Old Testament Lesson 24 – “Create in Me a Clean Heart”

Lesson 24 (2 Sam 11, 12 )

(2 Sam has 24 chapters)

2 Samuel 11. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (11:1–5). David fails in his attempt to hide his sin (11:6–13). He arranges the death of Uriah (11:14–17). David marries Bathsheba, and they have a son (11:26–27).

2 Samuel 12:1–23. The prophet Nathan teaches of the severity of David’s sins by telling David a parable (12:1–6). David is told that he will be punished because of his sins (12:7–14; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 13, Nathan states, “The Lord hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die”). The first son of David and Bathsheba dies in infancy (12:15–23).

Psalm 51. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.

 

OT Gospel Doctrine lesson #24, Create in Me a Clean Heart
2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51

The Coronation of David

Background: Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle against the Philistines. Their bodies, decapitated and desecrated by their enemies, are recovered and given a proper burial.
For the first time in decades, Israel is without a king. The heir apparent, Jonathan, is dead. There is a leadership vacuum, one Israel never experienced when Jehovah was their king.

Civil War
With Saul and Jonathan dead, David's loyalty oaths to the royal lineage of Benjamin is ended. While Saul's one remaining son, Ishbosheth, is made king of most of Israel, the powerful tribe of Judah anointed David as king.

Civil war broke out between the two feudal lands and lasted for many years.

2 Sam: 3 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

Keep in mind, this civil war sets the stage for the eventual rupture into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah later on.

Joab and Abner
Two powerful generals figure into the long and drawn out Civil War. Joab was chief captain of David's armies (and was David’s nephew). He was a genius at strategy, but in personal matters often let his passions take precedence over his obedience to the king.

Judah has David who has General Joab (his nephew)

Israel has Ishbosheth who has General Abner

Abner was Ishbosheth's pragmatic, yet less strategic, general. During one intense battle, Israel was forced to flee from the battlefield. While Abner was in retreat, he was chased by Asahel, Joab's younger brother.

2 Sam ¹⁹ And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

²⁰ Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

²¹ And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

Abner proved to be the better soldier and slew Asahel. Joab would not forget his brother's death.

Ishbosheth vs Abner
After years of several major defeats, King Ishbosheth insulted Abner by claiming he was distracted from the war by sleeping with one of his father's concubines. Incensed that an incompetent runt of a king would treat him so, Abner decided that a unified kingdom under David would be better for all of Israel.

David was ecstatic to have Abner's support. Preparations were made to have the tribal elders all give allegiance to David, abandoning Ishbosheth. However, Joab was incensed that David would embrace Abner whose efforts caused the war to last years. He also would not forget his brother's death by Abner's hand.

Joab's strategy was simple. Lure Abner back for a peace meeting

3²⁷ And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

²⁸ And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner

David Saves the Peace
With Abner dead by Joab's sword, the likelihood of winning the peace and tribal allegiance suddenly dimmed. David knew he only had one chance to win over the hearts of Israel's elders. He condemned Joab's action, though acknowledging his right of retribution under Mosaic Law. Still, David told Israel that the curse would be on Joab. Judah's king gave Abner a royal funeral

3³¹ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

³⁷ For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

³⁸ And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

Israel was impressed with how David treated their war hero and favorite son. Israel gave its loyalty to David.

Assassination of Ishbosheth
2 Samuel 4
At this same time, two of Saul's former soldiers sneaked into Ishbosheth's room and assassinated him. Stabbing a person "under the fifth rib" was a choice strike zone for causing instant death. This is the same spot used by Abner to slay Asahel, and Joab to kill Abner. The soldiers brought Ishbosheth's head to David expecting a reward.

4¹⁰ When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

¹¹ How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

¹² And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

David, King of Judah & Israel
2 Samuel 5
With Ishbosheth dead and Abner buried with full honors, Israel knew its choices were limited. David showed them respect and they needed a king. Israel's elders came to David…ready to make David king of Israel.

5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

² Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

It's important to note that David was king over two nations, not one. While David reached out to both Judah and Israel, their united front would remain fragile, virtually held together by charisma and duct tape. They were a united kingdom only as long as they had a worthy and righteous king that dealt fairly with everyone.

Jerusalem, City of David
To establish his kingdom further, David sought to move his chief city from the southern Judaean city of Hebron, to a city that did not belong to any tribe: Jerusalem. Jerusalem, then named Jebus, remained in the hands of the Jebusites, It was a fortress-city with high, thick stone walls that seemed impenetrable.

So impenetrable that when David invited them to join his kingdom, they scoffed at him.
David, however, found a way in.

⁸ And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter (water shaft), and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

Archaeologists now believe the gutter to be a vertical water tunnel, now named Warren's Shaft after the explorer who discovered and climbed it in modern times.

 

5¹⁰ And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

Shall I Go Up to Battle?
The Philistines did not like the idea of Israel again having a king, so they invaded Israel's borders twice.

Each time, David inquired of the Lord, "shall I go up?" The Lord gave David strategic counsel in sending him to war, guaranteeing the victory (2 Sam 5:22-25).

5²³ And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass (circle around) behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

The Ark comes to Jerusalem
2 Samuel 6
With victories and security established, it was time for David to establish the Lord as Israel's God.

6² And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims..

As the ark lumbered along the bumpy trail on a new cart, Uzzah set forth his hand to steady it. While his intentions were good, he was not authorized to touch the ark, or throne of God, and was smitten dead.

Just as when it was returned from the Philistines and some of the inhabitants of the city looked into it and were killed, David feared to move the ark to Jerusalem, thinking it could curse him as well. So he left it in the home and care of Obed-edom. For 3 months the ark rested there, blessing the home.

Obed-edom was a Levite, whose special prosperity while keeper of the ark after the dreadful death of Uzziah encouraged David to carry it up to Jerusalem. Obed-edom and his sons were later made doorkeepers of the tabernacle at Jerusalem

2 Sam 6:

¹³ And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

¹⁴ And David danced before the Lordwith all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lordwith shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

He danced before the ark the entire journey. Finally it arrived, where David placed it in a Tabernacle he had constructed for it. It was finally home.

Jewish Bible Quarterly indicates this was some sort of “whirling” dance showing continually David’s subservience to God.

