2 Samuel

David and Saul’s Family

--David mourns the death of Saul & Jonathan (1:1-27)

--An Amalekite brings news of Saul’s death.

--In fact, he says that he actually killed the mortally wounded Saul.

--He probably thought that this act would bring him praise & reward from David, since Saul had been an enemy of David.

--David has the Amalekite killed.

--David always stays clean of bloodshed. Others do the killing around him, & he executes those who are guilty of bloodshed, often even after they have killed his enemies.

--1:17-27—A lament for Saul & Jonathan

--“How the mighty have fallen!”

--He presents Saul as a valiant & honorable king. David always seemed to put the best face on every situation. Saul was certainly not as honorable as David makes him out to be. David is honoring the position of king & keeping his place as one who honors those whom God has chosen.

--He acknowledges his love for Jonathan, “more wonderful than that of women.”

--David avenges the death of Ish-Bosheth. (4:1-12)

--Ish-Bosheth was Saul’s surviving son.

--Abner made Ish-Bosheth king over Israel, although his territory was likely quite small. This also shows who was actually in charge. Abner was the military leader & had ultimate authority.

--Baanah & Recab, two of Ish-Bosheth’s leaders, murder him & take his head to David. Like the Amalekite, they obviously thought that this action would bring them praise & reward.

--Instead, Baanah & Recab were executed & publicly disgrace, i.e. hands & feet cut off & bodies hung on the wall. Once again David remains clean in regard to bloodshed.

--David & Mephibosheth (9:1-13)

--Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son, who had been crippled when his nurse fled with him from the Philistines (see 4:4).

--David gave property to Mephibosheth, along with Saul’s former servant Ziba, & he ate at the king’s table in Jerusalem.

--David does this “for Jonathan’s sake” (9:1). He is concerned with honoring his friend, but probably also the royal house of Saul.

David Becomes King

--David in Hebron (2:1-7)

--David seeks the Lord’s will. This continues David’s consistency as a godly leader. He doesn’t shed innocent blood, he does not dishonor God’s leaders, & he seeks God’s will for decisions.

--The men of Hebron anoint David as king over Judah.

--Civil War (2:8-3:39)

--Abner, Saul’s commander, led the war against David.

--He made Ish-Bosheth king of Israel. Ish-Bosheth ruled for 2 years, but the real power was in Abner’s hand.

--He went to Gibeon to challenge David’s troops, led by Joab along with his brothers Asahel & Abishai. The battle began with a challenge to 12 individual fights. This ended in a draw, which led to a larger battle.

--Joab’s troops & Abner’s troops fought the whole day

--Abner killed Asahel after a long chase. Joab & Abishai chased Abner for revenge until Abner called for a truce. Joab agreed & the battle ended.

--The battle was a draw, but David’s troops got the better of it.

-- NOTE 3:1—The house of David grew stronger while the house of Saul became weaker.

--Abner deserts Ish-Bosheth

--NOTE—3:6—Abner has been strengthening his position. He was trying to build his own empire even though he was not the king. As stated before, Abner had the true position of power.

--Ish-Bosheth accuses Abner of sleeping with Saul’s concubine. Abner takes this personally & switches loyalty.

--Abner offers to bring Israel’s allegiance over to David. This shows that Abner considered himself the leader of Israel, not Ish-Bosheth.

--David accepts the offer, with one condition.

--Abner must bring Michal, David’s wife, whom Saul had given to another man after David fled from him (see 1 Sam. 25:44)

--Abner’s Death

--Abner meets with David at Hebron to work out details. He leaves in peace.

--Joab & Abishai follow Abner. Joab kills him in vengeance for the deat of Asahel at Gibeon.

--David proclaims his innocence regarding Abner’s death.

--David pronounces a curse on Joab’s family for Abner’s death.

--NOTE—David seemed to have a much wider view of reality than Joab.

--Joab was a child of tribal life & law.

