Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 1

David’s situation at the time of Saul’s death

2 Samuel 1:1

When David was just a youth, God chose David to be Israel’s king (1 Samuel 16:1-13). However, David did not try to establish his own authority; instead, he waited for God to act on his behalf.

David became one of the most important leaders of the army of Israel’s present king, King Saul. However, then Saul became jealous of David and he (Saul) tried to kill David on several occasions (1 Samuel 19:4-17).

David had to escape from Saul. For some time, he hid in such places as forests and caves (1 Samuel 22:1-5). In the end, he and the men with him went to live in Ziklag, which was in Philistia. Ziklag was under the authority of the king of Gath, who was one of Saul’s enemies.

David constantly insisted that he would not do anything to hurt Saul (1 Samuel 26:9-11). However, when Philistia’s army decided to fight against Israel, David and his men went with them. David did not want to fight Israel; he was trusting God to deal with the situation.

So, in the end, Philistia’s rulers made the decision that David would not fight in that battle (1 Samuel chapter 29). They sent David and his men home to Ziklag. However, in the meantime, another enemy called the Amalekites had attacked and destroyed Ziklag. The Amalekites were a nation of robbers who lived in the desert. David’s men were very tired, but they had to fight the Amalekites to rescue their own wives and families (1 Samuel chapter 30).

At about the same time, Saul and three of his sons died in the battle between Israel and Philistia.

Next part: News about Saul's death (2 Samuel 1:2-4)

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