1:15,16Why did David consider it a crime to kill the king, even though Saul was his enemy? David believed that God anointed Saul, and only God could remove him from office. {f it became Casual or commonplace to assassinate the king, the whole society would become chaotic.!t was God's job, not David's, to judge . Saul's sins (Leviticus 19:18). We must realize that God has placed fulers in authority over us, and we should respect their positions (Romans 13:1-7).
Life Application Study Bible2 SamuelChapter 1
2 Samuel 1
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 463, 464
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
12 Samuel 1
10Then David said to one of his men, 11Kill 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.”
David's Song for Saul and Jonathan
1717Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 18and 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.*
1919 Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
20Don’t announce the news in Gath,don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoiceand the pagans will laugh in triumph.
21O 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.
22The bow of Jonathan was powerful,and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.They shed the blood of their enemiesand pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.
23How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!They were together in life and in death.They were swifter than eagles,stronger than lions.
24O women of Israel, weep for Saul,for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,in garments decorated with gold.
25Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
26How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!Oh, how much 1 loved you!And your love for me was deep,deeper than the love of women!
27Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.
David Anointed King of Judah
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?”
Textual footnotes
- 1:18 Or The Book of the Upright.
- 1:21 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain,
Life Application Notes 3 notes
1:17,18David was a talented musician. He played the harp t Samuel 16:23), he brought music into the worship services of the Tempie (1 Chronicles 25), and he wrote many of the psalms.
1:26By saying that Jonathan's love was “deeper than the tove of women,” David was not implying that he had a sexual retationship with Jonathan. Homosexual acts were absolutely forbidden in Israel. Leviticus 18:22 calls homosexuality “detestable,” and Leviticus 20:13 decrees the death penalty for those who practice homosexuality. David was simply restating the deep brotherhood and faithful friendship he had with Jonathan. (For more on their friendship, see the note on 1 Samuel 18:1-4.} f j Mediterranean J Sea Hebron* { \Dead Sea ’ Af 025° 20'ML S oe f+ " ees JENS army © °20Km. seven Israel's army
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 463
CHARACTERS IN THE DRAMA OF 2 SAMUEL It can be confusing to keep track of all the characters introduced in the first few chapters of 2 Samuel. Here is some help.
Character Joab Abner Abishai Asahel Ishbosheth
Whose Side? David's Saul and Ishbosheth’s, but made overtures to David Joab and David's Joab and David's Saul’s
Relation Son of Zeruiah, David's half sister Saul’s cousin Joab’s brother Joab and Abishai’s brother Saul’s son
Position One of David’s military leaders and, later, commander in chief Saul’s commander in chief High officer in David's army— Commander of “the Thirty” High officer—one of David's 30 select warriors (“mighty men”) Saul and Abner’s selection as king
Here we are told that he wrote a funeral song in memory of Saul and his son Jonathan, David's closest friend. Music played an important role in Israel's history. (For other famous songs in the Bible, see the chart in Exodus 15, p. 119.) 1:17-27 Saul had caused much trouble for David, but when he died, David composed a song in memory of the king and his son. David had every reason to hate Saul, but he chose not to. Instead, he chose to look at the good Saul had done and to ignore the times when Saul had attacked him. It takes courage to lay aside hatred and hurt and to respect the positive side of another person, especially an enemy.
Study feature · page 464
2:8 ishbosheth is another name for Esh-baal.
Study feature · page 464
JOAB VERSUS ABNER David was crowned king of Judah in Hebron; Ishbosheth was crowned king of Israel in Mahanaim. The Opposing armies of Judah and Israel met at Gibeon for battle—Judah under Joab, Israel under Abner.