2 Samuel

By Mary Jane Chaignot

This book continues the story begun in 1 Samuel. It records how David became king of all Israel after the death of Saul. The books of Kings, which follow, will carry on the story through to the exile. While Samuel was the main character in the first book (hence its name), David will dominate the pages of the second book of Samuel. Some scholars maintain, however, that reading 2 Samuel without having a good knowledge of 1 Samuel would be like starting to read a novel in the middle and trying to figure it all out on that basis. These two books are intricately connected, not just because they bear the same name and were undoubtedly one book in the beginning, but also because of what they reveal about God.

The overall theme of 1 Samuel was to document the transition of the people of Israel from a loosely formed federation of tribes to a united monarchy. It accomplished this through exciting stories of battles, intrigue, and love. 2 Samuel shows the sovereignty of God in establishing the house of this monarchy. Good leaders are hard to find. And even a good leader can embody the qualities of good and evil. Both these books are steeped in the tradition of the Deuteronomists, who believed, simply stated, that the righteous are blessed and the wicked are punished. This simplistic theology undergirds the rise and fall of the various characters. To their credit, the authors paint a balanced picture of Israel's life and their leaders, showing both positive and negative incidents.

We will recall from 1 Samuel how the people had begged for a king, to be "like all the nations." Samuel, for one, felt this was a bad idea. He saw this as turning away from the foundations of loyalty to Yahweh. But then Yahweh graciously gave the people what they wanted - a king named Saul. Shortly into his reign, however, Saul rejected Yahweh's rule and lost his kingship. Some scholars think the cards had always been stacked against him; nonetheless, "another" was brought onto the scene, namely David. For a while David served in Saul's court - in his army. But as David's popularity soared, Saul became jealous and David was forced to flee for his life. When Saul and his sons were killed in battle, David was the logical replacement. Yet, a careful reader will notice that David's life was hardly flawless. Interestingly, he was not rejected for his wrongdoings. Indeed, Yahweh promised to establish David's kingdom forever, and stated, "I will be his father and he shall be my son." These words of adoption did not give David license to misbehave. To be sure, if David were to do wrong, Yahweh declared that he would be chastised; but Yahweh promised, "I shall not withdraw my good-will from him as I withdrew it from Saul…"

In fact, David did many things wrong. David might have been God's anointed, his adopted son, but he is not held up as someone we should emulate. David is not given to us for a moral example. His misdeeds were probably recorded because they were public knowledge. (In contrast, the author of Chronicles judiciously avoids many of David's missteps.) And while David's monarchy was diminished after his affair with Bathsheba and the arranged death of her husband, Yahweh remained faithful to his word. Some scholars see this as a glimpse of grace shining through the Deuteronomist's mantra of crime and punishment. Even in the face of evil, the message is, there is hope for redemption. The authors do not address why this was only offered to David and not to Saul. Bear in mind, however, that the final shape of this book occurred years after the fact; so it might just be a historical tribute to the actual events. Suffice it to say that within these pages, many lessons can be learned.

First and foremost, the authors believed that God was intimately involved in their lives and in their community. They saw the hand of God in all the events that occurred. These stories, then, are told from the point of view of God being present with them (albeit silently at times), of having made a covenant with them, and of having revealed himself to them. It's not that they constantly refer to God. Indeed, many texts are very circumspect about God's role. Generally, God only speaks to and through his prophets. Yet, the stories have to be read within this framework. Everything they do, they do in relation to God. And ultimately, though it seems like the leaders are making decisions and dominating the action, in reality it is God who determines the outcome.

There are four primary sections in 2 Samuel:

The Question of Saul's Successor: 1:1-5:1-10
David's reign: 5:11-8:18
David's family: 9:1-20:26
The Death of David: 21:1-24:25

