it seems to refer to the now dirty and unprotected condition of a previously well-maintained instrument of battle. The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil - NIV = no longer rubbed with oil." In other words, since Saul was dead, his shield was of no use and would not have been anointed with oil which one did when caring for his shield (cf. Isa21:5b). On Mt Gilboa Saul's shield lay "unoiled" and cracked, a fitting symbol of his life for the Spirit, often symbolized by oil, had departed from him in 1Sa 16:14+. NET Note on not anointed with oil - It is preferable to read here Hebrew מָשׁוּחַ (mashuakh) with many Hebrew MSS, rather than מָשִׁיחַ (mashiakh) of the Masoretic Text. Although the Syriac Peshitta understands the statement to pertain to Saul, the point here is not that Saul is not anointed. Rather, it is the shield of Saul that lies discarded and is no longer anointed. In ancient Near Eastern practice a warrior’s shield that was in normal use would have to be anointed regularly in order to ensure that the leather did not become dry and brittle. Like other warriors of his day Saul would have carefully maintained his tools of trade. But now that he is dead, the once-cared-for shield of the mighty warrior lies sadly discarded and woefully neglected, a silent but eloquent commentary on how different things are now compared to the way they were during Saul’s lifetime. Walton adds that "Israelite shields of this period were made of wood with leather stretched over the surface. They were either round or rectangular with rounded top. Oil was used to wipe the blood off after a battle and to treat the leather so it remained pliable. (IVP Background Commentary-OT) Winter points out, “This was David’s way of saying that the mountains of Gilboa would stand for defeat, as Waterloo did for Napoleon. This was similar to Custer’s last stand. Someone has said that there is enough good in the worst of us and enough bad in the best of us that none of us can condemn the rest of us. Saul had been a very wicked man, but there were good things about him. These were the things that David praised in his long song of the bow. Defiled (01602) ga'al means to abhor, to loathe or to reject. Ga'al describes an intense aversion which is expressed often in punitive or adverse action. To detest; abhor, loathe, vilely cast away. Note that 5 of the 10 uses are in Leviticus 26 in context of cursings and blessings, the first and the last being affirmations by Jehovah that He will not reject them (Lev 26:11, 44), of the Jews abhorring His ordinances (Lev 26:15, 43), of God abhorring them for their practice of idolatry (Lev 26:30). In the Niphil form, word means "defiled" (2 Sa 1:21). The passage speaks of how the mountains of Gilboa should be cursed because here Saul's shield was not anointed with oil; rather it was defiled. 2 Samuel 1:22 "From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty. the bow: 1Sa 14:6-14 1Sa 18:4 Isa 34:6,7 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 20:20+ “I (JONATHAN) will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target. COURAGE IN BATTLE From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty - Jonathan was apparently a skilled archer (1Sa 20:20ff+) and the bow had helped David escape (1Sa 20:35-42+) This description is of Jonathan and Saul as mighty warriors who were effective in slaying their Philistine enemies. Ray Pritchard - When David writes his eulogy, he dwells on three of Saul’s admirable traits: First, his courage in battle. “The sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied” (2 Samuel 1:22). Second, his close relationship with Jonathan. “Saul and Jonathan-in life they were loved and gracious and in death they were not parted” (2 Samuel 1: 23). Third, his advancement of the nation in prosperity. “O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold” (2 Samuel 1:24). The great thing is what this eulogy does not say. David does not mention the things that brought Saul to a disgraceful end. He loved Saul too much to bring it up now. He will only speak of the good that Saul did while he was alive. What is the principle at work here? It is the principle of honoring those whom God has used in your life even when they have turned against you. In this case that meant honoring a man whose major goal in life had been to kill David. And yet the principle stands: From Saul, and through Saul, and because of Saul, God had been working in David’s life. Saul had been God’s instrument to prepare David for the throne. If David was a diamond in the rough, then Saul was God’s chisel to remove the rough edges and expose the beauty within. Indeed, God had chosen David to be king and he had also chosen Saul to be the unwitting instrument of preparation. If you put together the various lessons David has learned, three of them go together. When David spared Saul’s life in the cave at En Gedi (I Samuel 24), God was teaching him to spare his enemies. When David snuck into the camp after midnight and took the spear but did not kill Saul (I Samuel 26), God was teaching him to love his enemies. And now that Saul is dead (II Samuel 1), God is teaching David to honor his enemies. First to spare, then to love, then to honor. Great, Greater, Greatest. This last lesson is the highest point of the spiritual life, and many of us never reach