War between Israel and Judah

Introduction:

A disastrous civil war.

2 Samuel 2:12-32 NLT
¹² One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. ¹³ About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.
¹⁴ Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.”
“All right,” Joab agreed. ¹⁵ So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. ¹⁶ Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.
¹⁷ A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The Death of Asahel
¹⁸ Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, ¹⁹ and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. ²⁰ When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“Yes, it is,” he replied.
²¹ “Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.
²² Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”
²³ But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there.
²⁴ When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. ²⁵ Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.
²⁶ Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”
²⁷ Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” ²⁸ So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.
²⁹ All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning, and didn’t stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.
³⁰ Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel. ³¹ But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin. ³² Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 2:12-32 NLT
War between Israel and Judah (Civil war) 

¹² One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 

Refer to map 

Abner had been the commander of Saul’s army.

Abner had proclaimed Ishbosheth king over the northern portion of Israel.

Abner was now the commander of Ishbosheth’s army.

David’s real rival in the North was Abner, not Ishbosheth.

Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years.

2 Samuel 2:8-10 NLT
⁸ But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth. ⁹ There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.
¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David.

• Abner was the commander of Ishbosheth’s army.

• David’s real rival in the North was Abner, not Ishbosheth. 

¹³ About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah

Here Joab, son of Zeruiah, is introduced into this story for the first time.

Zeruiah was David’s sister, so Joab was David’s nephew.

1 Chronicles 2:13-16 NLT
¹³ Jesse’s … seventh was David.
¹⁶ Their sisters were named Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah had three sons named Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

Joab is the commander of David’s army. (2 Samuel 8:16)

Joab was a competent but ruthless military leader.

At times David was unable to control Joab.

We will learn more about Joab in future lessons.

• Joab was the commander of David’s army. 

(Joab son of Zeruiah) led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon.

Gibeon

Located in the tribal area of Benjamin.

A key city in Benjamin.

Saul and his family were members of the tribe of Benjamin.

The Philistines did not occupy Gibeon.

The pool of Gibeon.

37 feet in diameter. 35 feet deep.  This cylindrical cutting had a circular staircase that led to a stepped tunnel that continued downward another 45 feet below the pool’s floor to a water chamber.

The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.

The two sides were talking.

• The two armies met at Gibeon to determine who would be Israel’s leader. 

¹⁴ Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.”

A custom often referred to as champion warfare.

A contest of champions.

Example:
1 Samuel 17:8-9 NLT
⁸ Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! ⁹ If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! 

• Abner suggested a “contest of champions” to determine who would control the nation. 

“All right,” Joab agreed. ¹⁵ So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. 

The talks led to fighting.

¹⁶ Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.

In theory this may have been a good idea, but in this case it did not work and nothing was resolved. 

¹⁷ A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The fighting led to battle.

A full scaled battle took place.

The casualty count of this battle is recorded in verses 30 and 31.

• A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The Death of Asahel 

¹⁸ Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—

Zeruiah was David’s sister.

Her three sons were David’s nephews. (we’re talking family)

were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, 

Asahel was one of David’s thirty mighty warriors.  (2 Samuel 23:24 and 1 Chronicles 11:26). 

(Asahel could run like a gazelle,) ¹⁹ and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. ²⁰ When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?”

• Abner knew Joab, Abishai, and Asahel well.

Abner met David after David killed Goliath.

Go back to 1 Samuel:

1 Samuel 17:55-57 NLT
⁵⁵ As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”
“I really don’t know,” Abner declared.
⁵⁶ “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.
⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.

• Abner knew David from the time David had killed Goliath.

“Yes, it is,” he replied. 

²¹ “Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.

Obviously Abner was an experienced warrior.

• Abner did not want to kill Asahel. 

²² Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”

Abner knew that if he killed Asahel, the hostility between him and Joab would be intensified.

David’s forces would seek revenge.

A civil war could destroy the nation. 

²³ But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there. 

²⁴ When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner.  (This was predictable.)

• After Asahel was killed by Abner, Joab and Abishai, the two brothers of Asahel, wanting to revenge the death of their brother set out after Abner. 

The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. ²⁵ Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.

If another battle took place, it would lead to more killing.

