Rise Of The KingsThe Books of I & II Samuel

I Samuel 20:1 – 28:2

“Saul’s Rejection of David”

Announcements

I and II SamuelWeek Date Topic

1 07 Mar 12 Samuel’s Call: 1 Samuel 1:1-3:1a

2 14 Mar 12 The Ark Narratives: 1 Samuel 3:1b-7:17

3 21 Mar 12 Israel Demands a King: 1 Samuel 8-12

4 28 Mar 12 The Decline of Saul: 1 Samuel 13-15

5 04 Apr 12 David – God’s Anointed: 1 Samuel 16-19

6 11 Apr 12 Saul’s Rejection of David: 1 Samuel 20:1-28:2

7 18 Apr 12 The Death of Saul: 1 Samuel 28:3-31:13

8 25 Apr 12 David Becomes King: II Samuel 1-6

9 02 May 12 The Davidic Covenant: II Samuel 7-10

10 09 May 12 Senior Blessing

11 16 May 12 David’s Moral Failure: II Samuel 11-14

12 23 May 12 Absalom’s Rebellion: II Samuel 15:1-19:8a

13 30 May 12 David Returns to Jerusalem: II Samuel 19:8b-24

Today’s Objectives• Review last week’s lesson, historical background,

and timeline for the books of I and II Samuel

• Review historical maps of Israel and the region

• Read chapter 20, Review 21:1-28:2

• Consider the depth of Jonathan’s loyalty to David

• Understand the relationship between Jonathan and Saul

• Understand David’s respect for the position that Saul held, despite Saul’s actions

• Deepen our friendships and express appreciation for past friendships

Historical Background• Samuel named as the primary author

– Samuel was the 13th (or 15th) judge of Israel– Nathan of Gad wrote about David’s life (1 Chron 29:29)– Abiathar, high priest, may have wrote later chapters

• Existed as one book until translated into Greek around 300-200 B.C.

• Written between 931 B.C. and 722 B.C. and covered the period from 1080-950 B.C. or 130 years

• Imperialistic void– Hittite and Egyptian empires had fallen more than a century

earlier

– Smaller kingdoms like the Ugarit had disintegrated as well

Historical Background• Transition period in Israel’s history

– Conclusion of a great famine in the land (see Ruth 1:1)– After the exodus, end of the period of the judges, and

beginning of the monarchy – Israel had disintegrated morally, spiritually, politically

• Chapter 20-28 key events– David consults with Jonathan about Saul– Jonathan is unaware of Saul’s real intentions– Jonathan agrees to test Saul– Saul confirms his hatred of David– Samuel dies– David given two opportunities to kill Saul– David moves back with the Philistines

Palestine in Palestine in Saul’s TimeSaul’s Time

David Tests Saul (20:1-11)

• Saul continues to pursue David– David had fled to Samuel at Naioth– Saul pursues David to Ramah but was overcome by the

Spirit of God– David escapes

• David asks Jonathan for help– Asked why Saul was seeking David’s life (20:1)– David was apparently unaware of Saul’s intense jealousy– David knew he would not usurp the throne

• Saul wanted Jonathan to be his successor– However, prophecies were made against this (13:13-14)

• Jonathan assures David– Saul was not after David’s life

– Saul had sworn an oath to Jonathan this fact (19:6)

– David knew the truth

– Jonathan promised to do anything to help his friend (20:2-4)

• David devises a test of Saul’s intentions– David’s absence from Saul’s table during the New

Moon festival

– If the king became enraged, no hope existed between David and Saul (20:5-8)

David Tests Saul (20:1-11)

Jonathan’s Covenant with David (20:12-23)• Jonathan agrees to help with the test

– Still hoped Saul would relax his pursuit of David– More so, Jonathan desired that God would be with David

as he was at the beginning of Saul’s reign (20:12-13)

• Jonathan’s request of David– David not withdraw his kindness to Jonathan (20:14-15)– Hebrew word for kindness, “hesed” meaning a loving-

kindness, steadfast, loyal, unfailing– Jonathan loved David as he loved himself (20:17)

• Jonathan devises a plan to inform David of the outcome– Signaling in the field (20:18-23)

Saul Confirms His Hatred of David (20:24-34)• Day of the New Moon Festival

– David is hiding in the field– Saul prepares to dine, but David is missing– Saul says nothing the first day– Perhaps David was ceremonially unclean (Lev 11:46-47)– David fails to show up the second day (20:27-29)– Saul becomes enraged at Jonathan and David

• Saul states that David must die– As long as the son of Jesse was alive Jonathan could not

be king (20:31)– Throws a spear at Jonathan in anger– Jonathan storms out of the dining hall (20:31-34)

Jonathan Reaffirms David’s Friendship (20:35-42)• Jonathan signals David about Saul’s intentions

– Jonathan travels to the field to alert David (20:35-42)– Time to flee from Saul’s presence– David kneels down in honor to the son of a king– The two greet each other as was custom– David is disheartened by the news (20:41)

• Jonathan and David go their separate ways– Jonathan swore loyalty to David (20:42)– Jonathan continued to serve his father and the kingdom

of Israel to the point of death (31:2)– But remained loyal to David

• David becomes a fugitive from Saul– Fled from place to place– To Nob – fed and armed– To Gath, with the Philistines, but feigned insanity to

escape– To the cave at Adullam, with a side trip to Moab to

ensure the protection of his parents– Edomite that was at Nob informed Saul of David’s

location– Saul has all the priests and people of Nob killed– David saves Keilah from destruction by Philistines– To the desert of Ziph

I Samuel 21:1-28:2 In Brief

I Samuel 21:1-28:2 In Brief• Ziphites informed Saul of David’s location again• David flees to the desert of Maon then En Gedi• God entraps Saul to test David, David does not

kill Saul, because he was God’s anointed• Samuel dies at the beginning of Chapter 25• David moves once again to the desert of Maon,

where he meets, and later marries, Abigail• David then returns to the desert of Ziph where he

spares Saul’s life a second time• David finds refuge in Philistine territory and

remains there for more than a year, until Saul’s death

Review• Reviewed last week’s lesson, historical background,

and timeline for the books of I and II Samuel

• Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region

• Read chapter 20, Review 21:1-28:2

• Considered the depth of Jonathan’s loyalty to David

• Understand the relationship between Jonathan and Saul

• Understand David’s respect for the position that Saul held, despite Saul’s actions

• Deepened our friendships and expressed appreciation for past friendships