Answer: The man said that he had killed Saul.
The reason that David had the messenger killed was because the man said, "So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord." (2 Samuel: 1)
There are contradictions between the first and second books of Samuel, in the account of Saul's death. The first book, chapter 31 says that Saul had asked his armor-bearer to kill him, but the armor-bearer refused, so Saul fell upon his sword, committing suicide. The second book says that the messenger, an Amalekite, killed Saul at Saul's request, because Saul was dying but did not want to be taken prisoner by the approaching victorious army.
There are many possibilities, say commentators: that Saul did fall upon his sword, but did not die, and was close to death. Propped upon his spear (not his sword, because the sword was in his body), he saw the Amalekite and asked him to hasten the death. If this is the case, the Amalekite told the truth that he killed Saul. Another possibility was that Saul was indeed dead when the Amalekite came upon him, and the Amalekite lied. The Amalekite might have been looting the bodies and decided that David would reward him if he claimed to have killed what the man assumed was David's enemy. So he brought Saul's crown and armlet to David, expecting a reward. Another possibility is that the Amalekite was witness to the armor-bearer's refusal to kill Saul, Saul's suicide, and then the armor-bearer's suicide and made up the story which was similar to the truth, writing himself into the tale.
The "messenger lied" option sounds the most reasonable to me, since the armor-bearer would not have committed suicide if Saul was still alive and talking. The first book of Samuel says that after Saul killed himself, the armor-bearer took his own life. The armor-bearers were tasked to protect the king, and while the king was alive, they would keep to their task if they were good servants. By the accounting in 1 Samuel, this armor-bearer was a good servant.
Killing a king anointed by God was wrong in David's eyes; David had had opportunities to kill Saul and had not taken them. David had the Amalekite killed for saying he murdered the anointed of God. If he lied, then he died for the lie.
Question submitted by Allison03.
From Quiz: 2 Samuel!
Answer: Eli
Eli was a priest and saw Hannah crying. She was talking to God as she cried, so he assumed she was drunk, not realizing she was praying for a child.
Submitted by Ilona_Ritter.
From Quiz: 1 Samuel: The 9th Book of the Bible
Answer: Ish-Bosheth
2 Samuel 4:5-6 of the New International Version, tells us, "Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth and they arrived there in the heat of the day, while he was taking his noonday rest. They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach." For their efforts, David had them killed and had their hands and feet cut off, then hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 2 Samuel
Answer: Endor
The Israelites were about to go to war against the Philistines. King Saul wanted to know the outcome, so he consulted a medium who lived in Endor. She called up Samuel's spirit, who informed Saul that he and his sons would die in battle the very next day. You can find this in 1 Samuel 28:7 (NIV).
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 Samuel
Answer: 2 days
II Samuel 1:2 "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." Ziklag was located in southern Israel.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part II
Answer: Elkanah
Samuel 1:18-20 (KJV) "And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, because I have asked him of the Lord." Hannah was Samuel's mother. Her name means full of hope.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part I
Answer: Words and visions from the Lord
Chapter 3, verse 1 states, "Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli. And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent" (NASB).
This verse explains why Samuel didn't know that God was the one calling for him. Samuel thought that it was Eli. After he realized that the Lord was speaking to him, Samuel told Eli what the Lord had told him about Eli's sons. God said that he was going to judge Eli and his sons because his sons sinned and Eli didn't rebuke them. In response to Samuel's honesty about what the Lord told Samuel, Eli responded, "'It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him'" (verse 18).
See chapter 2 for more details about the sins of Eli's sons.
Question submitted by Ceduh
From Quiz: 1 Samuel: The 9th Book of the Bible
Answer: Sent back to the city of Jerusalem
David's son Absalom won over the hearts of the men of Israel sending David fleeing for his life. Concerning the ark of God, David had it sent back to the city of Jerusalem thinking that if he found favor with the Lord, he would see it again, if not he was ready for God to do whatever seemed right to him. Here David once again shows how much trust he put in God. 2 Samuel 15:25-26 (NIV)
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 2 Samuel
Answer: Absalom
This is found in II Samuel chapter 13, verses 28 to 29. When Amnon got drunk from drinking wine, Absalom ordered his men to strike Amnon down. Both Absalom and Amnon were David's sons, and Absalom hated Amnon because he had disgraced their sister Tamar.
From Quiz: The Bible Books of I and II Samuel
Answer: Zeruiah
II Samuel 2:18 "And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe." Zeruiah is David's sister.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part II
Answer: Joel
I Samuel 8:2 (KJV) "Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba." Joel means "Yahweh is God". Beersheba still exists in Israel today, however the modern one is slightly south of the Biblical one.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part I
Answer: Amnon
See 2 Samuel Chapter 13 for more details. Absalom was the full-brother of Tamar who murdered Amnon, their half-brother, for raping Tamar.