²⁶ Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”

• Abner realized the awful consequences of a civil war.

²⁷ Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” 

• Joab honored Abner’s appeal, thus preventing more soldiers being killed.

²⁸ So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.

Bringing this battle to an end.

• This battle was ended, but the hostility continued.

2 Samuel 3:1 NLT
^3:1 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

²⁹ All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning, and didn’t stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.

³⁰ Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. (Hebron)

• Abner and his men returned to Mahanaim. Joab and his men also returned to their homes in Judah.

When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel.  (19 + 1 = 20) ³¹ But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin. ³² Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

David lost 20 soldiers.  Abner lost 360 soldiers.

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David Anointed King of Judah

Introduction:

Name the first three kings of Israel.

Details are important.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
¹⁵ Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

Acts 17:11 NLT
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

Joshua 1:8 NLT
⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

The first three kings of Israel: Saul, Ishbosheth, and David.

2 Samuel 2:1-11 NLT
David Anointed King of Judah
^2:1 After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”
“Yes,” the Lord replied.
Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
² David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives ³ and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. ⁴ Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.
When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. ⁶ May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. ⁷ Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”

Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel
⁸ But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth.  ⁹ There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.
¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. ¹¹ David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 2:1-11 NLT
David Anointed King of Judah

^2:1 After this, David asked the Lord, 

David’s home base of Ziklag has been burned to the ground by the Amalekites.

Saul is no longer pursuing David.

David and his men were no longer fugitives.

• Before making the decision to move back to Judah, David sought the Lord’s guidance. 

“Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”

David was from the tribe of Judah

• David had many friends and contacts in Judah.

1 Samuel 30:26-31 NLT
²⁶ When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
²⁷ The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, ²⁸ Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, ²⁹ Racal, the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, ³⁰ Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, ³¹ Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited. 

“Yes,” the Lord replied.

Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”

David wanted a specific answer.

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

Hebron was an old, established, and important city in southern Judah.

Hebron was centrally located in Judah.

Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob were all buried in the cave of Machpelah purchased by Abraham which is located in Hebron.

The people of the area were sympathetic toward David. 

² David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.

Michal had been given to another man after David fled from Saul. (1 Samuel 25:44)

So David and his wives ³ and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. 

• The Lord told David to move to the town of Hebron which was located in the center of Judah. 

⁴ Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.

Rather than seeking a relative of Saul who was from the tribe of Benjamin, the people of Judah chose one of their own, the hero David, to be their king.

Previously, God had chosen David to be the king.

1 Samuel 16 NLT
Samuel Anoints David as King
^16:1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
¹⁰ … all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” ¹¹ Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”
“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
¹² So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. ….

David’s anointing by Samuel was done privately in the presence of David’s family.

This anointing was a public ceremony.

• David was formally installed by oil-anointing as King over Judah.

Later, in 2 Samuel 5:3, David will be anointed a third time as king over the entire nation of Israel.

• This move completely alienated David from the Philistines with whom he had previously taken refuge and made an alliance.

Most likely the tribe of Simeon was involved in this ceremony.

These two tribes had a history of working together.

Joshua 19:1 NLT
^19:1 The second allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Simeon. Their homeland was surrounded by Judah’s territory.

Judges 1:3 NLT
³ The men of Judah said to their relatives from the tribe of Simeon, “Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to us. Then we will help you conquer your territory.” So the men of Simeon went with Judah. 

When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. ⁶ May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. 

• David is moved by the men of Jabesh’s loyalty to Saul and wants to reward them for what they have done.

⁷ Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”

• David asks the men of Jabesh-gilead to be his strong and loyal subjects.

David is presenting himself as Saul’s successor and wants to be their king.

This appeal for their support was ignored.

Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel

⁸ But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army (and Saul’s cousin), had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth (or Esh-baal).

Mahanaim was located east of the Jordan River. (Refer to a map)

Mahanaim was named by Jacob.

Genesis 32:1-2 NLT
^32:1 As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him. ² When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.

• Mahanaim was beyond the sphere of Philistine domination. 

 ⁹ There he (Abner) proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.

Abner is attempting to continue Saul’s kingdom. He was not willing to follow the Lord’s anointed king.

Abner appears to be the power behind the throne.