A Temple for Jehovah?
2 Samuel 7
After years of war, David and Israel finally had peace. David desired to honor God by giving him and the ark of the covenant a permanent home.

7:1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

² That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

But the reply is that David will not build it…

¹² And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

¹³ He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

The Lord revealed to the prophet Nathan that the time was not right, nor was David the correct person to build it, as his life had been too violent. Instead, his son would build the temple during a period of peace.

Notice also that Nathan the prophet is on the scene.  In chapters past, Davis inquired of the Lord, now Nathan is handling that…

In the meantime, Israel would have several locations for worshiping Jehovah: the original Tabernacle at Shiloh, the new Tabernacle with the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem, and a myriad of high places (Hebrew: bamoth) or altars established by Samuel and other judges and priests over the years as local outdoor temple/tabernacles to God.

Take special  notice here.  When Josiah appears on the scene and has the great purging between the first temple (Solomon’s temple) and the second temple one of the first things that is done is to restrict worship to the Temple in Jerusalem only. 

This leads to some obvious questions.  If David is in good standing as is Nathan (and as was Samuel, clearly) why did there have to be the great purging between the 1st and 2nd temples?  If there was a problem, wouldn’t they have known it now?

David Obtains the Land of Promise
2 Samuel 8-10
The next few chapters focus on David’s military forays into the lands of the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, Edomites (children of Ishmael), and others. Each became subjected to Israel, paying tribute to David and caused to pledge their loyalty to him and Israel. David built fortresses in many of these areas to ensure the people did not revolt. Still, we find that

8¹⁵ And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

David discovered that Jonathan’s invalid son Mephibosheth still lived. He brought the young man into his own castle and cared for him. He also restored all of Saul’s personal lands to Mephibosheth.

King Nahash of Ammon had shown David much kindness in the years that David was on the run. Upon his death, David sent messengers to the funeral.

10:1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon (Nahas) died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

² Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father.

However, David’s conquests were reknowned, and Nahash’s son Hanun suspected the messengers to be spies. He cut their beards half off, as well as their clothing, then sending them away in disgrace, especially since the Mosaic Law required the men to wear their beards and be modestly clothed.

10⁵ When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

David sent Joab and Abishai with their “mighty men” of war to fight Ammon. The Ammonites paid the Syrians to assist them, but David defeated both. The Syrians ended up paying tribute to David, and never assisted the Ammonites again.
David and Israel ruled the Promised Land.

To keep the kingdoms straight, remember that David is from Judah and rules the Kingdom of Judah until he overcomes Ishbosheth where he rules everything.  When it splits later on you will have the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. 

David and Bathsheba
2 Samuel 11-12


(This is where the lesson in the Gospel Doctrine manual actually begins.)

David sent Joab out to war with his mighty men and they beat the Ammonites. But David neglected one thing. The king was expected to go out to war with the military. In previous times, when Israel was righteous, their king Jehovah went out with them to battle. The priests would carry the Ark of the Covenant into battle, showing that the true King of Israel was with the Israelites. Once human kings were set in place over Israel, it was expected that the mortal king wage the wars for Jehovah. Saul always went out to war as was expected of the king.

But David neglected his duty, and sent his mighty men of war out without him. Instead, he remained in Jerusalem and enjoyed his leisure. With his idle time came idle thoughts. He encountered Bathsheba bathing upon the roof of her house, which would easily be visible from the palace roof, which looked down one of the valleys of Jerusalem’s old city. This probably was not a one time glance, but he may likely have seen her atop her roof day after day, evening after evening. Regardless of the fact he had dozens of wives by this time, he allowed his mind to wander into dangerous territory.

He called for Bathsheba to see him. She obviously was aware of his watching her, because we do not see her put up any struggle when he called for her. They both thought they could have a quick fling and then go on their way, except for one problem: she became pregnant.

Uriah was a Hittite, a foreigner who had converted to Judaism. He was one of David’s “mighty men” of war, one of a select few out of the thousands of soldiers who was renowned for heroic efforts. He was like Hercules was to the Greeks, one who could do great things for the nation. Uriah, like David, was extremely devoted to God, Israel, and David. Uriah was also Bathsheba’s husband. During war time, the soldiers were expected to stay away from all women. To sleep with a woman would make the man unclean for a week, and unable to serve in war.

Uriah had not slept with Bathsheba due to being in battle. David sought to hide the adultery by inviting Uriah back from the war, where he could sleep with Bathsheba and would then think the child was his own. But Uriah would not make himself unclean, nor would he eat nor drink, while his soldiers were still in the field.

¹¹ And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

Note that the ark of the covenant left Jerusalem to go out to battle, but David remained behind. Uriah swore by both David and his own life that he would not lie with his wife while the army was in danger. David should have had such an attitude as well.

David sent Uriah back to the war. He gave Joab instructions to place Uriah in the most dangerous spot in the war, so that he would die in battle. David got his wish. Uriah died serving the king and Israel. After her period of mourning, Bathsheba was brought into David’s house and became his wife, bearing him a son.

David thought his actions were secret and would not be found out. Yet, the Lord sees in secret. Nathan the Prophet went to David to explain to him about a rich man who stole a poor man’s only and precious ewe.

12:1 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

³ But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

⁴ And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

And David replies…

⁵ And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

And he doesn’t even realize it’s about him…

⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

⁸ And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

That is to say, David lost the temple.  Later he will ask to build the temple.  Here is where he lost it.  The sword will not depart because he shed innocent blood. 

¹¹ Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

¹² For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

JST 2 Sam. 12:13 … hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die.

Nathan said that David was guilty of breaking several of the 10 Commandments, including killing, adultery, coveting, and bearing false witness (lying). God was willing to do many things for David, if he were just to ask. Instead, David took without permission. David would live, but his life would be filled with violence and trials, brought on by his own family. The trial began with Bathsheba’s newborn son dying.

Why Reject Saul but Accept David?
Why did God reject Saul, but only chastised David severely? Isn’t adultery and murder worse than Saul’s making sacrifice to Jehovah?

The Ten Commandments are set up in a specific order. The first 4 commandments are laws regarding man’s relationship with God. The last 6 regard man’s relationship with one another. Saul rebelled against God, while David rebelled against his fellow man. Saul was rejected because his sacrifices and other choices went against Saul’s relationship with God. If Saul sacrificed in disobedience to God, what else would he do in disobedience and open rebellion against the Lord?