Solomon and Nathan aren't mentioned in that chapter, but they are some of David's other sons that the Bible discusses elsewhere.
King David had many wives. Ahinoam was Amnon's mother. Maacah (NOT to be confused with Michal, David's first wife who bore no children) was the mother of Absalom and Tamar. Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon and Nathan.
Question submitted by Ceduh.
From Quiz: 2 Samuel!
Answer: Idols
According to 1 Samuel 7, the prophet, Samuel, told the Israelites that if they removed their idols and worshipped the LORD alone, then He would deliver them from the Philistines. The Israelites listened. Specifically, they removed their Baal and Ashtaroth idols.
The young boy, David, later killed the Philistine giant, Goliath.
Question submitted by Ceduh
From Quiz: 1 Samuel: The 9th Book of the Bible
Answer: Hanun
David wanted to show kindness to Hanun, the king of the Ammonites, so he sent messengers to him expressing sympathy for the death of his father. Hanum's noblemen accused the messengers of being spies. "So Hanum seized David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away." 2 Samuel 10:1-4 (NIV)
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 2 Samuel
Answer: His parents
"David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, 'Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?' So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold." - 1 Samuel 22:3-4 (NIV).
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 Samuel
Answer: Jesse
David was the youngest of the sons of Jesse. He was chosen by God himself to be the king of Israel. Samuel first thought that another one of Jesse's sons, Eliab, was the one that God chose, but God rejected him, telling Samuel, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." God choosing David as king can be found at I Samuel chapter 16, verses 1 to 13.
From Quiz: The Bible Books of I and II Samuel
Answer: 30
II Samuel 5:4 "David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years." If you look at the lineage of Jesus Christ found in the New Testament, David is a direct ancestor of Joseph.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part II
Answer: Agag
I Samuel 15:20 (KJV) "And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites." Although Saul captured him, it was Samuel who had Agog killed.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part I
Answer: Mephibosheth
Mephibosheth is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 4:5. It is told that he is lame because he fell when he was five and was fleeing from something with his nurse. Later on after Jonathan's death his son comes to King David afraid of being killed but David remembers his promise to Jonathan and invites Mephibosheth to live in the castle.
Question submitted by Ilona_Ritter.
From Quiz: 2 Samuel!
Answer: Joab
Amasa was rounding up the men of Judah to bring to David in Jerusalem, when he had a deadly encounter with Joab who appeared to be being friendly. "Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground." 2 Samuel 20:9-10 (NIV)
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 2 Samuel
Answer: Abner
Abner was the commander of Saul's army but after the death of Saul, Ish-Bosheth (Saul's son) made an accusation against Abner, so Abner went over to Davids army. Later, David's army commander Joab murdered Abner. (1 Samuel 14:50, NIV.)
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 Samuel
Answer: A spear
I Samuel chapter 18 verses 10 to 11 reads: "The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, 'I'll pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice".
From Quiz: The Bible Books of I and II Samuel
Answer: Bathsheba
I Samuel 11:3 " And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Another form of Eliam is Ammiel.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part II
Answer: He rejected the word of God
I Samuel 15:23 (KJV) "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."
From Quiz: Samuel - Part I
Answer: Hanun
In 2 Samuel 10, David hears that Hanun had been named King of the Ammonites after the death of his father Nahash. He decided to show kindness to him and sent a group of men to offer a message of sympathy to the new king. However, the Ammonite commanders convinced King Hanun that they were spies sent by David to spy out the land. Hanun decided to make a public disgrace out of them and sent them back to David. The misunderstanding resulted in a battle that cost the Ammonites and their allies over 40,000 soldiers as they were defeated by the Israelites.
Question submitted by J-Zilch.
From Quiz: 2 Samuel!
Answer: handsome
The people had demanded a king in an earlier chapter and Saul was the one who God allowed to be king. God did not want the people to have him as a king, but sometimes God gives what we want to show us we don't really want or need it after all.
Submitted by Ilona_Ritter.
From Quiz: 1 Samuel: The 9th Book of the Bible
Answer: Uriah
While David was having an affair with Uriah's wife Bathsheba, he got her pregnant. To try to cover up his sin with her, he sent for Uriah to have a couple of days leave from fighting against the Ammonites. But Uriah refused to go home to the comfort of his wife while his army buddies were camped in the open fields. So David sent Uriah back with a letter instructing Joab to place Uriah in the front line where the fighting was the most fierce, so that Uriah would be struck down and killed. 2 Samuel chapter 11 has the full account of David and Bathsheba.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 2 Samuel
Answer: Doeg
Doeg was the snitch who told King Saul that David had been to see Ahimelech at Nob, and Ahimelech had assisted David in giving him food and weapons. 1 Samuel 22:18 of the New International Version tells us, "The king then ordered Doeg, 'You turn and strike down the priests.' So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty five men who wore the linen ephod."