Refer to the Twelve Tribes of Israel map.

• Abner proclaimed Ishbosheth king over the northern tribes.

• Note: At this point in time the Philistines controlled large sections of Israel.

1 Samuel 31:7 NLT
When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns. 

The Philistines had slaughtered many of the soldiers of Israel on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.

1 Samuel 31 NLT
^31:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 

The Philistine army was clearly superior to the Israeli army at this time.

Ishbosheth did not appear to have much support from the people of Israel and his reign was quite limited. 

¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years.

Ishbosheth’s two year reign and David’s seven and a half years don’t seem to reconcile.

It appears that David was made king over all of Israel shortly after Ishbosheth’s death (2 Samuel 4 and 5).

It took Ishbosheth a number of years to be recognized as his father’s successor.

Apparently a period of 5 years occurred in which the Northern tribes were without a king.

The presence of the Philistines may have played a role in preventing Ishbosheth from gaining control of this northern territory.

• Ishbosheth ruled from Mahanaim for two years. 

Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. 

¹¹ David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.

During this period of time the twelve tribes had two kings.

• Note: God’s plan was for David to be the king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:1)

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David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

This is a lamentation, written by David, for Saul and Jonathan at the time of their death. Notice how David demonstrates a gracious, forgiving attitude in this lament, especially toward King Saul.  (David and Jonathan were always loyal toward each other.)

In this passage David was focused on the good aspects of Saul’s (and Jonathan’s) life.

Philippians 4:8 NLT
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

2 Samuel 1:17-27 NLT
¹⁷ Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, ¹⁸ and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.
¹⁹ Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!
Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
²⁰ Don’t announce the news in Gath,
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice
and the pagans will laugh in triumph.
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.
²² The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.
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.
²⁴ O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
in garments decorated with gold.
²⁵ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
²⁶ How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
deeper than the love of women!
²⁷ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 1:17-27 NLT
David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan 

¹⁷ Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 

A funeral song
A song
A sad song
A lamentation
A lament

• It was a common practice in the ancient Near East to compose laments for fallen leaders and/or heroes.

Scripture also records a lament written by David for Abner, Saul’s commander-in-chief (3:33-34)

and one written for his son Absalom (18:33).

In spite of frequently being treated badly by Saul, David chose to remember Saul in a positive light in this lament. 

¹⁸ and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah.

• All of Israel was expected to learn this funeral song (this lamentation). 

It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar. 

Jonathan’s bow is mentioned in verse 22.

The Book of Jashar is thought to have been a collection of poetry, probably odes and psalms in praise of Israel’s heroes and exploits. It vanished during the Babylonian captivity. (International Dictionary of the Bible).

Joshua 10:13 also refers to this book.

Joshua 10:13 NLT
¹³ So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies.
Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.

The Book of Jashar is not now and never has been a part of the Bible, but it does contain portions of scripture such as the Song of the Bow.

• The Book of Jashar is an account of Israel’s wars as well as other events that took place during the early history of the Hebrews (perhaps written in poetic form). 

¹⁹ Your pride and joy,

Referring to Saul and Jonathan who, up to this time, had experienced many military victories over Israel’s enemies.

David’s description focused more on Saul’s royal position than on his personal characteristics. 

O Israel, lies dead on the hills!

Note: Some translations say “A gazelle lies slain” but most translations do not use this phrase. (Gazelle is a symbol of youthful elegance and symmetry.)

This refers to Saul and Jonathan being killed in battle. 

 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!

Israel’s mighty heroes have fallen.

David’s focus is on the good qualities and achievements of Saul and Jonathan. 

²⁰ Don’t announce the news in Gath,
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,

Gath and Ashkelon are Philistine cities.

Gath in the East and Ashkelon in the West represent the Philistine territory.

or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice 

• In ancient war culture, young women sometimes celebrated victories in song.

1 Samuel 18:6-7 NLT
⁶ When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. ⁷ This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”

Exodus 15:20-21 NLT
²⁰ Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. ²¹ And Miriam sang this song:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
into the sea.”

and the pagans will laugh in triumph.

• David does not want the Philistines to rejoice over Saul’s death.

