2 Samuel

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2 Samuel 1 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on 2 Samuel 1 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

(1:8-10) "I am an Amalekite."
How did Saul die?
But Saul killed all the Amaleks (except for Agag who Samuel hacked to death) as God commanded in 1 Sam.15:3, so how could he later be killed by one?
According to this Amalekite Saul leaned upon his spear. The meaning is that he had fallen on it, but wasn't yet dead. But if you compare it to 1 Sam. 31:4 you see that Saul actually had fallen into his own sword. Moreover, Saul was a skilled figher. It is not likely he would have made a silly mistake like this when he wanted to kill himself. Therefore it seems this Amalekite is making the story up to get a reward.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9 And he said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

 
And here the Amalekite actually boasts to having killed Saul. He probably was unsure what would happen if he had told he had killed him in battle, so he makes it appear as if Saul was almost dead. He just applied the finishing touch. It was an act of mercy so to speak. Like in our days so many think active or passive euthanasia is mercy.

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

David tells one of his "young men" to kill the Amalekite messenger who claimed to have mercifully killed Saul at Saul's own request. David, a man after God's own heart (WWDD?)
And here we have it: if you kill someone out of `mercy', you should walk free and not be punished. But David here punishes this Amelikite for his confession that he laid his hands upon Saul and murdered him. The law in Israel didn't recognise any such thing as mercy killings. And woe the country that introduces them. It was Nazi Germany that had the first euthanasia laws. When a society crosses the boundary and believes that certain persons are actually better off dead, no one will be safe in the end.

16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

"Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher."
Where? I can't seem to find a copy of this book.
This book is also mentioned by Joshua, see Jos. 10:13.
The author of the SAB can order his copy at the usual places such as Amazon for example. At time of this writing second hand versions were about $15 USD. In our days he can also just read the online version. It is claimed that this book was discovered at Jerusalem's capture by Titus.

19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

David says to Jonathan: "Very pleasant has thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of woman."
This kind of reading says a lot about the author of the SAB. It is sad that he does not seem to know or have experienced friendship with members of the same sex and that he can only think about relationships in sexual terms.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!