--David is pictured as one who has moved beyond the tribal view of life. He saw the realities of politics.

--Joab could only think of vengeance.

--Joab also failed to accept David’s honor for Saul & his family.

--David over all Israel (5:1-5)

--The elders of Israel come to Hebron and anointed David as their king.

--David’s reign:

--7.5 years at Hebron

--33 years in Jerusalem

David and Jerusalem

--David conquers Jerusalem (5:6-16)

--The Jebusites taunted David. They boldly said that their city was impenetrable.

--Joab led the attack (see 1 Chron. 11:4ff) and captured the city, thus becoming “commander-in-chief.”

--The attack was through the “water shaft” (NIV).

--The Hebrew word tsinnor (rwNœXi) is debated.

--Water shaft—the shaft which brought water inside the city. Warren’s Shaft is the likely candidate, although scholars debate when this shaft was built & whether it could have been climbed to enter the city.

--Water system—In this case, the water system may have been cut off, causing the Jebusites to come out of the city to fight.

--Other suggestions: weapon, vow.

--David built a palace with the help of Hiram, king of Tyre.

--David took many wives & had many children. These multiple wives & many children would be a snare to him & the furthering of his kingdom.

--The Ark of the Covenant is brought to Jerusalem (6:1-23)

--See 1 Chron. 15:1, David built a place for the Ark & set up a tent for it.

--David & his men went to get the Ark,

--Apparently from Kiriath-Jearim (see 1 Sam. 6:21-7:1), where it had been for many years.

--“called the Name, the name of the Lord of Hosts (twaob;x] hw:hyÒ—LORD Sabaoth). Thus, the Ark is considered the property of the Warrior Yahweh. This points to the power seen in the Ark.

--Uzzah is killed when he touches the ark to keep it from falling. This seems a bit harsh, does it not? The ark is holy & cannot be touched.

--The celebration included music & dancing.

--This apparently offended Michal, who felt that David was acting undignified by his disrobing & dancing.

--David & the future (7:1-29)

--Nathan delivers this word for the future:

--David's house & kingdom will endure forever.

--The throne will never be removed. Unlike Saul, David's line will never cease to lead the kingdom. His throne will last forever.

--Discipline will occur against the king for doing wrong. God will punish David's descendants when they sin, but He will always love the king.

--David's son will build a house for Yahweh.

--David's Prayer—A prayer of:

--humility—David expresses awe that God has chosen his family for such a great honor,

--praise—David praises Yahweh as the only God,

--thanksgiving—David thanks God that He has chosen Israel & made them His own people & that His promises are trustworty,

--plea—That Yahweh continue to be with David & his sons & bless them.

David’s Military Exploits

--He defeated the Philistines (8:1)

--He defeated the Moabites (8:2)

--He defeated the Arameans (8:3-8)

--Hadadezer, king of Zobah—Zobah was an Aramean state. These were basically city-states, such as Zobah, Damascus, & Beth-Rehob..

--Arameans of Damascus

--David set up garrisons in Damascus

--Tou, king of Hamath, became subject to David. (8:9-10)

--This is the point of bringing gifts to David. He is acknowledging David’s sovereignty over him.

--David dedicated the plunder to Yahweh (8:11-12)

--David defeated the Edomites (8:13-14).

--He set up garrisons throughout Edom.

--After the victories David set up administration (8:15-18, see on 20:23-26).

--He defeated the Ammonites & Arameans. (10:1-11:1; 12:26-30)

--The Ammonites disgraced David’s men, who came to give sympathy for the king who had recently died, by shaving ½ of their beards & cutting out the seat of their clothes.

--Joab went to fight the Ammonites.

--The Ammonites hired Arameans to help them, but both armies were routed.

--In 11:1, apparently the next spring, David sent Joab against Ammon again. This time there was apparently protracted fighting that allowed time for David to commit adultery with Bathsheba, find out she was pregnant, and scheme to have Uriah killed.

