TOTC 1 & 2 Samuel

Author:Joyce G. Baldwin [Baldwin, Joyce G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Old Testament, Old Testament Study, Bible Study, Bible Study & Reference, Christian Books & Bibles, Commentaries, Religion & Spirituality, Bibles, More Translations, Criticism & Interpretation, Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Judaism, Sacred Writings, Encyclopedias & Subject Guides, Reference, Religion, Religious Studies & Reference
ISBN: 9781783592296
Amazon: B00RXJ76H6
Publisher: IVP
Published: 2008-07-17T22:00:00+00:00

3. THE REIGN OF DAVID (2 SAMUEL 1:1–20:26)

a. David’s rise to power in Judah (1:1–4:12)

i. David receives news of Saul’s death (1:1–16)

David’s fortunes, at a low ebb since he had been forced to take refuge with the Philistines years earlier (1 Sam. 29:3), had been only slightly improved by the successful sortie against the Amalekites. He and his men were still recovering from the battle, and still needed to restore their charred homes, when, on their third day back, they received news of the battle against the Philistines.

1–3. The messenger announced beforehand, by his dishevelled appearance, that he was the bearer of bad news, for torn garments and hair caked with soil were signs of mourning. By falling to the ground before David, he implies that he recognizes the new king, and he expects a reward for his service in running to Ziklag with the latest news from Israel’s camp.

4–5. A general retreat, the death of many, including Saul and Jonathan, summarized the situation, but David wanted some verification concerning the death of the king and his son.

6–10. At this request the messenger, elaborating the story to ingratiate himself with David, as he thinks, misjudges the reaction of the one he wants to impress. The reader knows that his story does not tally with the events already recorded: Saul had not needed assistance in dying by his own spear. It was ironic that David had only just returned from fighting the Amalekites, and here was an Amalekite daring to admit that he had slain the king. In proof he produced the distinctive regalia of the king, his crown, which identified him even in battle, and his armlet, a royal bracelet, worn on the upper arm.

11–12. Far from rejoicing, David and his army plunged into mourning at the news they had received, expressing communally their grief at the disaster that had befallen the people of the Lord. Though forced out of Israel, David and his men still regarded themselves as part of the house of Israel, and there was no longer any need to make a pretence of having deserted to the Philistines.

13–16. The messenger repeated that he was an Amalekite, but resident in Israel; his father may have joined the household of a citizen of Israel, working for him on the farm. It is not clear whether he fought for Israel. Expecting now to receive a handsome reward for having served David’s interests, the messenger was instead called to account for having presumed to kill the Lord’s anointed. As a resident, he could hardly plead ignorance of the awe that surrounded the person of the king in Israel, and David regarded him as deserving death. Surely he would have known that David had studiously avoided putting Saul to death, on the grounds that he was the Lord’s anointed and therefore sacrosanct. The death of the Amalekite would be accepted as just by Israelites generally; even if he had fabricated his killing of Saul, the man was condemned by his own mouth, and David would be cleared of possible suspicion of having rejoiced in the death of Saul.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.