1:1-5:1-10 - The Question of Saul's Successor

1:1-16
- The news of Saul's death
1:17-27
- David laments the death of Saul and Jonathan
2:1-4:12
- David's rise to power begins
  - 2:1-4a
    - David moves to Hebron - a central city, good for a new beginning
    - People of Judah anoint David; other eleven tribes do not know this
  - 2:4b-7
    - David blesses Jabesh Gilead (northern city) for burying Saul
  - 2:8-11
    - One of Saul's commanders (Abner) makes Saul's son king over Israel (First time Israel is used as a name for northern tribes)
    - David is king of Judah for 7 years, six months
  - 2:12-32
    - Battle between David's servants and Saul's son's servants
    - Ultimately, David's servants win battle
  - 3:1-21
    - Abner offers David a deal
    - Saul's son (Ishbaal) is upset with
    - Abner over a power move Abner switches loyalties, delivers the north to David
  - 3:22-38
    - Joab, David's general, believes Abner is a spy
    - Joab kills Abner without David's knowledge
    - David publicly repudiates Joab's actions
    - He makes the murderers participate in a state burial
    - The people respond positively to David
  - 4:1-12
    - Saul's captains murder Ishbaal
    - They bring Ishbaal's head to David
    - David has the captains killed for killing an innocent man
5:1-5
- The Elders of Israel Anoint David
- This is David's third anointing
- He's been king over Judah (southern territory) for seven years already
- He will now rule over the united kingdoms for another 33 years
5:6-10
- David chooses the city of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem is between northern and southern kingdoms
- It is not ruled by either
- Jerusalem will now be known as the "City of David"

5:11-8:18 - David's reign

5:11-16
- King of Tyre (immediately to the north) sends trees and masons to help David build a house "fit for a king"
- David has many wives and concubines - like the other kings
5:17-25
- Philistines don't share Israel's enthusiasm for David
- Philistines were able to defeat Saul; now go after David
- The Lord tells David to "go up" after them; they will be delivered unto him
- Two battles take place; David is successful in both
- Philistine threat is over for the remainder of 2 Samuel
6:1-23
- Back to the Ark of God
- Suddenly David remembers the ark that embodies the holy rule of Yahweh
- David plans to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem
- Bringing it to Jerusalem establishes his kingdom under God's authority
- The move is accompanied by much dancing and singing
- Uzzah (one of the guards) unthinkingly touches the ark
- Uzzah immediately drops dead
- David is afraid to bring it into Jerusalem, gives it to the house of Obed-edom, where it stays for 3 months
- Obed-edom's house is blessed
- Report of Obed-edom's blessings gets back to David
- Then, David brings the ark to Jerusalem
- David sings and dances (worships)
- His behavior is offensive to Michal (His wife, but Saul's daughter)
- Michal chastises David, is rendered barren
7:1-29
- David's prayer (Pivotal chapter for David's kingship)
- Now that the ark is in Jerusalem, David thinks he should build a sanctuary for it
- Nathan (prophet) initially agrees
- That night the Lord appears to Nathan - Change of plans
- The Lord announces that David's offspring will build him his house
- In the meantime, the Lord will "build David's house"
- Promises to "establish David's kingship forever"
- David "sits" before God, thereby placing his kingship before God
- David has listened to Nathan; asks for God's blessing
- David gives up control, leaves the initiative to God
8:1-14
- Fighting resumes
- David's campaigns are all successful, expands Israel's borders on all sides
- "The Lord gave the victory to David wherever he went." (8:6, 14)
8:15-18
- Administrative appointments
- David spends as much time on maintaining peace as he does on war
- Treats his people with care and justice