it. When David looks back and weeps for Saul and remembers his good accomplishments, he is not denying the evil he did. Indeed, the record has been written for 3,000 years. But David will have no part in defaming Saul’s memory. Let others draw their own conclusions, but David will speak no evil. What David is doing simply illustrates the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:5, “Love … keeps no record of wrongs” Love doesn’t keep score: love has a quick eraser......I think we can say it this way. David ended up with a huge stack of I.O.U.s from Saul. When he died, David tore up those slips of paper and never thought about them again. What was done was done. The past was over and could not be changed. But David would not let the bitterness control his life. He chose to remember Saul’s good points and he chose to forget everything else. And the lesson is, Go and do likewise. Incidentally, after I preached the sermon a man came up to my wife and said he had been deeply affected by this message. Then he pressed a piece of paper into her hands and asked her to give it to me. It was an I.O.U. from a friend who owed him $300. I don’t know any other details but I assume he has decided not to let that unpaid debt steal the joy from his heart. This doesn’t mean that all of us should forgive every debt owed to us, but it does mean that some things are more important than other things. When the wrongs committed against us are beginning to weigh us down and suck out the joy, leaving us only the ugly residue of hardened bitterness, then it’s time to choose by God’s grace to let go so we can move on with life. Better to suffer a temporary loss than to be stuck forever, chained to the past by the misdeeds of others. (The End of the Beginning) 2 Samuel 1:23 "Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life, And in their death they were not parted; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. BGT 2 Samuel 1:23 Σαουλ καὶ Ιωναθαν οἱ ἠγαπημένοι καὶ ὡραῖοι οὐ διακεχωρισμένοι εὐπρεπεῖς ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτῶν οὐ διεχωρίσθησαν ὑπὲρ ἀετοὺς κοῦφοι καὶ ὑπὲρ λέοντας ἐκραταιώθησαν LXE 2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely were they in their life, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, and they were stronger than lions. KJV 2 Samuel 1:23 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. NET 2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. CSB 2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful, they were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. ESV 2 Samuel 1:23 "Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. NIV 2 Samuel 1:23 "Saul and Jonathan-- in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. NLT 2 Samuel 1:23 How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. pleasant: 1Sa 18:1 20:2 they were: 1Sa 31:1-5 swifter: 2Sa 2:18 De 28:49 1Ch 12:8 Job 9:26 Jer 4:13 La 4:19 stronger: 2Sa 23:20 Jdg 14:18 Pr 30:30 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Matthew 5:43-48+ “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) your enemies and pray (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey)for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ANIMAL METAPHORS DESCRIBE SAUL AND JONATHAN Saul and Jonathan, beloved (aheb/ahab; Lxx - agapao - unconditional love) and pleasant (delightful, lovely) in their life - ESV = "beloved and lovely" NET = "were greatly loved during their lives" Beloved is amazing coming from the lips of David considering Saul's relentless enmity toward him. David was an OT illustration of Jesus' charges in Mt 5:43–48! And in their death they were not parted - NET = "not even in their deaths were they separated" They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions - David uses hyperbole who he says in essence were like eagles is swiftness and like lions in strength. David knew these characteristics of both men, Jonathan in his bold attack on the Philistines and Saul in his relentless hunting of David like an animal hunts its prey. Both descriptions however are positive without any negative words even of Saul who saw himself as David's enemy. This speaks volumes about the heart of David! Keil, “The swiftness of the eagle and the strength of the lion were the leading characteristics of the great heroes of antiquity.” Love (friend) (0157) aheb/ahab means to love and can convey the idea of liking things (like bribes - Isa 1:23, wisdom - Pr 4:6, wine - Pr 21:17, peace and truth - Zech 8:19, food - Ge 27:4, 9, 14). The most important uses in the OT are as an expression of God's love of people (Dt 4:37, Hosea 3:1), man's love for God (Ex 20:6, Ps 116:1) and man's love for his fellow man (Ge 29:32, Ru 4:15-note, 1 Kings 11:1 = a forbidden love by backslidden King Solomon!!!) The first use of aheb in the OT is instructive as it is found in Ge 22:2 where Yahweh instructed his servant Abraham to "“Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” Notice that at the outset, we see that an inherent quality of this love (in many contexts) is that it is costly. God wants us to love Him above EVERYTHING, even our own flesh and blood. Matthews writes that Ge 22:2 "is the final test of the man’s faith, the closing bookend to his discovery of God’s sufficiency to achieve the promises made at Haran." (New American Commentary) F B