David’s sins were crimes of passion against his fellow men. While today we consider murder and sexual sins to be the worst sins besides denying the Holy Ghost (Alma 39:5), we need to consider a few things. First, Alma 39:5 warns us about the “shedding of innocent blood” which can be construed in many ways from simple murder to only the killing of the most innocent (children or Christ). Next, in ancient Israel the rebellion against God was a greater sin than anything against other people. The Mosaic Law included stoning people to death for breaking the Sabbath Day. In modern times, we can understand the death penalty for murder, but for going out for food on the Sabbath Day? We can see that we view things very differently now than they did then.

Bathsheba would bear another son, Solomon. He would be one of many of David’s sons. These sons would fight among each other, and Absalom would later war against David for a time, before Joab would slay him (2 Samuel 13-18).

Create In Me a Clean Heart
Psalms 51 (a penintial psalm)
The Psalms are songs that were prepared and sung primarily for holy worship in the Tabernacle/Temple. Many are believed to have been written by David, including this one, while others were written by priests in the Tabernacle, often under David’s direction.
David understood he was unclean. He was unable to enter the Tabernacle and offer sacrifice of any kind: including a sin or trespass offering. First, he had to become clean before the Lord. The Psalm goes as follows:

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly (NKJV thoroughly) from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

(Hyssop, a medicinal herb)

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness (NKJV the guilt of bloodshed)  O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Will David Burn in Hell Forever?
Thoughts on this and related Psalms. Some past LDS leaders and others have felt that David can never obtain more than the Telestial Kingdom because of his sins. However, I would note that he lived under the Mosaic Law, not the Celestial Law of Christ. He was chastised and punished severely for years for his sins, as God promised. But God also promised to accept David in the end. Verse 7 shows that David believed he could be purified of his sins, even through the trials and tribulations God placed him in, as long as he repented with a broken spirit and contrite heart (vs 17). David begs to not be cast away from God’s presence, meaning both his Tabernacle and His true glory.

What good is such a Psalm, if there is no hope for the sinner? Does Christ’s atonement atone for all those who truly repent, or just some? I cannot judge which kingdom David will end up in, but I truly hope that God and Christ’s power and grace is sufficient to save and exalt any and all of mankind on condition of repentance and obedience. David walked very circumspectly and obedient before God for the rest of his long life. He not only rent his clothes and laid in ashes, but he rent his heart and laid bare his soul to the Lord. I would hope that after all the chastising and great trials he went through, there is a better kingdom for David.

This is especially true since David is a symbol of the future and eternal King of Israel, Jesus Christ. That David could be Israel’s greatest mortal king and sin, only to be raised up and cleansed by the Eternal King of Israel will be a sight to see. For if David can be forgiven and saved after repenting of his sins, there is hope for all mankind if they but repent, and sacrifice a “broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.”

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”(Psalms 16:10)

“For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.” (Psalms 86:13)

These leave open to speculation just where David will end up. Personally, I believe we should leave such judgment to a Just and Merciful God who has power to save all as He chooses.

Old Testament Lesson 23 – “The Lord Be Between Thee and Me For Ever”

 

Lesson 23 (1, Sam 18, 20, 23, 24)

1 Samuel 18:1–16. Jonathan and David make a covenant of friendship (18:1–4). David is honored by the Israelites for his success in battle (18:5–7). Saul becomes jealous of David and tries to kill him (18:8–16; note that the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 10 indicates that the evil spirit that came upon Saul was not from God).

1. 1 Samuel 18:17–30; 19:1–18. David fights the Philistines in exchange for the right to marry Saul’s daughter, unaware that Saul is hoping David will die in battle (18:17–25). David triumphs over the Philistines and marries Saul’s daughter Michal (18:26–28). Jonathan tells David to hide and tries to convince Saul not to kill him (19:1–7). Saul fails in another attempt to kill David (19:9–10). Michal saves David from another of Saul’s attempts on his life (19:11–18).

1 Samuel 20. Jonathan and David renew their covenant of friendship and peace. When Saul again tries to kill David, Jonathan warns David.

1 Samuel 23–24. David continues to fight the Philistines and flee Saul. David finds Saul and spares his life.

OT Gospel Doctrine Lesson #23 - The Lord Be Between Me and Thee Forever
1 Samuel 18-24

David and Jonathan

Background: David has made a name for himself in Israel. As a youth, he defeated the giant Goliath. His skill with the lyre was equal to none, as his music often calmed the mentally disturbed King Saul.

But over a period of years, Saul’s anger over being rejected by Jehovah and the prophet Samuel, brought insanity to the monarch. No longer was he God’s chosen ruler upon the earth, a divine son of royalty, but he was a rejected scoundrel just abiding the time until God’s harsh judgment destroyed his entire family and replaced him on the throne.
As Saul’s glory diminished and David’s rose, it was obvious to Saul that David was the heir apparent of God. In his mind, his only recourse was to slay David, so that his own son Jonathan could rise to the throne. Once again, we will see how a man’s pride and lust for continual power can lead to madness and the belief that one can overcome a prophesy of God by attempting to thwart it.

David’s relationship with Saul’s family
1 Samuel 18
David had a varied relationship with Saul and his family.

1 Sam 17

⁵⁶ And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.

⁵⁷ And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

⁵⁸ And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

At one time, Saul thought highly of David:

18 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

² And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

³ Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

⁴ And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

⁵ And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

David would go on to marry Michal, one of Saul’s daughters, making him a part of the household. Saul could have adopted him as his royal son, and kept his sanity, but would choose his own blood and pride over losing the throne to a shepherd boy.

⁶ And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

⁷ And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

⁸ And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

How could Saul remain the popular and powerful king, when David was taking all the headlines? He could see his power base being drained, while David rose higher. It wasn’t long before his insanity could not even be restrained by David’s smooth notes.

¹⁰ And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

JST 1 Sam. 18:10 … which was not of God …

Rather it would incense Saul even more, and the king began throwing javelins at those who angered him, including David.

Saul would seek to destroy David by sending him off on dangerous missions, just as David would later send Uriah the Hittite to his death so David could obtain Bathsheba as wife. Power in the hands of a proud person can cause great terror for the righteous followers.

KJV “¹³ Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. 15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.”

