2 Samuel 1:16

Translations

Modern

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

Traditional

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

Literal

And David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head. For your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the anointed of YHWH.’”

Latin

Et ait ad eum David: Sanguis tuus super caput tuum: os enim tuum locutum est adversum te, dicens: Ego interfeci christum Domini.

Original

Hebrew

English

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

Notes

2 Samuel 1:15–16

The Amalekite expected a reward for killing David’s rival but was instead condemned for killing the Lord’s anointed. David himself had twice refused the opportunity to kill Saul (see 1 Samuel 24:5–7; 26:9–11).

2 Samuel 1:1–16

An unnamed Amalekite went to David, claiming that he had killed Saul. This claim was false. Saul had taken his own life(1 Samuel 31:4–6).

The Amalekite may have hoped that David would reward him for clearing the way for David to become king. Instead, David ordered him to be killed for harming the Lord’s anointed (the person God had chosen).

2 Samuel 1:1–27

The forty years of Saul’s reign ended in tragedy. The Philistines struck a devastating blow against his people. They killed Saul’s sons and later mutilated Saul’s body after he took his own life (1 Samuel 31). After these tragic events, the story begins to focus on David and his rise as a leader.

Theme notes and profiles

David Jonathan Saul David's Response to Unfriendly Leaders

Related verses

Matthew 27:25
All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Luke 19:22
His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
Leviticus 20:9
If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.
Romans 3:19
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
1 Samuel 26:9
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”
2 Samuel 1:10
So I stood over 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 that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
1 Kings 2:37
On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”
Joshua 2:19
If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads.
Proverbs 6:2
…if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
Ezekiel 33:5
Since he heard the sound of the horn but failed to heed the warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life.
Acts 20:26
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Leviticus 20:11–13
If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Parallels

1 Samuel 31:1–6 1 Chronicles 10:1–6

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Glossary

Anoint Baanah David Mount Gilboa Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Blood of Guilt Blood: (On One's own Head) Guilt David: King of Israel: Kills the Murderer of Saul Forgiveness: David Forgives Saul Government: Monarchical by David Homicide: Felonious: An Amalekite Homicide: The Punishment of Murderers: The Murderer of Saul Murder: Amalekite Punishments were Inflicted by Order of Kings Regicide of King Saul

2 Samuel 1:16

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