The opening verse of 2 Samuel brings us back to Ziklag where David had returned
from rescuing his wives and his people’s family from the Amalekites. While
pursuing the Amalekites, he probably did not have the luxury of time to think
about the battle between Saul, Israel, and the Philistines. But now that he had
returned to Ziklag for two days and was more settled, his mind must have
gravitated to the battle between Israel and the Philistines. Then verse 2 said,
“On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from
Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about
when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.”
He was an Amalekite and his disheveled appearance indicated that he was
mourning and confirmed that he had indeed come from the battle between Israel
and the Philistines.
Naturally,
David was anxious to know what had taken place. It’s not too much to think that
David must have imagined the worst. He immediately fired a salvo of
questions about what had happened at the battlefront. David was told three
things. Firstly, that Israel was badly defeated. Secondly, many from Saul’s
camp was left dead. Thirdly that Saul and his son Jonathan were killed. Not
believing the man wholesale, David sought verification to what he had said. So
he asked, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
The
Amalekite then went on to describe the final moment of Saul. There seems to be
a contradiction. According to 1 Samuel 31:4-7, Saul was severely wounded and
requested his armor-bearer to kill him, but the latter refused. Not wanting to
be made a sport by the Philistines, Saul fell on his own sword himself,
meaning, he committed suicide. After which the armor-bearer killed himself. Here
the Amalekite’s account suggests that he was the one who had killed Saul at the
dying king’s request. His account was that he happened to be at Mount Gilboa
when the heavily wounded Saul was leaning on his spear, at the brink of death.
With the chariots and horsemen of the Philistines pursuing closely, Saul on
seeing the Amalekite called out to him and inquired who he was. He wanted to
ascertain that he was not a Philistine. On learning that he was not a
Philistine, he then asked the Amalekite to kill him. Seeing that Saul
would not survive the ordeal, the Amalekite said he acceded to the request and
killed him. He then took his crown and bracelet and brought them to David. Was
he telling the truth? It appears that David did not doubt his account.
This
Amalekite probably had exaggerated to gain David’s favor. Why did he do what he
did? Firstly, he was an Amalekite, and David had just dealt with the Amalekites
who had raided Ziklag and plundered his city. He must have imagined David would
be less forgiving to another Amalekite. Hence, he had to say something that
would win him over. He thought the killing of Saul would be a good starting
point. Secondly, he thought that David would treat Saul like an enemy and would
be glad when told that he had killed Saul. He thought he would be deemed as
doing him a favor. Thirdly, he could be hoping to get a reward from David for
killing Saul. Fourthly, by bringing the crown and bracelet of Saul to
David, suggests that he knew David would be the next king. What better way to
get into the future king’s good book but by getting rid of his enemy for him?
It shows how little the Amalekite knew David.
David’s
careful interrogation of the Amalekite shows us that in dealing with any matter
in life, we need to ascertain all facts before we act. We must never act on
assumptions. This was also where that Amalekite was wrong. He assumed that he
would gain David's favor by describing how he had taken out Saul when he did
not. He did not know that David was a loyal man. He had refused to kill the
king when he had the opportunity. So why should he reward someone who dared to
touch the Lord’s anointed? What is needful in life is to live truthfully. So be
truthful, say what we mean, and mean what we say. Anything more will become a
needless overstatement and a lie!
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