To compare…

NIV ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. ¹⁴ In everything he did he had great success,because the Lord was with him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

Saul first desired to give his oldest daughter Merab to David, in order to cause him to serve in a way to die. When David refused her, but showed interest in the younger daughter Michal, Saul was quick to encourage the relationship. Still, David understood his place and would not marry her without some appropriate dowry for the king. This was exactly what Saul wished for, and asked for the foreskins of 100 Philistines, figuring that David would die in battle. Why foreskins? Because the Philistines were uncircumcised, and Saul would be able to see that David had slain Philistines rather than Hebrews or their circumcised allies.

David returned with 200 foreskins. This did not please Saul, but drove him even further insane. “And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually” (18:29).

³⁰ Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

Jonathan
Even greater was the relationship David had with Jonathan, Saul’s son. Jonathan was specially raised and prepared by Saul to be his successor. Yet Jonathan had found something more important than the divine kingship: loyalty to friends.

“1....the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul....
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”

For Jonathan, his loving friendship with his spiritual brother David was more important than anything. Did Jonathan foresee David’s rise to the throne? Undoubtedly. Here Jonathan takes off his own robe and accouterments of divine royalty and placed them upon David. The covenant of friendship and brotherhood established between them would be found to be stronger than Jonathan’s blood relationship with Saul or any desire for kingship and power.

Saul Attempts to Slay David

A Short Reprieve and an Oath
1 Samuel 19
Saul conspired with his men to slay David. However, Jonathan again stood firm in his covenant with David and reasoned with Saul. David had saved Israel from the Philistines and had been circumspect in obeying the king’s commands. He had done nothing worthy of death.

Saul’s heart was temporarily softened, and he agreed with Jonathan. In fact, Saul made a very profound oath:

“Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past” (19:6-7).

When Jonathan explained it to David, everything was quickly resolved and relationships were restored. But why would it seem so easy for David to be convinced that he was safe?

In the story of Book of Mormon we find such an oath. Nephi and his brethren returned to Jerusalem to obtain the Brass Plates of Laban. Disguised as Laban, Nephi has Zoram, the servant of Laban, carry the plates for him outside the gates of the city. Dr Hugh Nibley wrote what occurred upon returning to Nephi’s brothers:

“When Zoram, the servant, discovered that it was not his master with whom he had been discussing the highly secret doings of the elders as they walked to the outskirts of the city, he was seized with terror, as well he might be. In such a situation there was only one thing Nephi could possibly have done, both to spare Zoram and to avoid giving alarm—and no westerner could have guessed what it was. Nephi, a powerful fellow, held the terrified Zoram in a vice-like grip long enough to swear a solemn oath in his ear, "as the Lord liveth, and as I live" (1 Nephi 4:32), that he would not harm him if he would listen. Zoram immediately relaxed, and Nephi swore another oath to him that he would be a free man if he would join the party: "Therefore, if thou wilt go down into the wilderness to my father thou shalt have place with us" (1 Nephi 4:34). “ (Nibley, Lehi in the Desert)

Why? Because oaths in the ancient Middle East were taken very seriously, especially when based upon one’s life or on the life of God. Nephi and Saul both were swearing upon God’s life, meaning that if they lied, God could do whatsoever He would with the liar. Both Zoram and David could relax, because of the oath given.

Still David’s return to the royal palace was temporary. It wasn’t long until the evil spirit of insanity returned to Saul, and the king was again throwing javelins at David. David had no choice but to again flee. But Saul’s breaking of the oath would come back upon him later, as his life would be taken as he would now begin to seek David’s.

Samuel and David
1 Samuel 19:18-24
David fled to Samuel, who took him into hiding at Ramah. Upon finding out where David was hiding, Saul sent troops out three times to slay him. However, each time troops approached the town, they were filled with the Spirit and prophesied, no longer desiring to harm David. In this instance, prophesying may have more to do with intense praise and worship, rather than foretelling the future.

Finally, Saul went to Ramah. But upon approaching the place was also filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy with the sons of the prophets. But he has clearly lost it…

²³ And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

²⁴ And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

He was incapable of anything else, but to sit naked day and night in such manner. Sadly, even with such an intense experience, Saul’s madness would return quickly to him.

Jonathan bids farewell to David


Behold the Arrows are Far Beyond Thee
1 Samuel 20
Jonathan could not believe it when David told him he was again in hiding because of Saul. After all, Jonathan had received Saul’s oath on God’s name that he would not harm David. Yet a 3 day test of Saul’s patience with David gone was all it took.

⁸ Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

Saul figured that David did not come to dinner the first evening because he had become unclean, perhaps by touching a dead person. Yet, on the second night when David did not appear, he was agitated. Jonathan explained that David had gone to Bethlehem for a family religious ceremony.

²⁰ And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

²¹ And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the Lord liveth.

²² But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the Lord hath sent thee away.

²³ And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.

Jonathan explains that he let Davis go to Bethlehem for a sacrifice…

1 Sam 20:30-33 “Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
“For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
“And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
“And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David”

³⁷ And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

As the boy returned, Jonathan sent him off with his gear back to the palace. At this point, David came forth, the two wept, and David went into hiding.

⁴² And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

David eats the Tabernacle’s Shewbread
1 Samuel 21
David and his men went into hiding. As they traveled, they approached the Tabernacle, seeking food. It was common for militias to offer protection to a town or a group in exchange for food and clothing.

However, Ahimelech the priest has nothing “common” to offer. Clearly this is a period when worship of Jehovah is at a low ebb, otherwise there should have been plenty of meat and food available from the priests of the Tabernacle. However, on this day, the only food available is the bread on the sacred table.

There were sacred religious and national treasures in the Tabernacle, as discussed previously when Moses created them. The table of shewbread was symbolized the manna that the Israelites ate in the wilderness for 40 years. The bread was replaced daily to ensure fresh, hot bread was available for God to enjoy its smell at his pleasure. The shewbread later would also represent the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

In this instance, David explained to the priest that he and his men were clean or holy. They had not done anything, such as be intimate with their wives, in many days. David also explained:

“the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
“So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away” (1 Sam 21:5-6).

How can holy bread also be common? Because at the end of the day, the shewbread was replaced with new bread, and the high priest and his family would eat the old bread. Since David and his men were clean or holy, Ahimelech was able to provide it to them. Also, since they were now holy/clean, they became worthy vessels to hold the shewbread, even as the table was the worthy vessel earlier in the day.

