2 Samuel 4 10

2 Samuel 4:10 kjv

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:

2 Samuel 4:10 nkjv

when someone told me, saying, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag?the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.

2 Samuel 4:10 niv

when someone told me, 'Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!

2 Samuel 4:10 esv

when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.

2 Samuel 4:10 nlt

Someone once told me, 'Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That's the reward I gave him for his news!

2 Samuel 4 verses

2 Samuel 4 10 Meaning

David recalls a prior incident at Ziklag where he executed an Amalekite who falsely claimed to have killed King Saul, expecting a reward for delivering what he believed was good news. This verse reveals David’s consistent principle that no one, even one claiming to be his ally, should lift a hand against the Lord's anointed king. David's act of severe justice served as a precedent, demonstrating his commitment to God’s appointed order rather than earthly ambition or opportunistic gain.

2 Samuel 4 10 Context

2 Samuel 4:10 is David's powerful explanation to Rechab and Baanah for why they, too, would be executed for murdering Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. David explicitly refers back to a previous event (detailed in 2 Samuel 1:1-16) where an Amalekite came to David at Ziklag following the Battle of Gilboa. This Amalekite claimed to have delivered Saul from pain by killing him after he was mortally wounded, bringing Saul's crown and bracelet to David in expectation of a substantial reward. Instead, David, despite being fiercely persecuted by Saul for many years, swiftly ordered the Amalekite's execution. This stern and uncompromising act cemented David's consistent principle: even an oppressive king like Saul, once anointed by God, remains the Lord's chosen representative, and anyone who unlawfully takes his life or claims to have done so for gain is subject to severe judgment. It starkly demonstrates David’s moral character, his adherence to divine justice over political expediency, and his refusal to build his kingdom on a foundation of illicit bloodshed or self-serving ambition.

2 Samuel 4 10 Word analysis

• When one told me: David introduces the reference to a past, significant incident, establishing a precedent for his current actions. The original Hebrew "וַאֲשֶׁר֙ מַגִּ֤יד הִגִּיד֙ לִ֔י" (va'asher maggid higgid li), employing an infinitive absolute, emphasizes the certainty and gravity of the message delivered—it was definitively told.
• saying, 'Look, Saul is dead,': This central announcement to David marked the symbolic end of one era and the potential beginning of his own reign, signifying a pivotal moment of political and spiritual transition.
• thinking to have brought good news (כִּמְבַשֵּׂ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֔יו - kimevasser be'eynav): This Hebrew phrase literally means "as a bringer of good news in his own eyes." It profoundly highlights the messenger's deluded perception and self-serving expectation. He erroneously believed the death of David's primary antagonist was a cause for reward, entirely misjudging David’s reverence for the sacred office of the Lord’s anointed king. The word "mevaser" (bearer of good news) is typically positive, but here it's steeped in irony.
• I seized him and killed him (וָאֹֽחֲזָ֥ה בּ֛וֹ וָאֶהְרְגֵ֖הוּ - va'okhaza bo va'ahorgehu): This indicates David's swift, resolute, and unwavering response. There was no hesitation, negotiation, or public trial. This immediate administration of justice stands in sharp contrast to the messenger's naive expectation of commendation.
• in Ziklag (בְּצִֽקְלַ֑ג - beTziqlag): This precise geographical detail, identifying the town where David had taken refuge among the Philistines, grounds the previous event in historical fact. Its mention serves to authenticate David's recollection and emphasizes that this act of justice was rendered by him even during his fugitive period, far from a position of full regal authority.
• and that was the reward I gave him for his news (אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַ֨תִּי֙ ל֥וֹ בְשׂוֹרָ֖ה אֲשֶׂ֥ר הֽוּא): David uses "reward" (בשורה - besorah) ironically. The very "news" (besorah, implying good tidings) for which the man anticipated honor and material gain became the instrument of his downfall and death. David’s "reward" was immediate capital punishment, powerfully conveying his absolute repudiation of such opportunistic and illicit service.

• Words-Group Analysis: "Thinking to have brought good news" vs. "I seized him and killed him": This striking contrast vividly juxtaposes human, self-serving ambition and profound misperception with immediate, decisive divine justice administered through David. The messenger prioritized personal gain, while David upheld an overarching divine principle.
"In Ziklag... that was the reward I gave him": This phrase encapsulates David's unwavering ethical framework even as a refugee leader. It powerfully demonstrates his consistent profound respect for God's sovereign choices, acting with integrity and dispensing justice, irrespective of his own personal convenience or perceived political advantage. This previous act established the consistent moral precedent David now upheld. * "Saul is dead" vs. "the reward I gave him for his news": The content of the "news" should typically bring joy to a fugitive like David, as his adversary was eliminated. However, because the death involved striking the Lord's anointed, the "reward" paradoxically became immediate capital punishment. This highlights a foundational theological point about respecting divine appointments and God's exclusive right to end the life of His chosen servants, regardless of their unfaithfulness.

2 Samuel 4 10 Bonus section

• A Lesson in Ethical Leadership: This verse, viewed within the broader narrative, provides an enduring lesson in ethical and godly leadership. David consciously chose divine principle and righteous justice over political expediency and personal vendetta, thus establishing a legacy of faithfulness and integrity crucial for a king destined to be the ancestor of the Messiah.
• Contrasting Cultural Norms: David’s response in this account sharply deviates from the prevailing norms in many ancient Near Eastern cultures, where delivering the head, crown, or symbolic items of a deposed or deceased king would often result in lavish rewards for the bearer. David’s actions demonstrate a distinct and deeply theological reverence for the sacred nature of divinely-appointed kingship, an adherence that distinguishes him and prevents any accusation of his ascension being facilitated by unlawful means.
• The Amalekite's False Claim: It's important to note that 1 Samuel 31 states Saul took his own life. The Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1 likely fabricated his story, exaggerating his role (perhaps finding Saul dead and simply taking his insignia) in an attempt to curry favor with David. David's judgment, therefore, isn't solely based on the literal accuracy of the killing, but on the Amalekite's claim to have laid hands on the anointed and his brazen expectation of reward for such an act. David's response punishes the intent, the boast of regicide, and the perceived contempt for divine authority.

2 Samuel 4 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 4:10 offers a profound glimpse into David's unwavering moral character and his deep reverence for the sacred office of God's anointed king. Despite years of intense persecution by King Saul, David steadfastly refused to take matters into his own hands or condone such actions by others. His summary execution of the Amalekite who falsely claimed to have slain Saul—an act that, from a purely political perspective, might seem to expedite his path to the throne—underscores that David's accession to kingship was anchored in divine timing and God's providence, not in opportunistic violence or human machinations. This stern administration of justice served as a critical precedent and a clear warning against any attempts to gain favor with David through illicit acts of violence against legitimate, even if imperfect, authority figures. It emphasizes David’s consistent prioritization of God's righteous will and appointed order above personal vengeance, political gain, or the expediency of ambition, ensuring that his reign was established on a foundation of purity rather than bloodshed.