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 Samuel
Answer: Samuel
Saul was afraid because of the Philistines, who were attacking the Israelites. He enquired of God, but God did not answer, so he asked a medium to bring up Samuel's ghost. Samuel was angry at Saul because Saul had consulted Samuel after God had turned away from Saul.
From Quiz: The Bible Books of I and II Samuel
Answer: He was stabbed and beaten
II Samuel 18: 14-15 "Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him." Absalom's name means "Father of Peace". He was one of David's sons.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part II
Answer: Achish
I Samuel 21:12 (KJV) "And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath." Gath is where the giant Goliath was from.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part I
Answer: Danced
David danced for joy before The Lord. He was clad in a priestly ephod. It has been said that he was scantily clad, because of Michal's accusation of disrobing and acting in a shameful manner. Different translations use words like "half-naked" (NIV) but others say "exposing himself to the view of slave girls of his followers, as a commoner might expose himself!" (NABRE) The ephod was a priestly apron, and there is no cause to think that David would wear only the ephod, and in fact be naked under it. This is usually not the case. It has been suggested by commentators that Michal was complaining that David wore a LINEN ephod, not a more ornate garment, and was dressed humbly and not as befitting a king, and objected to his behavior while he dressed this way. David was dressed in a priestly way and in a humble way, at that. In fact, David was dancing with joy and Michal complained "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today..." (NIV) or "How the king of Israel has honored himself today..." (NABRE) -- she disdained his unkingly behavior, exposing himself as a commoner would by dancing! The only one who said that David was "disrobed" (NIV) was Michal who despised him. Was he disrobed as in "nude" or disrobed as in "not in kingly robes"?
David's response? "...but I will demean myself even more" (NABRE)... "And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight" (KJV) ... "I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." (NIV) Held in honor? Undignified? These words sound like David was humble in dress, but would be respected still. I say David danced with abandon, but did not abandon his clothes.
Question submitted by Allison03.
From Quiz: 2 Samuel!
Answer: The tribe of Benjamin
King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin (see 1 Samuel 9), but after him, who was actually a pretty bad king, the kings came from the tribe of Judah. King David was from the tribe of Judah and Christians believe that Jesus, the King of kings, was also from the tribe of Judah.
In Genesis 49, Jacob (Israel) blessed his son Judah and he said that the scepter--or royality--wouldn't part from Judah until the Messiah came.
Question submitted by Ceduh
From Quiz: 1 Samuel: The 9th Book of the Bible
Answer: Sheba
Once again David's men desert him, this time to a troublemaker by the name of Sheba. Sheba shouted out to the men of Judah, "We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!" Sheba lost his head for that one! 2 Samuel 20:1 (NIV)
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 2 Samuel
Answer: Engedi
When King Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines he was told that David and his men were at Engedi, so he chose three thousand men and set out after him. He came to the cave at Engedi where David was hiding and went into the entrance to relieve himself. 1 Samuel 24:4 (NIV) tells us, "Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe." This was done to prove to Saul that David was not after his life.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 Samuel
Answer: He killed him
David killed the Amalekite because the man had not been afraid to kill Saul. Saul had asked the Amalekite to kill him, which the Amalekite did.
From Quiz: The Bible Books of I and II Samuel
Answer: The Gibeonites
A long time a go in the days of Joshua, the Gibeonites deceived the Israelites into making a covenant with them. Saul broke that covenant by slaying the Gibeonites. David asked them how he could make things right with them. The Gibeonites refused to accept silver or gold, but because Saul was responsible for the blood that was shed, they requested that seven of his descendants be killed. The full account of this gruesome story can be found in 2 Samuel 21:1-14 (NIV)
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 2 Samuel
Answer: Ahinoam
1 Samuel 14:50-51 of the New International Version give us Saul's genealogy. "Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishui and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal; and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam..." There's not much mentioned of Ahinoam in the Bible, but she must have had the patience of a saint!
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 Samuel
Answer: Thirty
Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel for forty-two years. This can be found at I Samuel chapter 13 verse 1.
From Quiz: The Bible Books of I and II Samuel
Answer: rock
II Samuel 22:2 "And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer." David is well known for his poetic praises to God.
From Quiz: Samuel - Part II