9:1-20:26 - David's family

9:1-13
- Saul's son Mephibosheth is brought to David
- David inquires on whereabouts of any of Saul's remaining sons
- Wants to show kindness in memory of Jonathan
- Attempts to unite remaining Saulide loyalists
- Mephibosheth was lame, one of Saul's sons
- He is brought to David with fear and trepidation
- David welcomes him to his table
- Lives in Jerusalem with full dignity
10:1-19
- The fighting resumes
- David sends envoys to the new Ammon king following the death of his father
- His intention is to console him over the loss of his father
- The new king feels threatened, seizes the envoys
- Needless to say, war breaks out between the two nations
- The Ammonites bring in the Arameans to help
- David subdues the Arameans, makes them subject to Israel
- Battle is over, but Ammonites remain a threat
11:1-12:31
- David and Bathsheba
- Joab is off fighting the Ammonites; David stays behind in Jerusalem
- David sees Bathsheba
- David sends messengers to "get her"…. And he "lay with her"
- Bathsheba becomes pregnant
- Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite, is called home
- David tells him to go to Bathsheba
- Uriah stays the night with his soldiers
- David sends Uriah into battle, orders Joab to make sure he is killed
- Bathsheba mourns Uriah. When the mourning time is over, she goes to live with David, and "bore him a son"
  - 11:27b-12:15a
    - Nathan speaks to David
    - Yahweh instructs Nathan
    - Nathan tells a parable about a man with a pet lamb
    - David is outraged at the rich man who takes the pet lamb
    - Nathan tells him, "You are the man"
    - David acknowledges his sin, is told BY WHOM? "I will raise up trouble against you from within your house"
    - Nathan pronounces forgiveness upon David
  - 12:15b-25
    - David and Bathsheba's son is born
    - The child is ill; David prays for seven days, but the child dies
    - David rises, worships, and consoles Bathsheba
    - David and Bathsheba have two more sons:
    - Solomon and Jedidiah
  - 12:26-31
    - The Ammonites are defeated
    - The war has been raging while all these events transpire in Jerusalem
    - Joab has been handling the war.
    - When victory is certain, he calls for David
    - David finishes the campaign and claims the spoils of war
13-20
- Family troubles - "I will raise up trouble against you…."
- David has three sons older than Solomon (the intended heir)
- Ultimately all three must be disqualified to open the way for Solomon
  - 13:1-22
    - The rape of Tamar
    - David's son, Ammon, lusts after his half sister, Tamar
    - A cousin, Jonadab, comes up with a plan
    - Ammon feigns sickness; Tamar is brought in to care for him
    - Ammon forces himself upon her…then hates her and throws her out
    - Tamar mourns loudly and publicly
    - Her full brother, Absalom, takes her home
    - David finds out, but does nothing because he "loves" Ammon
  - 13:23-38
    - Absalom kills Ammon
    - Two full years pass
    - Absalom holds a sheep shearing celebration
    - Ammon is invited and when he is drunk,
    - Absalom's men kill him Absalom flees across the border
    - He spends the next three years in exile
    - David mourns his son, Absalom
  - 14:1-33
    - Absalom returns
    - Joab sees David's pending change of heart re: Absalom
    - Puts a plan in motion through a "wise woman"
    - She poses as a widow with two sons, one of whom killed the other
    - People are now insisting the remaining son be killed
    - David sees the injustice in this, doesn't yet realize it's about him
    - Promises to protect the remaining son
    - Then he gets it; sends Joab to get Absalom
    - But David refuses to see him
    - Restoration of the family does not occur
    - After two years, Absalom presses the matter with Joab
    - Insists on being taken to the king regardless of outcome
    - David "kisses" Absalom
    - But by now, Absalom is less of a "son" and more of a "rival" for David
  - 15:1-12
    - Absalom steals the hearts of the people
    - King David is somewhat remiss in dealing with concerns of the people
    - Absalom is ready to take charge
    - After spending four years in Jerusalem, Absalom offers to return to the holy city of Hebron for a religious banquet
    - Arranges a coup against David
    - Sends messengers proclaiming, "Absalom is king"
  - 15:13-16:14
    - David flees
    - David is told about Absalom
    - Escapes out of Jerusalem with only a few servants and a bodyguard
    - Along the way David's needs are met by foreigners, priests, and servants
    - Story is very personal; not everyone is happy to see David
    - David learns from this experience, listens to God
    - Escapes to the Jordan
  - 16:15-17:14
    - Absalom and his Counselors
    - Absalom returns to Jerusalem
    - One of David's advisors (Hushai) offers his services to Absalom
    - Eventually Absalom trusts him, but he's spying for David
    - Absalom seeks the advice of two counselors (Hushai is one of them)
    - One tells him to sleep with his father's concubines (transfer of power)
    - Sexual relations with the concubines of a king establish a claim on the kingdom
    - Absalom complies "in the sight of all Israel"
    - Next the counselor advises that he should immediately track and kill David
    - The other reminds Absalom that David will be hard to kill
    - Tells Absalom he must go after David himself - with all Israel to help him
    - Choosing this approach delays the matter since they must wait for the troops to gather
    - Absalom chooses the second (offered by Hushai)
  - 17:15-22
    - Hushai's loyalty to David
    - Hushai sends word to David re: Absalom's plans
    - David moves his men to the other side of the Jordan
  - 17:23
    - First counselor hangs himself
  - 17:24-18:18
    - David's army defeats Absalom
    - David has time to get his troops in order, feed them, add to their ranks
    - Is restrained by his own troops from leading the battle
    - Tells his commanders to "deal gently with "Absalom"
    - Absalom's hair gets caught in trees
    - He is left hanging, helpless and is quickly killed by Joab
    - His hair was source of great pride; now reason for his death
    - No state burial here; Absalom's body is thrown on a pile
  - 18:19-33
    - David mourns the loss of Absalom
    - Commanders think telling David the bad news will be tricky
    - Send an outsider, a Cushite
    - A friend of David also volunteers
    - The friend gets there first, tells David the battle is over
    - The Cushite tells David Absalom is dead, but gives no details
    - Despite Absalom's coup, David mourns his son
    - "Would I had died instead of you"
  - 19:1-43
    - David returns to Jerusalem
    - Alongside David, all the troops "mourn" for
    - Absalom (somber victory)
    - Country is confused, too - who really is king?
    - Absalom was young, vibrant; David is "old," maybe too old
    - Anti and pro-David factions are active
    - David is roused from his mourning to deal with his kingship
    - Enlists help of trusted priests to convince the elders to embrace David
    - Hires Absalom's commander, replaces Joab Intended both to punish Joab for Absalom's death, attract Absalom loyalists back to David
    - Tide turns when anti-David forces come to repent
    - David forgives them, shows he is king of all, not just his followers
    - Saul's son, Mephibosheth, pledges his loyalty
    - Meeting with Barzilla along the road
    - David offers Barzilla a life of ease in the palace
    - Barzilla declines, but blesses him (and vice versa), sends his son
    - Barzilla symbolically frees David from obligations of hospitality
    - Also indicates alliance with north
    - Should have settled things, but immediately following, bickering starts anew
    - There is a rupture between northern and southern factions
    - Northerners don't want to be second-class citizens
  - 20:1-26
    - Another revolt (Sheba, a Benjamite)
    - Sheba, a northerner of the tribe of Saul, leads a revolt against
    - David David returns to Jerusalem
    - Dismantles his harem, the ones humiliated by Absalom
    - Perhaps he has learned his real authority is God-derived
    - Sends his new commander after Sheba
    - The commander dawdles, Joab returns to the scene and kills him
    - Joab pursues Sheba to the city of Abel
    - Besieges the city; a wise woman offers a deal
    - She will give up Sheba if Joab withdraws from the city
    - Both keep their words
    - Joab is back in his old job, commander of David's army

