2 Samuel 1

Here (1) An Amalekite brings Saul’s crown and bracelet to David, and pretends to give a particular account of the battle, and of the death of Saul and his sons

2 Samuel 1:1-10

(2) Overwhelmed with grief, David orders this Amalekite to be killed upon the spot, as one who boasted of helping Saul to dispatch himself

2 Samuel 1:17

Ps. 9. 18. & 27. 14. 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 Sam. 27. 6. 1 Chr. 12. 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. • Gen. 22. 4. & 31

2 Samuel 1:22

Exod. 19. 11. 15. Exh. 5. 1. Hos. 6. 2. Mat. 16. 21. & 20. 19. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. • 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. • Neb. 1. 2. 3. 1 Sam. 4. 16. 17. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? • Heb. what was, &c. 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 Sam. 31. 1—6. 1 Chr. 10. 1—6. 7 And when he looked behind him he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. Proo. 14. 15. & 25. 2. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. † Heb. meeting, I met. 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for languish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. • 1 Sam. 31. 1—6. 1 Chr. 10. 1—6. 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. † Heb. Behold me. 11 Then David took hold on his † Gen. 14. 7. Exod. 17. 8— 16. Num. 24. 20. Deut. 25. 17—19. 1 Sam. 15. 3. & 27. 8. & 30. 17. † Or my coat of mail, or my embroidered coat hinder- eth me, that my, &c. • 1 Sam. 31. 4. & 22. 18. Mat. 7. 2. Judg. 9. 54. 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. 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.) 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

2 Samuel 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

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—How glorious is it to be thoroughly mortified to all worldly advancements even when a kingdom is promised! He that believeth does not make haste But base minds readily measure others by themselves; who, for the sake of favour or gain, will blemish their character, if not endanger their life. How striking are the judgments of God! Saul spared the Amalekites when God commanded him to kill them, and thereby forfeited his crown. An Amalekite now boasts that he had killed Saul, and brings his crown and bracelet to David. How often are men so fond of their marks of dignity as thereby to endanger their life! But sad anguish seizes on departing sinners! And it is mad to flee to death as a relief, when hell follows after. It is proper to lament the death of our relations, however wicked some of them have been; and to punish murderers, whatever friendship they may pretend. Death should wipe out the injuries which have been done to us. And let us speak nothing, but in commendation, unless when duty forces us to it. But let the triumphing of the wicked over the cause of God be always grievous to us. In fine, let this song teach us generosity towards our injurers; gratitude towards our steady friends; and a deep concern for the honour of our God, and the welfare of our country. 3