2Samuel 1:1 ¶ 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;
2Samuel 1:2 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.
The book of 2Samuel opens by continuing the narrative that ended 1Samuel. A time marker is noted first; Saul was already dead. Context will show that David did not yet know it. The NIV Commentary noted that Ziklag is more than 80 miles from Mount Gilboa, a journey of about three days.
It is also noted that David had already spent two days in Ziklag after returning from the rescue of his wives, the wives and families of his soldiers as well as recovering all the other spoil that had been taken by the Amalekites who had burned their town and looted it in their absence.
On the evening of the third day, a man showed up that presented himself before David, giving evidence of being in mourning; his clothes were torn and he had dirt on his head. When he came before David, he fell to the earth and prostrated himself before him. Every action was meant to invoke a good reception from David.
2Samuel 1:3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
2Samuel 1:4 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.
David immediately asked the man where he had come from, and he told David that he had escaped from the camp of Israel. David then wanted to know the status of the battle. The man informed David that many of the troops had fled the battle and many had been killed. Then he delivered the most important news—Saul and Jonathan were among the dead.
2Samuel 1:5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
2Samuel 1:6 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.
2Samuel 1:7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
2Samuel 1:8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
2Samuel 1:9 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.
2Samuel 1:10 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.
David then asked the young man how he knew that Saul and Jonathan were dead. The young man began to explain that he happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning upon his spear. Enemy chariots and horsemen were quickly advancing upon him. Saul saw him and called out for him to come to him. Saul first asked him to identify himself, and he told the king that he was an Amalekite. Saul then basically asked the man to have mercy and kill him because he was in so much agony and knew that he was going to die. The man then declared that he stood over Saul and killed him. He then took Saul’s crown from his head and his bracelet from his arm and brought them to David.
First, it should be noted that this account differs from the one given in the last chapter of 1Samuel (which I think is the correct account). There it was noted that Saul was severely wounded and asked his armor-bearer to kill him so that he would not suffer the shame of dying at the hands of the Philistines. When his armor-bearer proved too frightened to do so, Saul fell upon his own sword. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he then did the same thing and died along with Saul. This account was recorded as a fact of Israel’s history, while the account from the Amalekite is recorded as his version of the story as told David.
This man’s story doesn’t seem right from the start. He just happened to be in the midst of the battle, though not a soldier for either side. He declared that the chariots and horsemen were bearing down on Saul, yet he had time for dialogue to take place between him and the king with no apparent concern for his own life, considering the danger pressing down upon them.
It should also be noted that the man first says that Saul is leaning upon his spear; then he says that Saul asked him to stand over him—implying that he is lying on the ground.
Coffman’s Commentary made an astute observation: “Due to the great length of a spear as compared with that of a sword, this statement alone is sufficient to prove that the Amalekite was a liar. Leaning on a spear would hardly be attempted by anyone trying to kill himself, especially if he also had a sword.”
Though at the time David did not have this information, we know from the account recorded in the last chapter of 1Samuel that Saul wanted to avoid being killed by an uncircumcised Philistine. In connection with that fact, it should be noted that the Amalekites were also uncircumcised.
It also seems odd that Saul would seek death at the hands of an Amalekite, since it was because he disobeyed God when told to kill Agag, the Amalekite king, that the LORD had rejected Saul as king of Israel. (1Samuel 15)
This man was smart enough to present a report that testified to having shown mercy toward Saul and of wanting to honor David by bringing him Saul’s crown and bracelet to wear when he became king. This one fact places him at the scene of Saul’s death. He perhaps even witnessed Saul’s death and quickly decided to take advantage of the situation in hopes of ingratiating himself into David’s favor.
Obviously, both accounts cannot be true, yet both are in God’s word. I think the first account given was true and provides insight into this account. If this account were true, it would be what is called poetic justice for Saul to die at the hands of an Amalekite since it was because of an Amalekite that God had rejected him as king of Israel.
Coffman’s commentary also contained an interesting historical note: “Every army is followed by vagabonds, intent on gain, purchasing booty, looting or plundering wherever possible and carrying on a lucrative, illicit trade.”
2Samuel 1:11 ¶ Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
2Samuel 1:12 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.
After hearing the man’s story, David and all the men with him tore their clothes as a sign of mourning and began to weep. They fasted until the evening for Saul and Jonathan, for the troops that had died and for the people of Israel who had lost so many loved ones in the battle.
I’m sure the Amalekite must have wondered at David’s grief. It was well known that Saul had sought to take David’s life. Though David feared Saul enough to stay hidden and on the run, he never let his feelings overrule his honor for God and his understanding that Saul was the LORD’s anointed and that he must trust the LORD to determine when the time was right for him to replace Saul as king.
David’s men had also been on the run and suffered much hardship due to Saul’s continued obsession to kill David. Still, they joined their leader in mourning the death of the king—probably because of their love for David and did not like to seem him in such sorrow.