David did not want the Philistines to glorify their false god, Dagon, while mocking Israel’s God, Yahweh. 

²¹ O mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain.

Rain is considered to be a blessing from God to make for a good harvest of grain.

Isaiah 30:23 NLT
²³ Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock.

David does not want this blessing to take place where Saul and Jonathan were killed.

• David evoked a cure on the place of Saul and Jonathan’s death. 

For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled;
the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.

The shield of Saul symbolizes his military exploits as king.

Leather shields were treated with oil to keep them in good condition.  A properly oiled shield was more effective than a “dry” shield.  Since Saul was dead he will no longer be oiling his shield.

A dried out shield was a symbol of defeat and death. 

²² The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.

The bow was used by Jonathan and the sword was used by Saul.  Both men used their weapon with power, accuracy, and effectiveness.

These two soldiers killed many of Israel’s enemies.

• Saul and Jonathan were both military heroes, but neither to the degree that David was.

1 Samuel 18:6-7 NLT
⁶ When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. ⁷ This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!” 

²³ How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!

David demonstrated a gracious, forgiving attitude by including Saul in this comment.    

• David demonstrated a gracious, forgiving attitude in his lament. 

They were together in life and in death.

Father and son died together in battle.

Jonathan was loyal to his father, the Lord’s anointed king, and the nation of Israel in spite of the way his father treated both him and David. 

They were swifter than eagles,
   stronger than lions. 

Again, David focuses on the good qualities of Saul and Jonathan.

• David focused on the good qualities of Saul and Jonathan. 

²⁴ O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
in garments decorated with gold.

David credited Saul for bringing luxury and bounty to Israel.

• Saul’s reign had been good for Israel economically. 

²⁵ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies dead on the hills.

Now the focus is on Jonathan alone.

²⁶ How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
deeper than the love of women!

Jonathan had always been loyal to David.

Jonathan’s loyalty and friendship to David involved personal risk and sacrifice.

• The commitment shared between David and Jonathan was a noble, loyal, and selfless devotion. 

²⁷ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.

• David had a remarkable respect for the King and a deep love for Jonathan.

David expressed genuine sorrow over the deaths of Jonathan and Saul.

In this passage David was focused on the good aspects of Saul’s (and Jonathan’s) life.

Philippians 4:8 NLT
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

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Introduction:

Shortly after David returned to Ziklag from his successful raid against the Amalekites he was met by a man coming from Saul’s camp at Gilboa.

It would have been a three or four day trip walking from Mount Gilboa to Ziklag, a distance of approximately 80 miles.

Question.  Why do you think this man came to see David?

2 Samuel 1:1-16 NLT
David Learns of Saul’s Death
¹ After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. ² On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.
³ “Where have you come from?” David asked.
“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.
⁴ “What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”
The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”⁵ “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?”
David demanded of the young man.
⁶ The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. ⁷ When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him.
‘How can I help?’ I asked him.⁸ “He responded, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.
⁹ “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’
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.”
¹¹ David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.
¹³ Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”
And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”¹⁴ “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” David asked.
¹⁵ Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. ¹⁶ “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 1:1-16 NLT
David Learns of Saul’s Death

¹ After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. 

2^nd Samuel is a continuation of 1^st Samuel.

• 1^st and 2^nd Samuel were originally one book.

Stories at the end of 1 Samuel included the following:

David Destroys the Amalekites

1 Samuel 30:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. ¹⁸ David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives.

David and his men had killed many Amalekites because of what they had done to David’s city Ziklag and family.

1 Samuel 30:26 NLT
²⁶ When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.

The Death of Saul

1 Samuel 31:1-2 NLT
^31:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.

• 2 Samuel begins with David returning to Ziklag after his victory over the Amalekites. 

² On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp.    Similar wording in most translations.

• Shortly after David returned to Ziklag from his successful raid against the Amalekites he was met by a man coming from Saul’s camp at Gilboa.

It would have been a three or four day trip walking from Mount Gilboa to Ziklag (approximately 80 miles).

Question.  Why do you think this man came to see David? 

He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.

Torn clothes and dirt on a person’s head are signs of mourning, grief, anguish or sorrow.