David was also able to obtain the sword of Goliath from Ahimelech, who had kept the sword as a national treasure in the Tabernacle. Then, fleeing to Gath, a city of the Philistines, David found that the Philistines were concerned to have amongst them a man who had slain many of their own. As with Hamlet, David pretended to be insane, but was not allowed to remain as a harmless buffoon within the royal Philistine household.

David’s Years of Hiding
1 Samuel 22

⁸ And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

⁹ And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

¹⁰ And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

Saul went on a hunt for David and any that helped him. David was seen at the Tabernacle with Ahimelech, so Saul went to see him. Ahimelech denied being against Saul, insisting that while he fed David, he did not pray God to reveal to David how to defeat Saul. Saul’s madness would not allow him to believe Ahimelech was innocent. When none of his men would slay the priests of the Tabernacle, Saul turned to a non-Israelite servant, Doeg the Edomite. Doeg quickly complied, slaying the priests in the Tabernacle.

“And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.” (22:18-19).

Only Abiathar, one of Ahimelech’s sons escaped to David.

22:³ And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

⁴ And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

Paranoia…⁸ That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse

The Lord Judge Between Me and Thee
1 Samuel 23-24

23 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah (near district of Judah), and they rob the threshingfloors.

² Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

³ And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

⁴ Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

⁵ So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

Saul hears David is in Keilah and comes for him …23:7 And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

Then David prays to find out if the people of Keilah (that he saved) would give him up…

¹² Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.

David leaves with his 600 men. 

Johnathan finds Davd while he is running…23:¹⁷ And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

Saul is called off the hunt when the Philistines attack.

Through chapter 23, Saul hunts David and nearly captures him, but is called away to fight an invading Philistine army.

On his return from the fight, Saul continues to seek David. At one point, Saul goes to sleep within a cave, where David is hiding. David’s servants encourage him to slay Saul, but David responds:

“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord” (1 Sam 24:6).

King Saul was still the anointed divine king of Israel. It was not David’s place to slay Saul, but only to replace him upon his death.

Instead, David cuts the skirting off of Saul’s robe as he slept. This would have included the fringe of the robe, which was commanded to be on the robes of all Israelites under Mosaic Law. As Saul departed a distance from the cave, David appeared and showed that while he could have slain Saul, he had not harmed the anointed king.

“The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee” (1 Sam 24:12).

What was David's concept behind this? Saul had continually sought his life, throwing javelins at him, heading armies against him throughout the land, etc. Yet David was able to forgive. Today, the Lord teaches us:

“Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
“I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
“And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds” (D&C 64:9-11).

Had David not forgiven Saul, the greater sin would have been with David. In fact, it would have caused David to be the murderer that Saul was in his heart. Since David acted justly, while Saul did not, the Lord later would judge between them. Saul would end up dying in battle against the Philistines, and David would ascend to the throne of Israel.
While Jonathan’s heart was forever knit with David’s, so that their covenant bound them with the Lord ("The Lord be between me and thee"), Saul’s hatred caused God to judge between the two, and Saul was found wanting.

Saul has a moment of sanity…17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

 

The End Of the Judges and First King of Israel
1 Samuel 25-31
Samuel died and all Israel mourned him (25:1). From this time forth, prophets, not judges, would guide the kings and priests of Israel.

Nabal was a powerful and wealthy man, who was not a believer in Jehovah. Nor was he fond of David. David’s men had protected Nabal’s shepherds and flocks for months, not taking anything from them during their sojourn in the same area. However, the time of shearing was now upon them, and David thought it a good time to ask Nabal for some assistance. Nabal, however, railed on David’s messengers and insulted the entire group as a bunch of crooked vagabonds.

David was incensed, and prepared his men for war against Nabal. But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, heard of the event. She knew that Nabal owed his success to the protection David’s men gave him. She quickly prepared large amounts of food and sent them to David, not telling Nabal. She fell at David’s feet, begging forgiveness for her husband, who followed Belial (one of the 4 sons of the devil), and whose name literally meant ‘fool.”

As we’ve seen before, she begs David to covenant with her “as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth” (25:26), or on God’s and David’s lives, to spare them. She tells David that she hopes she can spare him from shedding the innocent blood of those who work for the fool, Nabal. David lifts her up, and covenants to withdraw with the gift she has offered, praising her for her wisdom and insight.

25³² And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: ³³ And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

The next morning when Abigail told Nabal what she had done, his heart “turned to stone” and he died. Whether it was from too much partying the night before, he was poisoned, or the Lord smote him alone, we do not know.

25³⁹ And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

And in 43…

25⁴³ David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

Over the next few chapters, David will again come close enough to the sleeping Saul to slay him, but will again spare his life.

26⁷ So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

26⁸ Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

26⁹ And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?

He has another chance to kill Saul but refuses, calling to him from a distance after taking his spear and water container…

26¹⁷ And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

26¹⁸ And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

This at least sent Saul home…

26²⁵ Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

In chapter 27 David goes to King Achish in Gath. Gath is one of the five royal cities of the Philistines.  He dwells there for 16 months.

27 ⁶ Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

While his presence benefited Achish in the Philistine province where he dwelt, David’s forays against the other Philistines were kept secret from the King. David would tell him he had successfully defeated a Hebrew town, when in fact he had smashed a Philistine outpost or town, instead.

¹¹ And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

Meanwhile, the Philistines gained great strength against Saul.

28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

Samuel was dead, and none of the prophets would speak with Saul. “when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (1 Sam 28:6).

28⁷ Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

He went to a fortune teller and had her dredge up the ghost of Samuel, who told Saul what he feared most:

“Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
“And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
“Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.
“Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines” (1 Sam 28:16-19).

In 29:3 the rest of the Philistine nobles get David removed…

29³ Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

29⁴ And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us:

And so David leaves the Philistines…

29¹¹ So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Three days from leaving the Philistines, they came to the city of Ziklag.  Why did they go there?  David had left his wives there.  Remember it was given to him by Achish.  They find the Amalekites had invaded from the south, burned it and taken the women captive. 

30³ So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

Here is an interesting commentary on David.  He doesn’t brashly take off to get his wives back…

30⁶ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

30⁷ And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

30⁸ And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

So they pursue and along the way find an Egyptian, a slave of the Amalekites who was left as he was sick. 