That just made me think. When we truly love someone we hate to see them in pain or sorrowful. We, as God’s children, should love Him so much that we sorrow over the things that grieve Him. Do we sorrow with God over the prevalence of evil, the corrupted morals of our world, the lack of respect for human life—and most of all, the untold millions that reject the gift of salvation offered to us in His Son?
2Samuel 1:13 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.
2Samuel 1:14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?
2Samuel 1:15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
2Samuel 1:16 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.
This part of the narrative probably followed the end of the time of fasting in the evening.
David asked the young man where he was from, and he replied that he was the son of an Amalekite that lived in Israel. Some commentators note that this provides further testimony against the truth of the man’s story because as a resident of Israel, he should have at least been familiar with the importance of honoring one whom the LORD had anointed.
David then asked the man why he had not been afraid to kill the man that the LORD had anointed as the king of Israel. It was a rhetorical question, because David had already determined to judge the man for what he had done. He ordered one of his young men to execute the Amalekite, and he did. Either before or as he was dying, David told him that it was his own testimony that determined his death sentence--He had declared that he had killed the LORD’s anointed.
2Samuel 1:17 ¶ And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
2Samuel 1:18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
As David mourned over the death of Saul and Jonathan, he composed a lamentation, a song to honor them, given in the following verses. He declared that it should be taught to the people as recorded in the book of Jasher. Research indicates that this book was probably a collection of ancient Hebrew poetry that no longer exists.
2Samuel 1:19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
2Samuel 1:20 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.
2Samuel 1:21 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 beenanointed with oil.
“The beauty of Israel” is a phrase that references the glory that Saul and Jonathan had brought to Israel. Saul and Jonathan, some of Israel’s mightiest men, were killed in the high places, the mountains of Gilboa. David wishes their deaths could be kept from the Philistines because he knew it would result in great rejoicing among the enemy. As learned previously, to note that the Philistines were uncircumcised evidences the low regard in which they were held by the people of Israel. David proclaims a curse against the mountains of Gilboa because it was the place that Saul, the LORD’s anointed, had been killed.
2Samuel 1:22 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.
2Samuel 1:23 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.
David continues by exalting the bravery and courage of both Jonathan and Saul. He notes how both men loved one another in life and that even death could not separate them. To me, this verse, along with 1Samuel 28:19, lends credence to the thought that we will see Saul in heaven.
1 Samuel 28:16–19 “Then said Samuel….Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me….”
Again he describes them as skilled and strong.
2Samuel 1:24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
2Samuel 1:25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
2Samuel 1:26 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.
2Samuel 1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
David calls for the daughters of Israel to mourn the death of King Saul because he was the one that had led Israel to prosper so that they could enjoy pretty clothes and ornaments. He expresses his personal distress at the death of Jonathan. He notes how dear Jonathan was to him; he considered him a brother that loved him better than any woman could.
2Samuel 2:1 ¶ And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2Samuel 2:2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
2Samuel 2:3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
After learning of Saul’s death, David still did not assume that it was his right to move instantly to take the kingdom even though he knew that was God’s plan for him. Instead, he sought the LORD as to what he should do; he wanted things to happen according to God’s will and timing. Reminder: Abiathar the priest was with him and in possession of the ephod of the high priest with the urim and thummim.
The LORD directed David to go to Judah to the city of Hebron. Commentators note that Hebron was centrally located in Judah, about twenty miles south of Jerusalem, and was a Levitical city. Hebron was also noted for having more than two dozen springs in the area.
So David took his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelite, the widow of Nabal, and left Ziklag to go to Hebron. He also took all of his men and their families. They all took up permanent residence in the cities of Hebron.
2Samuel 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
2Samuel 2:5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
2Samuel 2:6 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
2Samuel 2:7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
News must have spread throughout the region rather quickly that David was in Hebron. The men of Judah came together and anointed David as their king. They also told him that it was the men of Jabeshgilead that had taken it upon themselves to bury Saul. David sent messengers to the men of Jabeshgilead and pronounced the LORD’s blessing upon them for showing such kindness to Saul and asking that God reward them with His faithfulness and love. David also promised to treat them with favor because of their kindness to Saul. David closed his message by asking them to continue to be strong and brave and informing them that the men of Judah had anointed him as their king. It was obvious that he hoped the men of Jabeshgilead would recognize him as their king as well.
2Samuel 2:8 ¶ But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
2Samuel 2:9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
2Samuel 2:10 Ishbosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
2Samuel 2:11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
Outside of Judah, in Israel, Abner, Saul’s cousin and chief military commander, took matters into his own hands. He got Ishbosheth, the remaining son of Saul, and took him to Mahanaim and installed him as king over Gilead, Ashur, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and all the rest of Israel. It is noted that Ishbosheth was 40 years old and that he reigned two years as king over Israel while David was acknowledged king over Judah. In fact, David ruled as king in Hebron over Judah for 7 years and 6 months. During that time there was a civil war taking place that was instigated by the two military commanders of Israel and Judah.