This may or may not be how the man really felt.

This may have been a “show” to impress David.

As the story progress, this man appears to be an opportunist, looking out for himself. 

³ “Where have you come from?” David asked.

“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.        Similar wording in most translations.

I escaped from the Israelite camp.    Verse two stated that he came from Saul’s army camp.

Is this also a lie?

There is no indication that this man was a member of Saul’s army. Most likely he was not a member of Saul’s army.

In 1 Samuel 15 Saul was slaughtering the Amalekites. The Amalekites were the bad guys. 

⁴ “What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”

At this point in time, David was not aware of what had happened to Saul. 

The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle.

Some translations (5) say “Our” army.

Other translations say “the people” fled, the “troops” fled, “the Israelites”, or “the men”.

Again there appears to be “holes” in the man’s story.

• There appears to be “holes” in the man’s story. 

Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

Could this man have known that David was God’s choice to be the next king of Israel?

1 Samuel 16:1, 12, 13 NLT
Samuel Anoints David as King
^16:1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
¹² So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

• It appears that this man thought that David would be glad to hear that Saul and his sons were dead.

It appears that this man thought that he would be rewarded for bringing David this “good” news. 

⁵ “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David demanded of the young man. 

⁶ The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,

The statement “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” is questionable.

Another lie?

The Amalekite was probably a scavenger looking for valuables left behind by the dead soldiers. 

and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. 

Chariots and Charioteers were a symbol of power and strength.  Saul had no chance to escape.

⁷ When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him. 

⁸ “He responded, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.

The Amalekites had been plaguing the Israelites for generations (from the time they left Egypt). 

⁹ “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’

A third lie?

Did the man think that his story would be more believable to have an “enemy” kill Saul rather than one of his own soldiers put him out of his misery?

1 Samuel 15:1-3 NLT
^15:1 One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! ² This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. ³ Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” 

¹⁰ “So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live.

• This story is different from the story in 1 Samuel 31 and 1 Chronicles 10

1 Samuel 31:4 NLT
⁴ Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”
But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.  

1 Chronicles 10:1-6 NLT
The Death of King Saul
^10:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. ³ The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him.
⁴ Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to taunt and torture me.”
But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. ⁵ When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died. ⁶ So Saul and his three sons died there together, bringing his dynasty to an end.

The Amalekite may have been hoping this news would get him a big reward.

The Amalekite is lying to gain favor with the person most likely to become the next king.

Saul was probably already dead when the Amalekite found him.

David believed the Amalekite’s story. 

Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

1 Samuel 31 does not mention a crown or armband.

The crown would have verified Saul’s identity as Israel’s king to the Amalekite.

The Amalekite found Saul before the Philistines got to him.

1 Samuel 31:8 NLT
⁸ The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa. 

¹¹ David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.

David could have rejoiced that his enemy was dead.  Instead he fasted and mourned for Saul, Jonathan, the Lord’s army, and the nation of Israel.

They expressed their grief in typical Near Eastern fashion.

• David demonstrated genuine, heartfelt grief for Saul, Jonathan, the Lord’s army, and the nation of Israel by mourning, weeping, and fasting. 

¹³ Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”

And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”

The man was probably unaware of David’s recent hostile encounters with the Amalekites.

¹⁴ “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” David asked.

David always viewed Saul as the “Lord’s anointed one.

1 Samuel 24:6-7 NLT (Saul in a cave)
⁶ He (David) said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” ⁷ So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

1 Samuel 26:9-11 NLT (Saul sleeping)
⁹ “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? ¹⁰ Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. ¹¹ The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”

Leviticus 24:22 NLT
²² “This same standard(s) applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.”

In David’s mind, this standard applied to this Amalekite. 

¹⁵ Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. 

The Amalekite misjudged David’s reaction to his story.

He expected a reward for killing David’s rival but instead he was killed for killing the Lord’s anointed.

• Instead of rejoicing that his enemy was dead, David mourns Saul’s death and executes the man who claims to have killed Saul. 

¹⁶ “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”

The Amalekite’s own testimony brought about his execution.

The Amalekite, not David, was responsible for his own death.

