2 Samuel 1
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 1
NJB (MT versing) David Learns of Saul's Death The Report of Saul's Death David Learns the Death of Saul and Jonathan David Learns of Saul's Death David Learns of Saul's Death 1:1-10 1:1-10 1:1-10 1:1-3a 1:1-10 1:3b 1:4 1:5 1:6-10 1:11-16 1:11-16 1:11-16 1:11-12 1:11-12 1:13a 1:13-16 1:13b 1:14-16 David's Dirge for Saul and Jonathan The Song of the Bow David's Elegy Over Saul and Jonathan David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan David's Elegy Over Saul and Jonathan 1:17-27 (19-27) 1:17-27 (19-20) (21-23) (24) (25-26) (27) 1:17-27 (19-20) (21-22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) 1:17-27 (19-20) (21-22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) 1:17-27 (19) (20) (21a-d) (21e-22) (23) (24) (25a-b) (25c-26) (27) Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS There seem to be two accounts of Saul's death, 1 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 1 (see specific notes in commentary). Often scholars use these doublets to assert multiple authors later editors inaccurate history However, doublets are common in Herbrew literature (i.e., John Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture. From my perspective 1 Samuel 31 is historical and 2 Samuel 1 is a fabrication. The difficulty in this statement is, where did this young Amalekite get the royal crown and bracelet? The Philistines had searched the battle field for spoil, "the next day." (1 Sam. 31:8). However, the main symbol of Saul's leadership was his spear (see note in commentary). This Amalekite did not know this. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 6.14.7, tries to combine the two stories into one account.
2 Samuel 1:1-10
1:1 "Now" One wonders how the "now" of 1 Sam. 31:1 is related to the "now" of 2 Sam. 1:1 (i.e., David's battle with the Amalekites, who burned and plundered Ziklag, and the defeat of Israel's army). ▣ "the slaughter of the Amalekites" This is described in 1 Samuel 30. 1:2 "on the third day" It is always difficult to know how ANE people marked time. It is not as clear as the English appears. ▣ "clothes torn and dust on his head" These were signs of mourning (see v. 12 for more signs). SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES 1:3 "I have escaped from the camp of Israel" Is he implying he was part of Saul's army? As an Amalekite, I think not. Probably he was a scavenger seeking booty from the dead soldiers on both sides. Notice he says, "by chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa." Really, he happened to be in the midst of a battle! 1:6-10 For a good brief discussion of how Saul died, see Hard Sayings of the Bible, p. 218, or Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 101-102. 1:6 "the chariots and horsemen pursued him closely" 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. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARIOTS 1:7 "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). 1:9 NASB, Peshitta "for agony has seized me" "for anguish has come upon me" "for convulsions have seized me" "my head is swimming" "tho throes of death have seized me" "I am in agony" "terrible darkness has laid hold of me" "I am very dizzy" The MT has the NOUN (BDB 990, KB 1402) which may mean cramp ‒ BDB giddiness ‒ BDB confusion ‒ BDB feebleness ‒ KB frailness ‒ KB trembling ‒ Targums This word occurs only here in the OT. This refers to 1 Sam. 30:3. The LXX even specifies that he was shot in the abdomen by archers. ▣ "life" This is the Hebrew word nephesh (BDB 659), which means life force. For a further word study see notes at Gen. 35:18 and Lev. 17:11. 1:10 "after he had 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 ▣ "the crown. . .the bracelet" This is the first mentioning of these items in Samuel. crown ‒ BDB 634 bracelet ‒ BDB 858 If they were prominent symbols of Saul's kingship, why are they never mentioned in his coronation. The key symbol of kingship was Saul's spear/javelin (v. 6; 1 Sam. 22:6; 26:7,16,22). Why did he not recover this? ▣ "and I have brought them here to my lord" One wonders if he came across David's camp by accident if he wanted to gain favor with David
2 Samuel 1:11-16
