One In Jesus

(1Sa 31:1 ESV) Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.

As Samuel had prophesied (from the grave), Saul’s sons would die in battle and Saul with them. The author spends little time on Jonathan, who’s been absent from the narrative since David fled from the palace.

4 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.

The role of the armor bearer was to protect the king in battle, and his armor bearer had failed. He was likely hoping desperately that the king would survive.

Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.

The armor bearer likely committed suicide as a matter of honor. The king having now died, the armor bearer had failed in his task. Continue reading →

(1Sa 29:1-5 ESV) Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

Achish, king of the Philistines, was so confident in David that he invited him to fight with him against Saul and Israel, placing him at the back of the Philistine forces. But his “lords” — generals — were understandably upset. After all, should David decide to fight for Israel, the Philistines would have an enemy on both sides! This was suicide! Continue reading →

This is a fascinating story. It’s also very strange and filled with ambiguities. It’s really just plain weird. I love it.

(1Sa 28:1-25 ESV) In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

This passage sets up the story in the next chapter. Achish put David in a difficult position, making him and his men the palace guard and asking them to go with him to battle against Israel.

Remember, this is the same David who felt guilt over cutting the hem of Saul’s robe! Continue reading →