It would have been dangerous for David to kill the Amalekite.  He was still living in Philistine territory, in Ziklag.  The Philistines could have interpreted any sorrow over Saul’s death as treasonous. David was willing to risk danger in order to do what was right.  It was time for David to break from the Philistines and return to Israel.

Wrong motives

Proverbs 14:12 NLT
¹² There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.

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Introduction:

The tragic ending of the life of Israel’s first king.

Note: The name of God does not appear in this chapter.

1 Samuel 31 NLT
The Death of Saul
^31:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. ³ The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely.
⁴ Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”
But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. ⁵ When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king. ⁶ So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.
⁷ When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.
⁸ The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death in their pagan temple and to the people throughout the land of Philistia. ¹⁰ They placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of the city of Beth-shan.
¹¹ But when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all their mighty warriors traveled through the night to Beth-shan and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall. They brought them to Jabesh, where they burned the bodies. ¹³ Then they took their bones and buried them beneath the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 31 NLT
The Death of Saul

The story picks up with the account of Saul and the Philistines.

The events of this chapter follow those of chapters 28 and 29.

Chapter 30 was the story of David defeating the Amalekites.

Chapter 29 ended with:

1 Samuel 29:11 NLT
¹¹ So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.

This story tells of the tragic ending of the life of Israel’s first king. 

^31:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel (at Gilboa), and the men of Israel fled before them.

This story begins at Mount Gilboa, just south of Jezreel. (Refer to a map.)

• This battle between the Israelites and the Philistines was, most likely, simultaneous with David’s battle against the Amalekites. (Chapter 30)

Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 

• The Israelites are being slaughtered by the Philistines while the Amalekites are being slaughtered by David.

The Philistines with their iron chariots had an overwhelming advantage over the Israelites. (2 Samuel 1:6) 

² The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons,

Jonathan, a faithful son, had followed his father, the king, into battle.

and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. ³ The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely. 

⁴ Saul groaned to his armor bearer,

Some interesting details:

Before fleeing from Saul, David was Saul’s armor bearer.

Saul had four sons.
Saul’s fourth son was named Ish-Bosheth (or Esh-Baal)

1 Chronicles 8:33 (or 9:39) NLT
Ner was the father of Kish.
Kish was the father of Saul.
Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

Ishbosheth was not killed in this battle.

2 Samuel 2:8-9 NLT
Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel
⁸ But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth.^[a] 9 There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 2:8Ishbosheth is another name for Esh-baal.

• Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. 

 “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” 

But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 

• Saul committed suicide, an act rarely known among the Israelites in the Old Testament.

This was the culmination of a long process of self-destruction.

Saul was unlike David who found his strength in the Lord.

1 Samuel 23:16 NLT
¹⁶ Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.

1 Samuel 30:6 NLT
⁶ David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Saul feared torture, abuse, and eventual death from the Philistines.

This story is different from the story in 2 Samuel 1:6-10 (We’ll cover this in a future lesson.)

2 Samuel 1:6-10 NLT
⁶ The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. ⁷ When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him.
⁸ “He responded, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.
⁹ “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’
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.”

This man is lying to gain favor with the person most likely to become the next king. 

⁵ When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king. 

Interesting detail.

Jewish tradition (not scripture) identified Saul’s armor-bearer as Doeg, the Edomite. If true, it was ironic that Doeg died by the same sword that he had used to massacre Israel’s priests at Nob: his own sword. (Constable)

Galatians 6:7 NLT
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 

⁶ So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.

This fulfills the prophecy we read in 1 Samuel 28:19.

1 Samuel 28:19 NLT (Saul Consults a Medium)
¹⁹ What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.”

There were survivors.

Ex.  Abner, Saul’s general escaped.

One of Saul’s sons survived (He may or may not have been in this battle.)

• Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day. 

⁷ When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled.

So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.

• The Philistines drove the Israelites out of their own towns.

⁸ The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead,

Searching for anything of value.

they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa. 

⁹ So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor.

• The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor.

Note: David had cut off the head of Goliath. 

Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death in their pagan temple and to the people throughout the land of Philistia. 

Likely displaying Saul’s head and armor.