30 ¹⁵ And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company. 

And they catch them…well, 400 of the 600 do, the other 200 were too tired to continue the pursuit…

¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

¹⁷ And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

¹⁸ And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

The 400 did not want to bring any of the spoil back to the 200 who stayed behind due to exhaustion and to guard their supplies…David’s character shines through again

30²² Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

²³ Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

²⁴ For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

²⁵ And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

And from here to the end of the chapter it is listed the large number of groups that he sends spoils to…over a dozen and then the last verse is awesome…

30 ³¹ And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

Meanwhile, back at Saul in Chapter 31, the Philistines are victorious…

Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, are slain in battle.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
“And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
“And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan” (1 Sam 31:8-10).

Israel retrieved the bodies, burned them, and gave the bones a proper burial under a tree in Jabesh. With this ended the reign of Saul and his sons, and the First Book of Samuel.

Conclusion
Saul’s actions caused the beginning of his rejection of the Lord. In being rejected as king, Saul had a choice. He could have chosen to gracefully accept it, even as Jonathan did, or go insane fighting God. Step by step, Saul went from small sins to murdering the priests of the Tabernacle, and seeking David’s death.

David struggled even at this time with temptation, but overcame it. His soldiers twice encouraged him to slay the sleeping and vulnerable Saul, but he rejected it. His anger sought to slay Nabal and all his people, but Abigail’s wisdom and haste prevented him from shedding so much blood on account of one foolish man.

In all of this, Jonathan was constant and pure. He knew David would one day be king of Israel, yet covenanted with David to always be there for him. He sought not power for himself, but only to serve Israel and God. He was fearless in battle, tender in his relationships, and true to those around him and to himself. Even though Jonathan often seems like a footnote in Biblical history, perhaps his story is the one we should study most as an example of one to follow.

Old Testament Lesson 22 – “The Lord Looketh on the Heart”

Lesson 22 (1 Sam 9-11, 13, 15, 16, 17)

OT Gospel Doctrine Class #22 - The Lord Looketh Upon the Heart
Originally, 1 and 2 Samuel were one book in the Hebrew Bible. The division into two separate books probably occurred when this book of Samuel was translated into Greek, which necessitated putting the book on two scrolls instead of one. The death of Saul became the artificial dividing point between the two books (1 Sam 31). (Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament, Holzapfel, et al)

1 Samuel 9-17

Saul Rejected by Samuelhttp://witzend.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/king_saul006.jpg?w=300&h=248
Background: Samuel was the last of the Judges and the first of the prophets who would be a counter-balance to the kings of Israel. For the righteous kings, Samuel and the later prophets would be a great counsel. For wicked kings, they would be a thorn in the king’s side. The prophets would make and break kings and their desire to reign for generations. With the desire of Israel to have an earthly king, they have chosen to remove themselves further from God’s power and glory, just as they did when they refused to see God at Mt Sinai. Instead of having Moses and Judges as their go-between with God, Israel would add a new layer of bureaucracy with an earthly king, distancing themselves even more from God.
Who is Saul?
1 Sam 9-10
Israel wanted a king, just like all the nations around them. They were tired of the endless of cycle of invasion, servitude, God sending a Judge, deliverance, and then invasion again. They saw the value of having a king, who could build, train and maintain an army. No longer would Israel have to defend itself with shepherds and farmers against iron chariots. Other nations would fear Israel and its king, realizing they were no longer a band of loosely confederated tribes with no real earthly leader. A king would allow them to conquer their enemies, establish trade and peace treaties, and perhaps allow the nation to have a long period of peace and safety.
Because of an Israelite Civil War during the time of the Judges, the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out. There were but 600 men from the tribe of Benjamin who survived the war caused by their protection of those who followed Belial and supported rape and lawlessness. Saul came from this small tribe.
We get an interesting description of Saul,
² And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
This description could technically have both a literal and a figurative part. The term “goodly” seems to be tied to his physical stature. Why? Because a big and strong man seems more king-like than a short, squat one. What a great thing to literally have to look up to one’s king, because he is simply so tall.
While Saul in his early years was also humble, we find that one’s beginning does not mean they end up the same way. Saul searches for lost animals, and in his journey comes across Samuel, who anoints him king and tells him he will come across strange events on the way home.
These events include Saul prophesying with the “sons of the prophets” a group of young men who were in training for the calling. It is likely that this group followed Samuel, and perhaps were even started by him. It will be common in Israel’s history for groups of young men to follow a prophet in a “school”: Elisha and others following Elijah, John and Andrew following John the Baptist, Peter and the disciples following Jesus.

Saul is anointed Captain of the Host
1 Samuel 10
As Samuel anoints Saul with oil, he asks,
Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
² When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
The Captain of God’s host is Jehovah, the Angel of God’s Presence.
This Angel is the captain over the heavenly host, and Saul will now symbolically be the captain of God’s earthly host of Israel.
In other word’s, the earthly king of Israel becomes the Son of God, a mortal version of the deity of Israel.
In a previous lesson, we discussed how Elohim gave Israel to his divine Son Jehovah as his inheritance. Jehovah’s earthly inheritance is now given to Saul as his mortal counterpart.



The concept of earthly king symbolizing God, or even being viewed as God is a common motif in the ancient Middle East.
For Egyptians, the Pharaoh represented Horus, the divine son of Osiris. Pharaoh was often viewed as the divine son standing before Osiris. In fact, in later Egyptian hieroglyphs, others were often portrayed standing before Osiris as if they were the son of Osiris! And in Facsimile 3 of the Joseph Smith Papyrus, Joseph interprets it as Abraham sitting on the throne teaching others - Abraham represent Osiris, or the chief God of the Judgment!