--Ammon’s final defeat, this time with David at their head (because Joab sent for him when the battle was nearing the end), is recorded in 12:26-30.

--These events probably overlapped with Bathsheba’s pregnancy, etc.

--Thus David now had peace sovereignty over all of the lands around his kingdom: Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Arameans,

--and he had a treaty with the Phoenicians in Tyre under Hiram.

David and Bathsheba

--Outline of events:

--David saw Bathsheba bathing.

--He had her brought to the palace & slept with her.

--She became pregnant.

--He tried to cover up the affair,

--1^st by having Uriah return home, which failed when Uriah refused to go home and enjoy the company of his wife. This must have been an incredible slap in the face to David. He had enjoyed the company of Uriah’s wife, but Uriah himself felt that his duty lied in battle rather than in bed.

--Then by having Uriah killed.

--Nathan calls David to account.

--God reveals the sin to Nathan.

--Nathan tells David a parable of a man with a single sheep stolen by a rich man with many sheep.

--David confesses & repents.

--The son dies.

--Solomon is born.

--Why did this sin occur?

--David was in the wrong place.

--He should have been at war with his army. In 11:1, we are told that this was the time that kings go out to war.

--But David did not go out to war, rather he sent Joab to fight the Ammonites.

--David entertained lustful thoughts.

--When he saw Bathsheba & noticed her beauty, he wanted to know more about her.

--“Look but don’t touch” is a bad philosophy. Looking often leads to touching.

--Refusing to look is the only sure way to avoid touching.

--David acted on his lusts.

--He sent for her. She could hardly refuse, since David was the king.

--David knew that she was another man’s wife, but still he wanted her.

--David hid from the truth.

--Calling for Uriah to come from the battle was out of the ordinary, &

--telling him to go home with his wife was unconscionable.

--That is why Uriah refused to go home. It was wrong!

--Note that the king, the chosen of God, is put to shame by the righteous actions of Uriah, one of his servants.

--David desperately covered up the sin by having Uriah placed at the front of the battle.

(You wonder if Joab knew what was happening, or if he simply followed orders without question. It could not have been standard practice to send a particular soldier to the front line.)

--Lessons from David & Bathsheba

1. Be careful where you are! Being in the wrong place can have terrible consequences.

2. Monitor your thoughts & desires carefully.

--This involves character development, self-restraint, and accountability.

3. The sinner cannot escape God’s eyes.

--God will see the sin & confront his child.

--Someone will always be listening to God, even if you aren’t.

4. Sin has consequences.

--It may be true to say that no sin is worse than another, but some have much worse consequences.

--This sin caused death for two innocent victims, disgrace to the king, & ultimately division in the royal family.

David and Absalom

--Amnon, Tamar & Absalom (13:1-14:33)—

--Amnon rapes Tamar

--Amnon “fell in love” his half-sister Tamar. His sexual desire for her is making him ill.

--So his friend, Jonadab, suggests a ruse to lure her into the den. Jonadab is called “shrewd.” Amnon pretends to be sick so that Tamar will come & nurse him.

--So Tamar goes to Amnon’s house to care for him.

--She protests against his sexual advances. In fact, she suggests that David would let them marry, but to do it like this was wrong!

--Amnon rapes Tamar, thus humiliating & disgracing her.

--Now he hates her, & she protests being forced to leave.

--Absalom tells her to keep it quiet, & she lives in his house.

--Absalom hated Amnon. Note that the text specifically says that Absalom was angry, as was David, but nothing was done about it. Absalom did not speak to Amnon. Rather he let the problem fester & grow, until he kills him.

--Absalom kills Amnon (13:23-36)

--After 2 years, Absalom plots to kill Amnon for the rape of his sister, Tamar. He prepares a dinner banquet & has his men kill Amnon when he is drunk.

--NOTE—Jonadab, who had suggested the original plan for Amnon is now reporting his death to David.