¹⁰ They placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths,

The fertility goddesses.

and they fastened his body to the wall of the city of Beth-shan.

This was a sign of great disrespect.  This action degraded the dead person by depriving him of a proper burial.

• Symbolically, the Philistines gave credit for this military victory to their Philistine gods. 

¹¹ But when the people of Jabesh-gilead

About 10-12  miles from Beth Shan (refer to a map)

heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 

• Saul had saved Jabesh-gilead at the beginning of his reign which the men of the city remembered.

1 Samuel 11 NLT
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
^11:1 About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead  .…  

⁵ Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, “What’s the matter? Why is everyone crying?” So they told him about the message from Jabesh.

⁶ Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. …

⁹ So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, “We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!” There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived!  ^… 

¹¹ But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together. 

¹² all their mighty warriors traveled through the night to Beth-shan and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall. They brought them to Jabesh, where they burned the bodies. ¹³ Then they took their bones and buried them beneath the tamarisk tree at Jabesh,

• Warriors from Jabesh-gilead traveled through the night to Beth-shan and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall. They brought them to Jabesh, where they burned the bodies.Then they took their bones and buried them beneath the tamarisk tree at Jabesh,

In this case, the burning of bodies would not be considered desecration. This may have been done because decomposition of the bodies had already begun or to prevent any farther abuse of the bodies of Saul and his sons by the Philistines.

Later: 2 Samuel 21:12-14 NLT

2 Samuel 21:12-14 NLT
¹² he (David) went to the people of Jabesh-gilead and retrieved the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. (When the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa, the people of Jabesh-gilead stole their bodies from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them.) ¹³ So David obtained the bones of Saul and Jonathan, as well as the bones of the men the Gibeonites had executed.
¹⁴ Then the king ordered that they bury the bones in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father, at the town of Zela in the land of Benjamin. After that, God ended the famine in the land. 

and they fasted for seven days.

Mourning the death of Saul and his sons and mourning the fact that the Philistines were now in control.

• The Philistines are now in control.

This story tells how the life Israel’s first king ended.

Note how this story began:

1 Samuel 9:15-17 NLT
¹⁵ Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, ¹⁶ “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”
¹⁷ When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.”

1 Samuel 10 NLT
Saul Is Acclaimed King
¹⁷ Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the Lord at Mizpah. ¹⁸ And he said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. ¹⁹ But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”
²⁰ So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. ²¹ Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. …
²⁴ Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”
And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

What’s missing in the previous passages?

1 Samuel 16:13 NLT
¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

Joshua 1:7-9 NLT
⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. ⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Saul disobeyed the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord was not on Saul.

• Saul’s downfall was rejecting the word of the

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David Destroys the Amalekites

The Amalekites

A nomadic marauding people dwelling in the Negev from the times of Abraham to Hezekiah (2000-700 B.C.) David died somewhere around 970 B.C.

The Amalekites were always bitter foes of Israel.

Some Biblical references about the Amalekites:

Exodus 17:8-11 NLT
Israel Defeats the Amalekites
⁸ While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. ⁹ Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”
¹⁰ So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.  (Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms.)

1 Samuel 15:1-3 NLT
^15:1 One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! ² This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. ³ Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”

Saul was killed by an Amalekite (2 Samuel 1)

1 Samuel 30:1-31 NLT
David Destroys the Amalekites
30 Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. ² They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.
³ When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, ⁴ they wept until they could weep no more. ⁵ David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. ⁶ David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
⁷ Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. ⁸ Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
⁹ So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor. ¹⁰ But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.
¹¹ Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink. ¹² They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned.
¹³ “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” David asked him.
“I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. ¹⁴ We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.”
¹⁵ “Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked.
The young man replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”
¹⁶ So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. ¹⁷ David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. ¹⁸ David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. ¹⁹ Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. ²⁰ He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.
²¹ Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. ²² But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”
²³ But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. ²⁴ Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” ²⁵ From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today.
²⁶ When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
²⁷ The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, ²⁸ Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, ²⁹ Racal, the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, ³⁰ Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, ³¹ Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 30:1-31 NLT

David Destroys the Amalekites

1 Samuel 29:11 NLT
¹¹ So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.

^30:1 Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag,

David and his men left Aphek and traveled to Ziklag, a distance of about 50 miles.  The trip took 3 days.

 they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag;

• The Amalekites were thought to be a nomadic marauding people dwelling in the Negev.