Facsimile 3: Is this Osiris or Abraham judging from the throne? Both are correct!http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Abraham_Facsimile_3.png
Anointing
The practice of anointing was widespread in ancient Israel and throughout the ancient world. In Israel individuals called to three specific offices were anointed: prophets (1 Kgs 19:16), priests (Exod 29:7-9; Lev 8:10-12), and kings (1 Sam 10:1).
The ritual of anointing, performed by pouring or smearing oil on the head of the individual to be anointed, was often done in conjunction with washing and clothing in new clothes and was accompanied by blood sacrifice.
Anointing was done with olive oil, which was sometimes mixed with perfumes and spices. Olive oil was associated with prosperity, wealth, cleansing, healing, and purity and symbolized the Spirit.
One who was anointed was called meshiah, “anointed one,” which derives from the Hebrew verb mashah, “to anoint.” Thus the prophets, priests, and kings could all be properly referred to as messiahs. King David as the “anointed one” was a type of the future Davidic king who is referred to as the Messiah (see Detail: David As a Type of the Messiah, page 204, and Detail: Messianic Psalms, page 235). (Holzapfel)

Between chapter 10-11
MT / KJV:
Something happens here where some who do NOT follow Saul are speaking…
1 Samuel 10:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. . . .
4QSama:
1 Samuel 10:27 But certain worthless men s[aid, “How will this man save us?” And] they despise[d] him and brought him no gift.
11:0 [Na]hash king of the [A]mmonites oppressed the Gadites and the Reubenites viciously. He put out the right [ey]e of a[ll] of them and brought fe[ar and trembling] on [Is]rael. Not one of the Israelites in the region be[yond the Jordan] remained [whose] right eye Nahash king of the Ammonites did n[ot pu]t out, except seven thousand men [who escaped from] the Ammonites and went to [Ja]besh-gilead.
11:1 Then after about a month, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-[gilead]. . . . (DSSB)
Scholars accept this reading in 4QSama as original, concluding that it somehow dropped out of the Hebrew text that became the basis for the Masoretic Text. Similar information is also mentioned by Josephus, the Jewish historian writing at the end of the first century a.d., but is not preserved in the Masoretic Text or the Septuagint. Some modern translations of the Bible, such as the New Revised Standard Version, now include this additional text from 4QSama.
So if you go to the NRSV and go to 1 Sam 10:27 you will see the NRSV at verse 27 continues on with this text from 4Qsama. Here is a link that shows the NRSV version parellel with the KJV.
Explain three major ancient versions of the Old Testament
1. The biblical texts of the DSS (Dead Sea Scrolls)
2.The Hebrew Bible (called the Masoretic Text, or MT)
3. Old Greek Bible (called the Septuagint, or LXX).
Using the DSS Biblical Texts in Modern English Translations (with link)
Contemporary translation committees of the Bible hold the DSS in high regard. On a number of occasions the committees have departed from traditional readings of 1 Samuel in favor of new readings. The New International Version has preferred the readings of the DSS texts of 1 Samuel on fifteen occasions over the readings of the traditional Hebrew text; the New American Bible has shown even more loyalty to the DSS by choosing 230 readings from the DSS (and LXX) over the traditional text. The other versions, as shown on the list below, have used variant readings from the DSS to varying degrees. The following list features six prominent English translations:⁴⁹
Translation   Use of Variant Readings
New International Version  15
Today's English Version    51
Revised Standard Version ~60
New Revised Standard Version ~110
New English Bible                 160
New American Bible              230
The New King James Version (NKJV) (1982), which is not listed above, does not share the same devotion to the DSS texts. Only on one occasion does it prefer a variant reading from the DSS book of 1 Samuel; in fact, it relies on the DSS on only six occasions in the entire Old Testament (Deuteronomy 32:43; 1 Samuel 1:24; Isaiah 10:16, 22:8, 38:14, 49:5).⁵⁰
According to Harold Scanlin, a translation adviser for the United Bible Societies, "every major Bible translation published since 1950 has claimed to have taken into account the textual evidence of the DSS."⁵¹ Many of these recent English translations have gone through subsequent revisions to incorporate the variant readings from the DSS. For instance, the Revised Standard Version (1952) is now the New Revised Standard Version (1990), the New English Bible (1970) was revised to the Revised English Bible (1989), the Jerusalem Bible (1966) is now the New Jerusalem Bible (1985), and the New American Bible (1970) is going through a major revision at the present time.

Samuel Rejects Saul
1 Samuel 11-14
Saul quickly is victorious in battle against his enemies. The people quickly learn to love their king. But Samuel does not sit back on his laurels and rest. Samuel continues to warn the people and their king to follow the Lord and his commandments, or they will suffer for their disobedience.
In preparing to battle the Philistines, Saul divided his 3000 strong army between himself and his son, Jonathan. Saul awaited the arrival of Samuel, who would offer sacrifice to Jehovah prior to the battle.




















The Philistines were strong, and settled in the valley below the Israelites. Samuel had not shown up yet, and Saul could see his army was in disarray with some deserting out of fear.
Saul felt he could wait no longer, he had to move before his entire army ran out on him. He offered a burnt offering to God. Immediately, Samuel showed up.
Saul explained his reasoning to Samuel, “The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering“ (1 Sam 13:12).
At this point we will begin seeing two overlapping stories regarding the rejection of Saul and the choosing of David. Here, Samuel proclaimed that Saul was rejected and the kingdom would be given to another. Later, we’ll see Samuel proclaim it again, but the second time Saul’s reaction is clearly greater.
Saul and his son Jonathan continue to have much success in destroying the Philistines and others around them. It does not seem to Saul nor Israel that the Lord has rejected him as king.
This time Samuel Really Rejects Saul
1 Samuel 15
“Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord” (1 Sam 15:1).
Suddenly, the rejection of Saul in chapter 13 seems forgotten. Saul is still God’s anointed king. This is evidence that portions of the Old Testament as we now have it were written by 2 authors (or more) who wrote differing versions, and then these were recombined into one story later on, perhaps by the great Redactor, Ezra.
The Lord wanted the Amalekites completely annihilated. “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (vs 3).
They were not to leave alive anything, including men, women, children, nor animals. Israel went down to battle and slaughtered them.

Saul “took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
“But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly”.(vs 8-9).

Saul claimed that he saved the animals to sacrifice before God. Agag, the Amalekite king, was spared because that was a common act done in war, sparing the king alive and having him sit as a prisoner in one’s castle as a reminder of the victory.
Neither Jehovah nor Samuel were amused. Saul tried to explain that Israel’s purpose was honorable, and that Samuel should be pleased with his battle. But the prophet would have nothing to do with it.

“Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (vs 22-23).

Obedience requires a full commitment and exactness. If a little child was running into a busy street, would it be okay if when the parent shouted for the child to stop and return, the child were to delay a few moments to grab the ball in the street first? Saul was messing with Jehovah’s inheritance, not his own! The safety of the entire nation depended upon exact obedience, because Israel was surrounded by many enemies just waiting for Saul to slip up.
Saul was now, for the second time, rejected as king. This time, Saul took the news poorly. First he begged for another chance, and was turned down. As a witness of God’s rejection of Saul, Samuel hacked the Amalekite king Agag in pieces.
³² Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
³³ And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
³⁴ Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
³⁵ And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
JST 1 Sam. 15:35 … the Lord rent the kingdom from Saul whom he had made king over Israel.
As Agag was no longer king of Amalek, Saul would no longer be king of Israel. This is also foreshadowing Saul’s death.
Samuel calls David as King
1 Samuel 16

David Defeats Goliathhttp://www.truthnet.org/Biblicalarcheology/8/8_David_Goliath.jpg

The Lord sends Samuel to the family of Jesse, to choose one of his sons as the new king of Israel. Samuel had to go in stealth,
² And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.
³ And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
The Lord has him go, pretending to offer sacrifices in the region, something that Samuel, as a traveling prophet/priest often did in various locations.







After seeing Jesse’s eldest son, Samuel is pleased and ponders whether he is the one. The Lord answered him by explaining,
⁷ But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lordseeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Saul was a “goodly” man, as in he was very tall and strong. He seemed to be the perfect person to be king, as he literally stood head and shoulders above everyone else. But God ended up rejecting Saul, because inwardly king Saul was not right with God. His heart was not completely in tune with God, but in doing things his own way.
It would require looking through all of Jesse’s sons, and then sending for the youngest tending the sheep, before the Lord saw the one with his heart in the right place: David. Samuel anointed David,
¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
¹⁴ But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him

Compare David’s heart and desires with Saul’s: “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him” (vs 14).
JST 1 Sam. 16:14 … which was not of the Lord …
With wickedness, the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, allowing an evil spirit to fill him instead. Each of us has such a struggle. We are either a Saul or a David, depending upon our absolute faithfulness and the desires of our heart. And this can change throughout our lives.
Saul began as a king filled with the Spirit of the Lord, prophesying with the sons of the prophets. But now, due to his rebellions, found himself at odds with God.
Saul wanted to be king for the wrong reasons. He eventually came to see it as his right, rather than as a holy anointing that he had to regard carefully and guard humbly.
It was not his inheritance. It was the Lord’s inheritance, and he was anointed to be captain of Israel under Jehovah. In losing his way, he wandered among evil spirits, who enticed him to hang onto the power and the belief that he could remain king by his own skill and cunning.
That is definitely a sign of insanity, when one attempts to defeat God at his own game. Satan also tried to do this, and still tries to this day to defeat God for the kingdom of Israel.
With the evil spirit of insanity hounding him. Saul seeks for relief. He sends his general to find a worthy young man who was skilled in playing the harp. David is found and is brought forth to dwell in the king’s palace and play for him. David carries the Spirit of God with him, and his playing chased the darkness away, bringing Saul peace.

David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17
Here is where we see another conflict in the story. We’ve just seen how David has been selected as part of the king’s household to play the harp and soothe the king’s troubles.
But now we find David living at home, and sent by his father Jesse to check up on his older brothers who have been drafted into Saul’s army! And there is a big problem. The Philistines have a champion or hero, named Goliath.
The average cubit is 18 inches, a span = 9 inches. This would make Goliath nine feet, 9 inches tall. He would tower over the average Israelite soldier, who was probably not much more than 5 1/2 feet tall. Goliath would come out frequently, issuing a challenge. Israel’s hero must come out and fight him, and the winner take all. No one dared answer his challenge.
David was amazed. How dare this Philistine challenge the Lord’s host? David was brought to Saul’s tent, where David proclaimed that God could help him defeat the giant. As David approaches the Philistine, the man laughs and mocks Israel for sending a boy:

“Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.....Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field” (vs 43-44).

But David was undaunted:

“Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
“This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
“And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands” (vs 44-46).

With a few chosen stones, David takes his sling and downs the giant. Then the boy picked up Goliath’s mighty sword and sliced off his head. The Philistines fled in panic, and Israel chased after them, defeating them soundly.

Slingers on Sennacherib’s Lachish relief. Assyrian slingers attack the Judahite fortified city of Lachish (701 b.c.),

God would prove his power, not only against the Philistine gods, but also against the giants of the earth - even as in the days of Enoch (Moses 7:13-15).
13 And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him.
14 There also came up a land out of the depth of the sea, and so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off and went upon the land which came up out of the depth of the sea.
15 And the giants of the land, also, stood afar off; and there went forth a curse upon all people that fought against God;
David became another Enoch, who could work God’s miracles to defeat the enemies and establish God’s Zion on earth. David also became a prototype of Christ, who would deliver Israel and the world out of the hands of the two giants, Death and Hell.
Afterword
How Tall Was Goliath?
The Masoretic Text gives the height of Goliath—the Philistine giant from Gath who challenged Saul’s army—as “six cubits and a span” (1 Sam 17:4). A cubit was about 1.5 feet, and a span was about six inches. So, according to the Masoretic Text, Goliath was about 9.5 feet tall—a real giant.
However, the Septuagint preserves Goliath’s height as “four cubits and a span.” According to this reading, Goliath was about 6.5 feet tall, three feet shorter, but still about one foot taller than the average male at that time.
Although 1 Samuel 17:4 is not well-preserved in 4QSama (Dead Sea Scrolls), it likewise reads “four cu[bits] and a span.” This agrees with Goliath’s height as given in the Septuagint and in the writings of Josephus.
The shorter height of Goliath is probably more accurate. Both 4QSama and the Septuagint cite Goliath as four cubits and a span, while later Greek copies of Samuel read five cubits and a span, and the Masoretic Text reads six cubits and a span. A scribal process of “growing” Goliath to make David’s victory more impressive may be behind the differences attested in these biblical manuscripts.

Bibliography
Angel of the Lord’s Presence discussed in detail in a previous lesson:




http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2010/02/lds-gospel-doctrine-class-old-testament_15.html

Israel as Jehovah’s inheritance:http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2010/03/god-gods-and-sons-and-daughters-of-god-in-the-hebrew-bible-part-iii/