--Absalom flees to Geshur (13:37-39)

--The king of Geshur was his grandfather, i.e. his mother’s father (see 2 Sam 3:3). Thus, Absalom fled to his mother’s family for refuge.

--Geshur was a kingdom to the NE of the Sea of Galilee, note “in Aram” (15:7).

--The original marriage was likely a marriage for political alliance & strength, i.e. a diplomatic marriage.

--During this 3-year period, David began to long to see his son. He had apparently gotten over the death of Amnon & wanted Absalom back, not as a murderer but as his son.

--Absalom returns to Jerusalem

--Joab concocts a plan to get Absalom back to Jerusalem. Joab once again is doing David’s work for him (at least in his mind!).

--He develops a scenario by which David can allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem without facing vengeance for his murder of Amnon.

--Absalom returns to Jerusalem, but does not see David for 2 years, & then only upon his own instigation.

-NOTE—David’s family is a mess! Amnon rapes his sister. Absalom hides the rape, but is embittered toward Amnon. David is angry at Absalom but does nothing. Absalom kills Amnon. David eventually sends for Absalom but does not see him for three years. Then . . .

--Absalom’s Revolt (15:1-19:43)

--Absalom proclaims himself king (15:1-12)

--Absalom carefully prepares his coup-d’etat.

--Absalom presents himself as the only hope for justice in Israel. He personally meets people with needs of judgment.

--He asks David to allow him to go to Hebron to fulfill a vow.

--He secretly gathered his followers in Hebron.

--Hebron was strategically chosen, since was the place where David began his reign as king. Absalom is attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps.

--He offered sacrifices to mark the inauguration of his reign.

--David flees Jerusalem (15:13-37)

--David leaves Jerusalem with large entourage, including the armies of the Kerethites/Pelethites & Gittites.

--David carefully chose allies to send back into Jerusalem. This shows again his ability as a leader. He chose the correct men to send back into the city. His real weakness was with his children (& don’t we understand that?).

--David sends Zadok & Abiathar back to Jerusalem to wait for the chance to send David word.

--David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom’s main counselor.

--David, Ziba, & Mephibosheth (16:1-4, 19:24-30)

--Ziba accuses Mephibosheth of plotting to take the throne.

--David gives Ziba Mephibosheth’s land.

--Later, Mephibosheth accuses Ziba of plotting against him.

--David orders Mephibosheth & Ziba to split their land.

--NOTE—David shows wisdom?

--Changes his mind when he learns more details.

--Refuses to take a stand between two irreconcilable positions.

--Hushai & Ahithophel (16:15-17:17)

--Hushai successfully delays Absalom’s attack of David’s troops. His rival, Ahithophel, then commits suicide.

--NOTE—Amasa is Absalom’s commander. He is presented as a relative of David, esp. in 1 Chron. 2:13-17, where his mother is David’s sister.

--David settles in Manahaim, across the Jordan River.

--Absalom Overthrown (18:1-19:8)

--Joab, Abishai, & Ittai the Gittite lead David troops into battle against Israel.

--Joab kills Absalom, against David’s explicit orders.

--David mourns for Absalom. Joab considers this to be a humiliation & insult of his troops, see esp. 19:5-7.

--David Returns to Jerusalem (19:8-43)

--David returns triumphantly to Jerusalem.

--Even here, however, we see the division of Israel & Judah (19:40-43). This division never is solved, as we see in the days following Solomon’s death as well.

Concluding Matters

--Sheba’s Revolt (20:1-22)

--After Absalom’s death, Sheba of Benjamin rebels against David.

--He tried to divide the nation between Judah & Israel, i.e. north & south.

--Joab leads the army against Sheba, who is killed by the people of Beth-Abel-Maacah, where he chose to take refuge.

--Also in this narrative, Joab kills Amasa. Joab is removing his rival, who is also a rival of David. Once again Joab keeps David from bloodguilt.

--NOTE—the constant tension between north & south!

