These chapters contain a double account of the death of Saul. The earlier narrative (J) describes how Saul in despair commits suicide after his armour-bearer has refused to slav nim (I 31-11 1*): in the later narrative ^E) a wandering Amalekit* slays him at his request while be is suffering from cramp (or giddiness), though unwounded (II l^-ld). It has been conjeo* tured by those who regard the two chapters as belonging t4 the same Bource, that the account of the Amalekite Is untrue ;
SAMUEL, L AND IL
SAMUEL, L AND IL
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F,
but this conflict* with the whole narrative of lO-", which con- veys no hint of such bein^ the case. It is probable, as Budde Infers from 41*^, that David himself slew the fufntive who brought him the tidings of Saul's death. This latter passage (4W) knows nothing of the reason assigned for the execution of the mesiicnger in 1^1^, viz. the fact that he hod laid hands on •the Lord's anointed.'
Ch. 31 has been excerpted, with slight variations, by the compiler of Chronicles (1 Cb W), who has in part preserved a lurer text (see Driver, yotes on Sam, p. 176 f.). Budde regards _1 18 as a redactional insertion, introducing the later narrative ; vv.ll->^ belong probably to the earlier narrative; they are out of place in their present context.
n 117.vf7 the lament of David is avowediv taken from the Book of Jashar (so Jos lO'^-H, 1 K 812' (LXX)), but there is no reason to doubt David's authorship (on the text see Driver, A<X», p. IbOf.).
(8) 2-4 (J). The straggle beWeen the house of Saul and the house of Darid.
David is anointed king of Judah at Hebron (2'-'') : he thanks the men of Jabesh-gUead for their kindly action in recovering the bodies of Saul and his sons, and at the same time informs them of his coronation (vv.*-'). Meantime Ishbaal, the sole remaining son of Saul, is set on tlie throne of Israel at Mahanaira by Abner, the captain of the host (vv.»-") : then follows the encounter be- tween the troops of Joab and Abner at Gibeon, which results in the defeat of the men of Israel ; in his flight Abner is pursued by Asahel, Joab's brother, wliom he slays ; Asahel's death puts an end to the pursuit (vv. '--'*). The downfall of the house of Saul is caused by the rupture between Ishbaal and Abner : the latter makes a league witli David, to whom he restores his wife Michal ; and he further promises to bring all Israel unto him. Abner, however, is treacherously slain by Joab in revenge for tlie death of Asaliel, and is mourned by David and all the people (ch. 3). The assassina- tion of Ishbaal, and the execution of his murderers (ch. 4).
These chapters continue the earlier narrative of I 31 and U 1'-*. the conclusion of which is probably lost. 210» (to two |/«ar«)H ( = 6*) are obviously insertions; they interrupt the narrative, and are doubtless part of the chronological scheme of the Deuteronomic editor. 3'^ (a notice of David's family at Hebron) are out of place, and belong properly after S**: v.* is continued by v.*i''-, v.6» concealing the insertion. V.30 is omittfd by all critics as a later inter])olation. 4* is certainly inter)" lated: probably v.4i> should be placed after 93(WeUh., Budde).
(9) 5'-8" (J, except ch. 7 (E)). David as king of all Israel.
After the death of Ishbaal, David is acknow- ledged as king by all the tribes of Israel &''). He captures the Jebusite city Jerusalem ; takes up his residence there, and fortifies it C"'"). Hiram, king of Tyre, aids him in building his palace ("• '-). [Notice of David's family (""")]. The I'hilistines hear that David has been iinointcd king over Israel, and imiiieciiatcly attack liim, but are twice defeated (17-iu) 'I'lm removal of the ark from Baale-judah ( = Kiriath-jearim) to Jerusalem is checked by the untoward death of Uzzah : the ark is therefore left at the house of Obedcdom (O'"'"). After an inter- val of three uonths it is brought up to the city of David in solemn procession, in which David takes part: his action is derided by Michal, who is therefore cnrsed with barrenness C'^). David proposes to build a house for Jehovah, but is informed by Nathan that this honour is reserved for his son (7'""). David's prayer (vv. "■'■*). A summary of the wars waged by Daviil (8'"'*) ; his judicial activity (v.") ; and a list of his olUcers (vv.i«-'«).
It is obvious that the war with the Philistines (.',1" ">) follows lnime<Iiatcly after vv.i 3, which conUiin u twofold introdurtion, viz. vv 1-2 andv.3. The inter\'ening suctions (vv.*-i") are clearly mifrjilaccd : w.4.» (cf. 1 K 2l') are omitted by the Chronicler, and are premature : vv.o-» the account of the capture of Jerusalem is undoubtedly old and genuine, but the text is unfortvinately very corrupt ; Budde would place it after 6* : w. n. la probably oelong to the latter part of David's reign, if thov are not an addition from 1 K 6 (see S. A. Cook, AJSL xvL t, p. 161) : vv.in« should be placed like 8»» afUr »i*. It is prob-
able that the account given in w.i7-25 should be supplemented by the detailssupplied in 2115-2! 23*^ (see below). 'That vv.ir'a do not connect with vv.*-i6 is shown by the different use of the term ' the hold ' (.Tilimn) in w." and 17 : the use of this term here ond in 231* supports S. A. Cook's theory (AJSL p. 164 f.^, that David's encounter with the Philistines preceded the inci- dents in chs. 2-4, and belong to the period 'when he had no army (S'n) or host (N3S), as chs. 8 and 10, but was accompanied only by his " men " or " servonts " ' (521 2116- 17. i."."). gl^ accord- ing to Budde, must have introduced some warlike incident, and he therefore prefixes it to 66-12 ; the rest of the chanter is old and genuine, though possibly it has been expanded in parts. Ch. 7 is admittedly later than chs. 6 and 6, with which it is clearly connected : the section, it is true, dispLiys certain re- semblances both in thought and expression to iJcutcronomy, but these are not strongly pronounced ; and from the nature of its contents the chapter would easily lend itself to theocratic expansions. Kuenen assigns the chapter to a post- Deuteronomic source on the ground of vv.li»-13. 22.23. 24 ; but 11* is omitted by the Chronicler (1 Ch 171); v. 13 is certainly due to the Deutero. nomic editor, and vv.22-24^ from their general character, may well be an expansion. Probably, therefore, Budde is right in assigning the chapter to £.