Thoughts
Samuel 29
The Philistine commanders noticed David and his men in the rear guard with Achish.
They questioned Achish, wondering why the same one who had killed Goliath and won victories against Philistines was with them. They said David might turn against them in battle to regain Saul’s favor.
Achish defended David, saying he had found no fault in him since he defected. But the commanders insisted David could not go to war with them.
Achish told David he had to leave, even though he personally trusted him.
David protested, and Achish said the other lords did not approve.
- Odd that David seemed displeased he wouldn’t fight against his people.
So David and his men left early in the morning to return to Philistine territory, while the Philistines advanced toward Jezreel.
Samuel 30
David and his people are now in Ziklag
However, the Amalekites raided Ziklag, burned it, and took captive the women and children, including David’s two wives (Ahinoam and Abigail). David’s men wept bitterly until they had no strength left.
In their anger, some spoke of stoning David, blaming him for the disaster. But David “strengthened himself in the Lord.” (finally)
David asked the priest Abiathar to bring the ephod. He finally inquires of the Lord and God answers him to pursue for he will win.
David set out with 600 men, but 200 were too exhausted and stayed behind at the Besor Valley.
They found an abandoned Egyptian slave who had been left behind by the Amalekites. After being given food and water, he guided David to the raiders.
David attacked at twilight and fought until evening the next day. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. David recovered everything that was taken.
- They (Amalekites) were probably hungover from their celebrations
When they returned, some men didn’t want to share the spoil with those who had stayed behind. David says those who guard the supplies share equally with those who fight.
David also sent portions of the plunder to the elders of Judah
Samuel 31 The End of Saul
This takes place the day after Saul summoned Samuel from the grave.
The Philistines fought Israel and Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua were killed. The Israelite army fled, and many were slain.
Saul was badly wounded by Philistine archers. Not wanting to be captured and mocked, he asked his armor-bearer to kill him, but the man refused. Saul then fell on his own sword.
The armor-bearer, seeing Saul dead, also killed himself.
The Israelites living in the valley abandoned their towns when they heard of the defeat.The Philistines moved in and occupied them.
The next day the Philistines found Saul and his sons’ bodies. They cut off Saul’s head and stripped his armor. His armor was placed in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and his body was fastened to the wall of Beth-shan.
The people of Jabesh-gilead, remembering Saul’s earlier rescue of them (1 Sam 11), traveled all night, retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons, and gave them a respectful burial under a tamarisk tree.
Questions
Would David have actually fought Israel?
Why did Jonathan have to die? Surely he would have let David be king.
Was Saul’s death considered suicide?
Application
God is faithful to His promises despite human failure. In these chapters we see David fall from Israel and even join the Philistines for battle. Where he was once praised for his slaying of 10,000, he now hides with the enemy. But God’s plans continue. David eventually reached out to YHWH who led him to victory. Our failures don’t cancel out God’s work- we may lose some battles that we could have won, but the overall war belongs to God.
Jo Reads The Bible 
Leave a comment