Read 2 Samuel 1.1-16. In 1.1-16: David learns of Saul's death. In verse 2: With his clothes torn and dirt on his head; Conventional signs of grief. In verses 5-10: The Amalekite who brings the news to David tells a different version of Saul's death from the one in 1 Sam 31. His casual attitude (I happened to be on Mount Gilboa v. 6) in the heat of battle suggests that he is lying in hopes of gaining David's favor. The fact that he is an Amalekite (v. 8) does not endear him to David and his men, who have just come from fighting the Amalekites. The account of this battle is difficult to reconcile with 1 Sam 15, where Saul's army killed all the Amalekites except their king. But it also provides an ironic view of Saul's sin. Saul is condemned for failing to annihilate the Amalekites completely, and now one of those Amalekites claims to have killed him. David's predicament is clear. Although he presumably wanted Saul to be dead, he cannot even seem to have anything to do with killing Saul, since that would leave him open to charges of usurping the throne. The crown and amulet (v. 10) were Saul's royal insignia. David's possession of them would have to be explained. In verses 13-16: A resident alien is a non-Israelite who lives in Israel, which may also explain how this Amalekite escaped being slaughtered by Saul's army in 1 Sam 15. It also gives David the opening he needs: Since the Amalekite would have been responsible for following Israelite laws and customs, David judges him guilty of the capital offense of having killed the Lord's anointed. Comments or Questions..
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