• The Amalekites had plundered both Philistine and Israelite territory.

See verse 16

1 Samuel 30:16 NLT
¹⁶ So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah.

The Amalekites would have known that the Israelites and Philistines were gathering at Jezreel for a battle.  Ziklag would have been left defenseless.

The Amalekites would have wanted to “get even” with both David and Saul.

1 Samuel 27:8 NLT
⁸ David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites—people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times.

1 Samuel 15 NLT
Saul Defeats the Amalekites
^15:1 One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! ² This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. ³ Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” 

 they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. ² They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone. 

• David arrived at Ziklag and found it burned to the ground.

God, in His sovereignty, had kept the Amalekites from killing their hostages.

Women and children would have been considered a valuable resource.

³ When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, ⁴ they wept until they could weep no more. ⁵ David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. 

• David and his men were devastated by this tragedy.

⁶ David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him.

Now, even David’s own men turned on him and talked about killing him.

• David’s own men turned on him and talked about killing him. 

But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Psalm 56:3-4 NLT
³ But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.
⁴ I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?

⁷ Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. ⁸ Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”

• David sought the Lord’s will in this matter (guidance). 

And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”

The Lord answered David’s question. 

• David and his men are promised the Lord’s help. 

⁹ So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor. 

About 20 miles south of Ziklag.

David and his men are still in Philistine territory.

¹⁰ But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.

• David and his men had been traveling hard for three days without a break and some of his men were exhausted. 

¹¹ Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink. ¹² They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned.

David and his men helped this Egyptian even before they knew his identity.

¹³ “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” David asked him.
“I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. 

This slave was clearly being mistreated by his Amalekite master.

Since he was sick, he was of no value to the Amalekite.

• The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT
⁵ Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. 

¹⁴ We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.”

¹⁵ “Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked.
The young man replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”
¹⁶ So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. ¹⁷ David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. 

Clearly the Amalekite was quite large, much larger than David’s band of 400 men. (200 were left back at the brook of Besor.) 

¹⁸ David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. ¹⁹ Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. ²⁰ He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said. 

• David’s 400 men defeat the Amalekites, with God’s help, and get back everything the Amalekites had taken.

²¹ Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. 

David did not reprimand the soldiers who were too exhausted to participate in the battle with the Amalekites.

²² But some evil troublemakers among David’s men

It is not surprising that there were troublemakers among David’s men.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT
^22:1 So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. ² Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”

• Some of David’s men wanted to drive away the 200 men who had stayed behind at the brook without giving them any part of the plunder.

²³ But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. 

• David attributed the victory over the Amalekites to the Lord and gave him the glory.

²⁴ Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” ²⁵ From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today. 

• David made a decree: The share of the men who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to battle.

The plunder came from the Lord. 

²⁶ When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
²⁷ The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, ²⁸ Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, ²⁹ Racal, the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, ³⁰ Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, ³¹ Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.

All of these places are located in southern Judah. 

• David returns to Ziklag and distributes the remaining plunder. 

Numbers 31:25-31 NLT
Division of the Plunder
²⁵ And the Lord said to Moses, ²⁶ “You and Eleazar the priest and the family leaders of each tribe are to make a list of all the plunder taken in the battle, including the people and animals. ²⁷ Then divide the plunder into two parts, and give half to the men who fought the battle and half to the rest of the people. ²⁸ From the army’s portion, first give the Lord his share of the plunder—one of every 500 of the prisoners and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. ²⁹ Give this share of the army’s half to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the Lord. ³⁰ From the half that belongs to the people of Israel, take one of every fifty of the prisoners and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, and other animals. Give this share to the Levites, who are in charge of maintaining the Lord’s Tabernacle.” ³¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.

David could have kept all of the plunder for himself.  Instead, David used this plunder to show his gratitude to the people of those areas where he and his men had wandered while being pursued by Saul.

This may have influenced these people to support David in becoming king. Hebron was where David ruled as king for 7 ½ years.

Galatians 6:10 NLT
¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

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