Two Accounts of Shaul's Death/2

Did the Amalekite Kill Shaul?

Exegetical Approaches

Overview

 

 

The Amalekite Killed Shaul

Sources: JosephusAntiquities 7:14:7About Josephus, RadakShemuel I 31:5Shemuel II 1:6-16About R. David Kimchi, RalbagShemuel I 31:4Shemuel II 1:6-10About R. Levi b. Gershom, AbarbanelShemuel I 31:1Shemuel I 31:4Shemuel II 1:5-16About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

Who killed Shaul – Shaul originally asked his arms bearer to kill him, who refused, so then he tried to fall on his sword unsuccessfully, and only died after the Amalekite killed him completely.  According to this approach the Amalekite didn't lie rather actually killed Shaul, just the story in Shemuel I 31 omitted that part of the story.

הַחֶרֶב and חֲנִיתוֹ

הַמּוֹרִים and הָרֶכֶב וּבַעֲלֵי הַפָּרָשִׁים

Why two stories

David's double question

"כִּי אֲחָזַנִי הַשָּׁבָץ" – Ralbag says this verse explains why Shaul didn't totally die when he fell on his sword, because the cloths he was wearing were משובץ, meaning strong so a sword can't go through easily.

Why kill the Amalekite – It is obvious following this reading, that David ordered the killing of the Amalekite because he actually killed Shaul.

Shaul Killed Himself

Sources: Second option in RadakShemuel I 31:5About R. David Kimchi, First option in RalbagShemuel I 31:4About R. Levi b. Gershom, First option in AbarbanelShemuel I 31:1Shemuel I 31:4About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, Prof. Moshe Tzvi SegalShemuel II 1:5-10About Prof. Moshe Tzvi Segal, Prof. Yehuda Elitzur"HaNa'ar HaMagid UMishpato BeTziklag"About Prof. Yehuda Elitzur, Dr. Yechiel Tzvi Moshkovitz"Sipuro Shel HaNa'ar HAmeleki"About Dr. Yechiel Tzvi Moshkovitz

Who killed Shaul – Shaul killed himself, and the Amalekite lied saying that he killed Shaul to find favor in the eyes of David.

Why kill the Na'ar

Differences

David's double question

No mention of the lie

The נֵּזֶר and אֶצְעָדָה