1:11-12 See note on signs of mourning at 2 Sam. 1:2. 1:12 Notice the things David and his men mourned over. death of Saul death of Jonathan death of the army of Saul tragedy of the desertion and loss of face and territory by Israel to the Philistines It is surprising that Saul's other sons are not mentioned or the armor bearer. ▣ "until morning" Remember, the Hebrew day starts with the evening (cf. Gen. 1:5). SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY (yom) 1:13 This young man's origin did not help him with David! David had just rescued his family and his men's families from Amalekites (1 Samuel 30). 1:14 This man claimed to have killed YHWH's anointed king which David, himself was afraid to do. The young man had no sense of the impropriety of what he claimed to have done (cf. v 16). I still think this man's story was a fabrication. SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE
2 Samuel 1:17-27
1:17 "David chanted with this lament" David, the singer and poet of Israel, wrote and sang this funeral dirge (vv. 19-27). SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY 1:18-27 Songs about events in Israel's history were used as teaching tools for the next generation. They were the first genre of Israel recording her history. Israel transmitted her traditions initially by songs, later the historical books of Deuteronomy ‒ Chronicles, and the writings of the prophets (or their servants or followers). See John Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture, which documents how oral cultures pass on their history and traditions. For a good brief discussion of funeral laments/dirges, see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 60-61. 1:18 "the song of the bow" The MT 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 MT's inclusion of "the bow" with a "B" rating (some doubt). The bow may refer to how Saul was killed by the Philistine archers (1 Samuel 31; LXX) a tribute to Jonathan's use of his bow in battle (2 Sam. 1:22) a call for Judah to prepare for war (Peshitta) the funeral dirge for Saul and Jonathan ▣ "the book of Jashar" The word "Jashar" (BDB 449) means "upright." This was a scroll of war poems (cf. Josh. 10:13). It has been lost but a few quotes remain. Since the word "Jashar" means "upright" or "just" some translations have "the book of the just" or "the book of heroes." This song was still quoted in the Maccabean period (cf. 1 Macc. 9:20-21). 1:19 "Your beauty" This is parallel to "the mighty." It could refer to Saul (v. 21) Jonathan (v. 25) Israel's army The phrase "the mighty have fallen" is repeated in vv. 25,27. It is possibly a repeated poetic liturgy! ▣ "on your high places" In context this seems to refer to Mount Gilboa, where Saul and his sons died (cf. v. 25). 1:20 2 Samuel 1:20 has two NEGATED IMPERFECTS, both used in a JUSSIVE sense. The cities of Gath and Ashkelon are Philistine city-states. The Philistines rejoiced over their victory! The "daughters" may denote the young women who welcomed back the victorious Philistine army with songs and dance (i.e., as did Miriam in Exod. 15:20 and the women of Israel for David in 1 Sam. 18:7; 21:11; 29:5). 1:21 This is a curse formula for no precipitation to fall on Mount Gilboa. ▣ "the shield of the mighty" Remember only Saul and Jonathan had military weapons. The Philistines controlled their iron age technology very closely. Shields were often covered in leather. This leather was soaked in oil so that flaming arrows would sink into the leather and be extinguished (cf. Isa. 21:5) it would not crack and deteriorate 1:22 Both Jonathan and Saul killed many Philistines. 1:23 Animal characteristics are used as imagery and hyperbole of Saul and Jonathan. 1:24 Saul is lauded for his leadership in Israel that brought some degree of financial rewards (i.e., usually connected to YHWH's blessing of David, Saul's servant). 1:26 David and Jonathan had a very close friendship (cf. 1 Sam. 18:1; 20:17). This imagery is not meant to imply homosexuality, which was condemned in the law of Moses. Maybe David was thinking of all the trouble he had with his wives. Michal taken from him and given to another man by Saul (1 Sam. 30:5) David's two wives captured by Amalekites as booty (1 Sam. 30:5) SPECIAL TOPIC: HOMOSEXUALITY 1:27 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 think "the weapons" referred to Saul and Jonathan themselves.