Tag: Jonathan

The death of Saul and Jonathan

April 18, 2020

The Philistines gather to attack the Israelites, again, in I Samuel 28.  Hearing this, King Saul needs advice about what to do.  He goes to see a fortune teller.   Even though he himself has been eliminating all sorcerers and witches, he finds someone who is still practicing, even if she keeps it as quiet as possible.  What he asks for is to talk to the deceased Samuel.

When he appears, it says that he comes up from the earth.  Is this a comment on where this man of God went when he died or was its recognition that his body had been laid in the earth?  The dead prophet warns the king that he and all of Israel will be defeated.  The kingdom of Israel has been given to David.  Saul is so devastated by this news be refuses to eat.  They finally convince him that he must eat.

When the other Philistines saw David’s men in the ranks in I Samuel 29, they did not like it.  Their enemy who had recently wiped out whole villages were not wanted.  They were sent back home to their city.  David will hear the news of the death of Jonathan and Saul while at their home in Philistia.  The new king of Israel will move from there to Judea.

David and his men arrive back in Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 to discover the city looted and all the women and children are gone.  The Amalekites have attacked while they were gone with the other Philistines.  Did they know these were Israelites and not Philistines?  Probably that is why they came.

They followed and are delayed by having to leave some of their men that are worn out.  The others proceed and defeat the troops that took their families.  In addition, they also take all the property of the Amalekites.  This is divided among all the men, not just the ones that went on the raid.  Some also were sent to the people in Judah who had helped David and his army.

While David is dealing with all of this in I Samuel 31, the Philistines attack Israel.  What Samuel’s spirit had told Saul came true.  Jonathan and two of his other sons are killed.  Saul is about to be overrun by the enemy.  He asks his armorbearer to kill him to prevent abuse by the others.  He refuses and the King takes his own life.

The Israelites are scattered.  Saul’s people retrieved the King’s and the Princes’ remains.  Tomorrow we begin on 2 Samuel.  It is the story of David’s reign.  Why do we have two books named for Samuel, the last judge, and none for David the most famous King of the Jews before Jesus?  The prophet anointed Saul and David.  They were the first two kings.  The two books of the Kings are about the succeeding kings of Israel.

David takes refuge in Jehovah. In Psalms 18 he asks Him to discipline him if he fails to be the man Yahweh wants. He asks God to vindicate him and to defeat his enemies. He calls Him his shield and righteous judge. David also points out how evil people work can cause trouble for themselves. He ends, as usual, with praise again for God.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Jonathan and David

April 12, 2020

There has been some conflict in the story of David and Prince Jonathon in I Samuel chapter 18 and following.  Some have attempted to make the affection these men have for each other, as something sexual.  The Hebrew word translated as love has no homosexual connotation.  It goes beyond friendship, trust, and companionship.

Jonathan’s father is not as pleased with David.  Saul attempts to kill him with a spear and when that did not work, he sent him out with a thousand men to attack the kingdom’s enemies.  When that did not work, he offered the first one, then another and when David told others that he did not have the dowry and saw another chance to get rid of him.  The bride price was set at 100 Philistine foreskins.

David could have forced his way because the daughter of the king was one of the prizes for facing Goliath.  The song that the women sang that started the whole thing continued to be heard especially after the cost of the king’s daughter was paid, again.

Jonathan and David discuss the problems with the King in I Samuel 19.  Jonathan knows nothing about his Father’s hatred of the new king.  He tries to make amends between the two.  King Saul reacts to the way his son expects him to, and everything looks fine.  Then on another evening as the young musician is playing for the older man, a spear flies into the wall behind David.  He flees to his home where Micah, his wife, and the princess, helps him escape.

Discovering this deception, Saul accuses her of choosing David instead of her father.  She, like her brother, does not understand the King’s anger with his best soldier.  David escapes to Samuel and as the King’s men attempt to capture him, the spirit of God causes three groups of hunters and even King Saul to speak the word of Jehovah.

“Why is your father trying to kill me?” is the question that David asks Jonathan in I Samuel 20.  The King’s son is not aware of any problem between his friend and Saul.  They put together a plan that will allow the two to communicate again without Saul being aware of it.

It is unusual that the King does not think his enemy is smart enough to know that he is trying to kill him.  Jonathan learns of the anger that has developed in his father.  Saul makes a point of pointing out to his son that Jonathan would never be king if David remains alive.  Despite this, he does not turn on his friend but pledges himself to him again.  He knows that David will be the next king.

Where do you hide when you want to be safe? In Psalm 11 David tells us that Jehovah is his refuge. He knows from experience that there is no place else to hide. He is our one place of safety. Yahweh stays in His temple. This was before there was an earthly structure for His use. Once again, we ask the difference between the upright and the wicked. The righteous are like David and the evil like Saul. Neither one was perfect. Both disobeyed God. What is the difference? David acknowledged his errors while Saul continued to run from his Lord until it killed him.

Have you had a time when you were afraid for your life? That was David in the 59th Psalm. He stayed calm and trusted God although Saul was hot on his heels. The Lord was his strength and protection. He did not want them dead. A difference between followers of the Lord and those who reject Him is shown. Praises are not sung by the lost.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger