2 Samuel 1:1 kjv

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

2 Samuel 1:1 nkjv

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

2 Samuel 1:1 niv

After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

2 Samuel 1:1 esv

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.

2 Samuel 1:1 nlt

After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag.

2 Samuel 1 verses

2 Samuel 1 1 Meaning

This foundational verse establishes the setting for the Book of 2 Samuel, marking a critical transition in Israel's history. It states that the narrative unfolds immediately after King Saul's death, finding David specifically returning from a victorious engagement against the Amalekites and having settled in Ziklag for two days. It sets the stage for the revelation of Saul's demise and David's subsequent actions regarding the vacant throne, highlighting God's providential timing in the transfer of leadership.

2 Samuel 1 1 Context

2 Samuel 1:1 immediately follows the devastating account of King Saul's death and Israel's crushing defeat by the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, detailed in 1 Samuel chapter 31. The first book concluded with a leadership vacuum and national humiliation. This opening verse of 2 Samuel provides crucial information about David's whereabouts and activities during this pivotal moment. David was not present at the battle where Saul died; instead, he had just returned to Ziklag, his Philistine-granted base, having successfully recovered his possessions and avenged his people from a recent Amalekite raid (1 Sam 30). This establishes David's moral innocence in Saul's demise, as he was preoccupied with a necessary battle elsewhere. His location, Ziklag, also indicates his continued exile and reliance on God's protection and provision even as the path to the throne opens up. The "two days" signifies a short, immediate interval between his return to Ziklag and the arrival of critical news, heightening the dramatic tension.

2 Samuel 1 1 Word analysis

• Now it came to pass (וַיְהִי, vayhi): This is a common Hebrew transitional phrase, often marking a significant turn of events or a new major section in biblical narrative. It does not simply indicate continuity but underscores that what follows is noteworthy and consequential. Its use here immediately signals the beginning of a new epoch in Israel's history—the shift from Saul's reign to David's.

• after the death of Saul (אַחֲרֵי מוֹת שָׁאוּל, 'akharey mot Sha'ul):

  • death (מוֹת, mot): Signifies not just the physical cessation of life, but the complete end of Saul's reign and, indeed, the end of an era for Israel under their first king. This phrase instantly establishes the temporal setting as post-Saulide, highlighting the vacancy of the throne.
  • Saul (שָׁאוּל, Sha'ul): Refers to Israel's first king, chosen by the people but ultimately rejected by God for his disobedience. His demise paves the way for the one truly chosen by God, David.

• when David was returned (בְּשׁוּב דָּוִד, be-shuv Dawid):

  • David (דָּוִד, Dawid): The anointed of the LORD, central figure of 2 Samuel. His "return" emphasizes his previous absence from the main Israelite camp and battle, precluding any suspicion that he might have been involved in Saul's death or usurped the throne. This verb choice (return) underlines that his position in Ziklag was temporary and strategic.

• from the slaughter of the Amalekites (מֵהַכּוֹת אֶת־עֲמָלֵק, me-hakot 'et-‘Amaleq):

  • slaughter (מֵהַכּוֹת, me-hakot, "from striking/defeating"): Indicates a decisive victory. This recent, successful campaign contrasts sharply with Saul's own failures regarding the Amalekites (1 Sam 15). David’s fulfilling God's long-standing command against Amalek here subtly shows divine favor and justice being executed through him.
  • Amalekites (עֲמָלֵק, Amaleq): A perennial enemy of Israel, cursed by God (Exod 17:16, Deut 25:19). David's decisive victory against them, after they raided Ziklag, aligns him with God's will in a way Saul consistently failed to maintain. This serves as a vindication of David's leadership potential and a sign of divine approval.

• and David had abode two days in Ziklag (וְדָוִד יָשַׁב יוֹמַיִם בְּצִקְלָג, ve-Dawid yashav yomayim be-Tsiqlag):

  • abode (יָשַׁב, yashav): "dwelt," "stayed." Indicates a brief period of rest or transition.
  • two days (יוֹמַיִם, yomayim): Specifies a very short timeframe. This short duration highlights the immediate chronological link between his return from battle and the arrival of the news about Saul, intensifying the narrative’s immediacy. It implies David had little time to settle before the next major event.
  • in Ziklag (בְּצִקְלָג, be-Tsiqlag): A Philistine city given to David by Achish of Gath (1 Sam 27:6). This detail places David geographically away from the battle of Gilboa, further corroborating his lack of involvement in Saul's death. It was his operational base and where his family was living.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Now it came to pass after the death of Saul": This phrase functions as the grand temporal marker. It emphasizes a complete change of leadership and era, signaling the end of one divine mandate (Saul’s kingship) and the commencement of another, more glorious one (David’s). It's not just a casual date; it’s a theological transition point.
  • "when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites": This clause strategically explains David's prior engagement, distancing him from the main Philistine-Israelite conflict where Saul perished. It foregrounds David's righteous action against a sworn enemy of God's people, subtly contrasting with Saul’s failure in this regard (1 Sam 15). It shows David to be active in service to Israel's true God even when not officially leading.
  • "and David had abode two days in Ziklag": This final clause fixes David's precise immediate location and activity leading up to the narrative. The brief "two days" implies a moment of uneasy repose before profound news disrupts it. It ensures that David is a reliable and present witness to the upcoming events, not an opportunist who swoops in from the fringes.

2 Samuel 1 1 Bonus section

The seemingly mundane details of David's whereabouts and recent activities in this verse are polemical in nature, refuting any suggestion of David's complicity in Saul's death or his impatience for the throne. Ancient Near Eastern succession narratives often involved violent overthrows and usurpations. By meticulously placing David far from Gilboa, preoccupied with a righteous campaign, and resting for only two days, the narrative powerfully asserts his blamelessness. Furthermore, his engagement with the Amalekites is significant: Saul had been rejected as king for his disobedience regarding the utter destruction of the Amalekites (1 Sam 15). David's decisive "slaughter of the Amalekites" just before news of Saul's death arrives functions as a strong theological signal that God’s true anointed leader, unlike the rejected king, faithfully carries out His commands against Israel's sworn enemies. This verse, therefore, quietly but effectively builds David's moral and spiritual qualifications for the kingship even before the opportunity fully presents itself.

2 Samuel 1 1 Commentary

2 Samuel 1:1 acts as a crucial narrative hinge, turning the reader's attention from Saul's tragic reign to the dawn of David's long-anticipated kingship. It is deceptively simple but laden with theological and historical significance. The verse strategically distances David from Saul's battlefield death, underscoring his innocence and ruling out any opportunistic seizure of power. Instead, David is portrayed as a warrior for Israel, just returning from executing divine judgment against the Amalekites—a task Saul failed at—implicitly showing David's fitness for kingship in God's eyes. His temporary dwelling in Ziklag signifies a period of exile and reliance on God, a humbling crucible that shaped him for leadership. This brief introduction sets a tone of divine sovereignty and righteous succession, establishing that David's rise to power is not a consequence of human politicking or ambition but a manifestation of God's perfect timing and will, bringing to fruition the earlier anointing by Samuel. The verse transitions Israel from its problematic first monarchy to the glorious, though imperfect, Davidic dynasty, whose legacy would endure as the lineage for the Messiah.