--Administration (20:23-26)—

^{2SA 8:16} Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; ¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were royal advisers.

^{2SA 20:23} Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; ²⁴ Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ²⁵ Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; ²⁶ and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.

--NOTES:

--Joab was probably commander of the militia, or tribal army.

--Benaiah was commander of David’s personal bodyguard (see 2 Sam 15:18), the Kerethites & Pelethites.

--The “recorder” was possibly the official keeper of the records, while the “scribe” was officially responsible to the writing & copying of written material.

--Either Abiathar had a son named Ahimelech, or Ahimelech should be preceded by “Abiathar, son of . . .”

--Were David’s sons priests? Interesting question!

--The Famine (21:1-14)

--Vengeance for Gibeon (21:1-9)

--The famine in the land is attributed to a previously unknown attack against Gibeon by Saul. The people of Gibeon ask for vengeance, & David gives them 7 men to kill in retaliation.

--Rest for Saul’s bones (21:10-14)

----Rizpah, the mother of two of these seven men, protects their bodies for several months.

--David takes the bodies, along with the bodies of Saul & Jonathan, to Benjamin for burial.

--Then God heard prayer for the famine. (Note, however, that v. 10 suggests that rain had already begun to fall after the vengeance is enacted.)

--Philistine wars (21:15-22)—These verses likely describe a series of battles over a period of years. During this time, David finally subdued the Philistines.

--David’s song of praise (22:1-51)

--Parallel to Psalm 18—

Theme: --“The Lord is my Rock” (5x—vv. 2,3,32,47)

--David is praising God because He has enabled him to be the victorious king of His people. The Lord has been David’s rock, fortress, refuge, & deliverer. These do, indeed, sum up David’s life.

--David’s Last Words (23:1-7)

--The godly ruler rules in righteousness & fear of God. This ruler is a light to his world.

--David’s “house” (=dynasty) has an “everlasting covenant” with God. All others will be burned up like thorns.

--David’s Mighty Men (23:8-39)

--“The Three”

--Abishai & Benaiah

--“The Thirty”

--“37”—This number is difficult—

--Either 23:32 is two sons, or one is missing.

Theology of 1 & 2 Samuel

David’s Faithfulness

--David’s Faithfulness to Saul’s Family—David refused to kill Saul. David refuses to rejoice in the death of Saul or Ish-Bosheth, rather he executes their killers. David mourns for Saul & Jonathan. David is generous to Mephibosheth.

--David’s innocence concerning bloodguilt—David always maintains innocence. Someone else always kills his rival (sometimes very conveniently). Those guilty are then punished because of their presumption.

--David’s attitude of contrition before the Lord. He accepts his sins & the punishment that he is to receive for them. He acknowledges his need for Yahweh in everything that he does.

Prophecy

--Samuel—He heard & delivered the word of the Lord to various people, i.e. Eli, Saul. See esp. 1SA 3:20.

--“The prophets” (1 Sam. 10:5-13; 19:18-24; 28:6,15)

--Nathan (2 Sam 7:1-17; 12:1-15; 12:25; )

--Gad (1 Sam. 22:5, 2 Sam. 24:11-14, 18)

--The importance is that God speaks. He sends prophets to speak for Him. The people, & esp. the king, are expected to hear this word & obey it!

The Monarchy

--Controversy over monarchy (1 Sam 8-12). There was no unanimity for establishing the monarchy. In fact, Samuel was against the monarchy because it represented a rejection of Yahweh as the leader of Israel.

--“The Davidic Covenant”—(see Howard, 160-161)—

--The kingdom would belong to David’s line forever.

--Individual kings would face discipline when they stray from God’s ways, but the kingdom would never be taken away from David’s seed.

--A messiah would come from David’s line. This would be a future leader who would solve all of the problems of the kings of the past. The theology of messiah developed through the centuries until many strains can be seen in the 2^nd temple period. Jesus is presented in the NT as this “son of David.”