Facts(?) about Saul & David

factchecker · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 41

Watched a rerun of a History Channel program about King David the other day, and having never read about him, decided to do a bit of research. And that's where "God's inerrant word" that was "written/inspired" by God, got a little confusing.

In 1SAM we find in 16:19-23 that Saul knew enough to send a message to Jesse asking that he "send me David thy son." Then another message to Jesse saying that he (David) found favor in the sight of Saul, and David even played his harp for Saul.

In 17:50-55 David slays Goliath with sling, stone, and finally cuts off his head with a sword. But in 17:55-58 Saul asks "whose son is this youth" and when David brings Goliath's head to Saul, Saul has to ask David whose son he is, while addressing him as "young man."

Then as time goes on, Saul ends up dead...but how? 31:4-6 and 1CHRON 10:4 say he fell on his own sword. But 2SAM 1:8-10 has an Amalekite claiming that he did it. And 21:12 says it was Philistines. And lastly, 1CHRON 10:14 implies that God himself "slew him."

So, was the inspirer/writer (God) experimenting with LSD, or perhaps slipping into alzheimer's; or maybe a bunch of old Israelite writers just couldn't take the time to confer with each other and get their stories straight (and inerrant)?