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:
When someone came to me and said, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing me good news, I grabbed him and killed him in Ziklag. He thought I would reward him for this news.
David is explaining how he executed the messenger who claimed to have killed Saul, even though the man expected a reward for what he thought was good news.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, David is recounting an earlier incident from 2 Samuel 1, where an Amalekite man came to him claiming he had killed King Saul and expected a reward for the news. David executed this man in Ziklag to show his unwavering respect for God's anointed king, emphasizing that he would not condone or benefit from such an act, even though Saul had been his adversary. This event highlights David's commitment to justice and divine order as he navigated the complexities of succeeding to the throne of Israel.
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