I liked Wiersbe’s comment, especially in light of leadership in America today: “Abner put Ishbosheth on the throne. This scenario has modern parallels, for our political and religious worlds are populated by these same three kinds of people. We have weak people, like Ishbosheth, who get where they are because they have ‘connections.’ We have strong, selfish people, like Abner who know how to manipulate others for their own personal profit. We also have people of God, like David, who are called, anointed, and equipped but must wait for God’s time before they can serve.”
2Samuel 2:12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2Samuel 2:13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
2Samuel 2:14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
At some point, maybe after the first two years of Ishbosheth’s reign as mentioned in verse 10, Abner and the servants of King Ishbosheth went to Gibeon to meet Joab and the servants of King David. It reminds me of the two gangs in West Side Story that scheduled a rumble. They met at a particular pool in Gibeon and took up positions on opposite sides of the pool to designate the men that would represent the two sides.
Isn’t it interesting—the kingdom is split, picturing the divide of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms before ever becoming a united kingdom under David.
2Samuel 2:15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
2Samuel 2:16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
2Samuel 2:17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
Twelve men from each side were chosen to represent the opposing “armies.” The opponents immediately grabbed each other by the hair of the head (Adam Clarke presumes it was by the beard.) and killed the other by thrusting his sword into his opponent’s side. This caused an all out war to begin. David’s men emerged victorious over Abner’s men.
I think the wording provides a clue to the real state of affairs. Notice it does not refer to the men of Israel as Ishbosheth’s men. I believe further narrative will reveal that Ishbosheth was chosen as the figurehead and that Abner was the true power behind the throne of Israel.
2Samuel 2:18 ¶ And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
2Samuel 2:19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
2Samuel 2:20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
2Samuel 2:21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
2Samuel 2:22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
2Samuel 2:23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
Abner and his men eventually began to flee for their lives. Joab, David’s nephew and chief military commander, and his two brothers took off after Abner.
1 Chronicles 2:13–16 “And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.”
It is noted that Asahel was recognized for being a very fast runner. He took the lead and pursued Abner with unswerving intent. Abner finally turned around and asked Asahel to confirm that he was indeed Asahel. When he confirmed that fact, Abner asked him to turn away and go after someone else, but Asahel refused. Abner then told Asahel that if he did not turn away from him, he would kill him; and he did not want to face Joab as his brother’s killer. When Asahel refused again, Abner killed him with the butt of his spear—not even the blade. He was so strong that the spear went straight through Asahel and killed him. It is specified that Abner struck Asahel “under the fifth rib.” John Gill points out that this is where the gall(bladder) and liver are.
JFB provided an interesting insight: “To gain the general’s armor was deemed the grandest trophy.” Abner seems to confirm that fact when he tells Asahel to “lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armor.” It seems that Asahel was intent on winning that trophy.
The IVP OT Commentary offers this description of the butt of a spear: “Spears often were made with a metal casing on the butt end that was not honed to a point but was tapered down to a sharp edge. This could be used as a goad or to stick the spear in the ground. Many of these metal ends have been found in excavations and are portrayed on wall paintings.”
2Samuel 2:24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
2Samuel 2:25 ¶ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
2Samuel 2:26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
Joab and Abishai evidently discovered their dead brother then continued their pursuit of Abner—this time with revenge on their minds. As the sun went down, they came to the hill of Ammah near the wilderness of Gibeon. The men of Benjamin had gathered together to take a stand with Abner on the top of a hill, always a position of advantage in battle.
I liked the NLT version of v26: “Abner shouted down to Joab, ‘Must we always solve our differences with swords? Don’t you realize the only thing we will gain is bitterness toward each other? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?’”
2Samuel 2:27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
2Samuel 2:28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
It seems that this word from Abner caused Joab to think about what he was doing and realize that Asahel’s death was a result of war and that he was wrong to seek revenge. He was the commander of Judah’s military under King David and needed to act accordingly. He basically admitted to Abner that he was right. He admitted that if he had not spoken, he and his men would have continued chasing the men of Israel until morning if necessary.
Joab then blew a trumpet and signaled an end to the fighting.
2Samuel 2:29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
Abner and his men walked all that night, eventually crossing over Jordan and returning to Mahanaim.
2Samuel 2:30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
2Samuel 2:31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
2Samuel 2:32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
Joab took an accounting of his men and learned that they had lost only Asahel and nineteen other men; however, they had killed 360 men of Abner’s troops. They took Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his fathers in Bethlehem. Joab and his men then continued their journey through the night and returned to Hebron the next morning.