Study the Word

Second Samuel is the showcase theater, so to speak, for King David. In it we struggle with David’s, and our own, lingering pain over the fate of King Saul. Why is it that God removed His Spirit from Saul and yet, despite all of David’s missteps, continued to bless David throughout his lifetime and throughout all generations? Some questions cannot be answered. Theologians throughout the ages have pointed simply to the doctrine of election - God chooses whom God will choose.

You may notice right away that 2 Samuel 1 contradicts 1 Samuel 31:

1 Samuel 31:4,5 (ESV) : Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.

2 Samuel 1:9-10 (ESV) : And Saul said to me (an Amalekite) 'Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.' So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

Many regard the first account as the truer rendition of Saul’s death, believing that the second story was fabricated by the Amalekite in order to ingratiate himself with David. If so, the attempt horrifically failed, for David had the Amalekite executed for having killed Saul. The execution both served David’s grief as well as his cultural need to act on behalf of Saul’s honor.

David’s lament over the loss of his beloved friend Jonathan and Jonathan’s father, King Saul, is powerful and passionate:

O how the mighty have fallen!...
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions…
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.
"How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!"

You may notice as you read the lament that David either omits or ignores the tensions between Jonathan and Saul. He doesn’t eulogize Saul’s insanity. He remembers the best of Saul. David also calls on all the women and thereby all of Israel to grieve - through real grief and not cliché or empty rhetoric. Public grief was considered to be profoundly important to the health of the community. Even today we recognize that where loss is not grieved, and where the grief remains hidden and private, shalom is lessened and the healing slowed. Even when Israel is nearly defeated, it remains vitally alive, in part because Israel will not be silenced. Silence is an enemy to those in pain, and the biblical voices profoundly understood that.

From the start, David is portrayed as faithful. Immediately after his lament, before he took one step, David asked God what he should do (2Samuel 2:1). Clearly, this modeled faith as well as wisdom. David needed divine guidance in order to navigate around the political landmines! There were many people who still considered Saul to be their king; many people who intended to remain “Saul-ites” despite his death; many who would happily see David as enemy and mortal target. Jabesh-gilead was a site of such Saulide loyalty. It is no surprise that David was led to pray for them and for a better friendship with them. His prayer is a subtle summons for them to join his cause.

You may find yourselves confused by the story in Chapter Two. Abner was Saul’s military leader. His actions were motivated by the deep Saul-party versus David-party rivalry. The proposal that “young men arise and play” was really a proposal that soldiers representing the two parties battle it out. That battle was bloody and deadly. Asahel was ruthlessly devoted to David and would not back down even when all odds were against him. When Abner killed him, it was inevitable that others in David’s group would seek to kill Abner in revenge. Abner wisely proposed that they end the violence - otherwise each death would beget another and the violence would never end. (Would that the world remember this wisdom today!) Joab, a military leader of the David party, called off the vengeful attack against Abner. He was never able, however, to complete remove vengeance from either party’s heart.

By the third chapter, Abner defects to the David party (did you think contemporary politicians were the first to jump sides?). The narrative understands all of this as God-inspired. In the process of defecting, Abner took one of Saul’s concubines. This was a politically deviant act that would provoke the other “Saul-ites” and in turn justify his switching sides. David willingly negotiated with Abner in the political switch, and requested the return of his wife, Michal.

Abner was now on David’s side, however not all of the Davidic leaders were happy about it. Joab was protective of his leading military position and tended to think in terms of military action rather than in terms of negotiations and peace. Freshly back from a raid, he was in no mood to welcome Abner. Instead, he “eliminated” him. In horrified response, David put a bloodcurse on Joab and his entire lineage. He then held a state funeral for Abner. David was a political genius. His actions appeased the Saulites who still cared about Abner, and demonstrated integrity as well to his own followers. David was not to blame for Abner’s death, but it is clear that violence and death permeate this new monarchy. It is also clear that although God loved David, the concept of monarchy remained a less than wonderful idea.

Click here to read more on 2 Samuel 5-7; 2 Samuel 8-12; 2 Samuel 13-15; 2 Samuel 16-24