2 Samuel 1:1-10 - After the death of Saul

1:1

Joshua and Judges begin with “After the death of Moses/Joshua” marking the beginning of a new phase. We have the same thing here. David had returned to Ziklag, the text noting that this was “from the slaughter of the Amalekites”. At this point David knew there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel, but was unaware of the outcome, though no doubt he did not expect good news.

1:2-10

Finally an Amalekite arrived. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. This was done to indicate that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David to honour him. David inquired of him, and the man tells him he has escaped from the Israelite camp. David wants to know what has happened and the man gives him a tale. The account he gives differs from what we read of in 1 Sam 31, especially with regard to Saul asking the man to finish him off. So what is going on? Especially given that 1 and 2 Samuel were originally a single book, it is very unlikely that the author put two contradictory accounts next to each other. A more likely explanation is that the man is lying and is trying to earn some favour from David by giving him Saul’s crown. The man being covered in dust and having town clothes may have been for effect. The man finished his tale by giving the crown to David.