The Reading
The Summary
Shemuel Bet Chapter 1
Two days after returning to Tziqlag, David is approached by an Amaleqite youth who informs him that Israel has lost the war against the Pelishtim and that Shaul and Yonatan have been killed in battle. The lad’s clothes are torn and he has placed dirt on his forehead, indicating that he mourns the tragedy he witnessed. The messenger claims that he chanced upon Shaul severely wounded and that, at the king’s own request, he put an end to Shaul’s life to relieve him of his suffering. The Amaleqite brought the crown and bracelets of Shaul to present to David, whom he assumes is the new king.
When David has interrogated the youth and determined that the report is credible and accurate, he tears his clothing and instructs his men to do likewise. They weep, fast and mourn for the remainder of the day over the deaths of Shaul and Yonatan as well as in response to the news of the tragic defeat of the Israelite forces on the battlefield. David admonishes the Amaleqite lad for having been so brazen as to kill the anointed one of God; he commands one of his men to execute the messenger based on his own admission of guilt.
David then proceeds to offer a stirring and poetic lament for Shaul and Yonatan, in which he describes their military prowess and courage and the lifestyle of comfort and peace that they provided to the subjects of their realm. He curses the mountain upon which Shaul met his demise and decries the fact that the Pelishtim will celebrate what is surely a tragedy in the eyes of God. In the course of the elegy, David makes mention of the particularly close bond and strong mutual affection he shared with Yonatan.
This chapter is very significant for a number of reasons. For all intents and purposes, the response of David is his first official act as the new king and will set the tone for his entire regime. Despite the personal animosity that may have existed between them, David once again demonstrates, in word and in deed, his abiding respect for the office of Shaul and his appreciation for the benefits the king conferred to his people during his lifetime.
In the eyes of David, the mere fact that Hashem selected Shaul to govern the nation of Israel entitled him to tremendous honor and to a eulogy befitting a great monarch, even if he fell short of the lofty expectations of the Almighty for much of his career. David’s ability to push aside petty emotions and behave in a dignified and appropriate manner under these circumstances is consistent with what we have already learned about his outstanding and highly principled character.
David’s immediate reaction of sorrow and despair upon hearing of the death of Shaul contradicts our natural expectation that he will express gratitude to Hashem like he did when Naval died, or that he will at least be relieved when he learns that his tormentor is no more. Instead, David evaluates the events in terms of the needs and concerns of the nation and does not focus on their ramifications for his personal plight. The people of Israel have lost their king and this is nothing less than a tragedy of epic proportions. The possible improvement in David’s circumstances as a result of this tragedy is utterly trivial relative to this catastrophic development. David provides us with a model for how a genuine leader of Israel should look at the world.
David’s emotional response is inspiring, but he does not stop there. In taking it upon himself to compose a lamentation for the deceased king, he embraces his role as Shaul’s successor; he is now the spokesperson of the Jewish people, the person whose job it is to reflect upon and contextualize the recent events and then offer an official “response” to the calamity on behalf of the nation. David not only exhibits his admirable character in this chapter; he also engages in actual governance, leading the Jewish people in properly mourning the loss of their sovereign.
The reaction of David to the messenger also provides us with great insight into his personality and convictions. The Amaleqite youth, clearly expecting to be rewarded for having killed David’s arch nemesis, is instead executed for the heinous crime he claimed to have committed. David views murdering the anointed one of God as a horrific act that must be punished to the fullest extent of the law no matter what.
We the readership happen to know from the text in Shemuel Alef that the Amaleqite is lying in order to take credit for killing Shaul; after all, the previous chapter explicitly told us that Shaul committed suicide and made no mention of any Amaleqite assisting him. David may also have suspected that the report was a false one, since the Amaleqite could have simply robbed the corpse of Shaul and invented the rest of the story to glorify himself. Nonetheless, David holds the youth responsible for the act of treason to which he admitted, and in doing so he sends a clear message about his principles and policies.
Unlike Shaul, who was happy to reward and promote those who assisted him in his pursuit of David regardless of their scruples or ethical standards, David refuses to support or encourage violence or vigilante behavior, even when carried out against his presumed enemies. Murderers are not countenanced in the court of King David, regardless of the justifications they offer for their crimes.