At the moment when this book opens, the events narrated in 1 Samuel 31 were not known to David. At the time of the fatal battle between Saul and the Philistines, David had been engaged in his successful attack upon the Amalekites who had spoiled Ziklag (1 Samuel 30) and it was not until two days aft... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE DEATH OF SAUL. — These words are immediately connected with 1 Samuel 31, and the following words, “when David was returned,” refer to 1 Samuel 30. The two books really form one continuous narrative. TWO DAYS IN ZIKLAG. — The site of Ziklag has not been exactly identified, but it is mention... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE THIRD DAY — viz., after David’s return, not the third day after Saul’s death. DID OBEISANCE. — The following verses show that this was not merely an act of Oriental respect, but was intended as a recognition of David’s rank as having now become king. The messenger, although an Amalekite (2 S... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL. — It has been questioned whether this Amalekite had actually been in the army of Israel, and the expression in 2 Samuel 1:6, “As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa,” has been cited to show that his presence there was merely accidental, but no one who is not concerned i... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON MOUNT GILBOA. — The battle appears to have been joined in the plain of Jezreel, but when the Israelites were routed they naturally fled up the mountain range of Gilboa, though apparently much scattered. It was in this straggling flight that the Amalekite happened upon that part of the mountain... [ Continue Reading ]
AN AMALEKITE. — The Amalekites were hereditary foes of Israel, having attacked them on their first coming out of Egypt (Exodus 17:8), and at different times afterwards in the wilderness (Numbers 14:45; Deuteronomy 25:18). During the period of the judges they had also repeatedly joined the foes of Is... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGUISH IS COME UPON ME. — The word for “anguish” occurs only here, and probably does not have either of the meanings given to it in the text and margin of our version. The Rabbis explain it of _cramp,_ others of _giddiness,_ and the ancient versions differ as to its sense. It indicates probably som... [ Continue Reading ]
SLEW HIM. — This story is inconsistent with that given in 1 Samuel 31:4, and was evidently invented by the Amalekite to gain favour with David. At the same time, he is careful not to carry the story too far, and asserts that Saul was only put to death at his own request, and after being mortally wou... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY MOURNED. — On hearing the tidings of the Amalekite, David and all his people showed the usual Oriental signs of sorrow by rending their clothes, weeping, and fasting. Although David thus heard of the death of his persistent and mortal enemy, and of his own consequent accession to the throne, ye... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW WAST THOU NOT AFRAID? — David now turns to the Amalekite. It does not matter whether he fully believed his story or not, the man must be judged by his own account of himself. (See 2 Samuel 1:16.) Regicide was not in David’s eyes merely a political crime; he had showed on more than one occasion o... [ Continue Reading ]
FALL UPON HIM. — All question of David’s authority to pronounce a capital sentence is here quite out of place. The Amalekite had just recognised him as king, and therefore acknowledged his authority. But, besides this, David and his band of 600 outlaws were accustomed to live by the sword, and to de... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTED WITH THIS LAMENTATION. — This is the technical expression for a funeral dirge or elegy, such as David also composed on the death of Abner (2 Samuel 3:33), and Jeremiah on the death of Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:25). It is the only instance preserved to us (except the few lines on the death of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE USE OF THE BOW. — The words in italics, _the use of,_ are not in the original, and should be omitted. David “bade them teach the children of Judah the bow”: i.e., the following dirge called “the bow,” not merely from the allusion to Jonathan’s bow in 2 Samuel 1:22, but because it is a martial od... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BEAUTY OF ISRAEL, in the sense of the glory or ornament of Israel, referring to Saul and Jonathan. The rendering of the Syriac and some commentators, “the gazelle,” as a poetic name for Jonathan, is uncalled for, both because the words are spoken of Saul and Jonathan together, and because there... [ Continue Reading ]
IN GATH... IN THE STREETS OF ASKELON. — Two chief cities of the Philistines, poetically put for the whole. In the former David had himself resided (1 Samuel 21:10; 1 Samuel 27:3), and in the latter was a famous temple of Venus, which was doubtless “the house of Ashtaroth” (1 Samuel 31:10), where the... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR FIELDS OF OFFERINGS. — This somewhat obscure expression seems to mean, “Let there not be upon you those fruitful fields from which may be gathered the offerings of first-fruits.” Of course, this malediction upon the mountains of Gilboa is to be understood as it was meant, only in a poetical sens... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVELY AND PLEASANT. — This applies peculiarly to Jonathan, but also in a good degree to Saul in his earlier years and his better moments, which David chose at this moment to recall. It also applies truthfully to them both in their relations to each other.... [ Continue Reading ]
CLOTHED YOU IN SCARLET. — This refers to Saul’s division among the people of the spoil of his conquered foes, and to the prosperity resulting from his many successful campaigns. Notwithstanding that his light at last went out under the cloud of a crushing defeat, he had been on the whole a successfu... [ Continue Reading ]
PASSING THE LOVE OF WOMEN. — By this strong expression, comparing Jonathan’s love for David to that of the faithful wife for her husband, David shows his appreciation of that wonderful affection which had existed between Jonathan and himself under the most untoward circumstances. It was such an affe... [ Continue Reading ]