21:1-24:25 - The Death of David

21:1-14
- Famine in the Land
- There is a three-year famine
- David prays for guidance
- Is told that famine is consequence of Saul's evil acts against
- Gibeonites
- David asks the Gibeonites what he should do
- They think ritual sacrifice of Saul's seven sons will solve the famine
- David does what they ask
- Two of the sons were of Rizpah
- She publicly mourns them, watches over their bodies
- David hears about her, repents, orders that all the bodies (including Saul's and Jonathan's) be properly buried
- Then the famine ends
- Rizpah brings David to his theological senses
- God doesn't require human sacrifices; God requires human mercy
21:15-22
- David's warriors
- Another battle looms with the Philistines
- David's men are highlighted as big, fierce, and courageous
22:1-51
- David's prayer
- Words are from Psalm 18 (or vice versa)
- Summary of David's life
- "The Lord is my rock…fortress…deliverer….shield…salvation
- God is the one who empowers David
- He recalls God's saving acts, his mercy towards David
- He declares his descendants will inherit God's promises
23:1-7
- David's last words
- Celebrates being chosen by God
- Celebrates his lifework
- Affirms his legacy - its everlasting covenant
23:8-39
- Pays tribute to his warriors
- Last on the list - Uriah, the Hittite
- Thirty-seven in all
24:1-25
- The establishment of the Jerusalemite Cult
- David is told to take a census of the north and south
- He does this, but realizes it was wrong as soon as it is complete
- He is offered his choice of punishment
- Chooses pestilence
- Many people die
- David confesses his sin; takes full responsibility
- Before the pestilence reaches Jerusalem, David is able to stop the "angel of the Lord on the threshing floor of Arunah the Jebusite."
- Scholars believe this to be the site of the Temple that Solomon would build
- Story shows David laying the foundation for the Temple
- David pays Arunah for the land

The book of Samuel ends with a difficult story, but one that highlights David in all his humanity. David's mistakes are not ignored or excused, and sometimes they have grave consequences. Nonetheless, David is remembered as Israel's greatest king. Despite his failures, he had many successes. Perhaps the greatest lesson is to realize that people can be of use to God amidst all their strengths and weaknesses. Out of this unholy place and time (with its sexual mores and warring traditions) God was able to form a holy people. God's work continues uninterrupted despite the ways of the world. The story, however, is far from finished. Next month we will begin to explore the world of the Kings through to their end. As always, God's presence is presumed. The books are inherently theological and offer an explanation for the demise of the Israelite kingdoms.

Bibliography

Alter, Robert and Frank Kermode. The Literary Guide to the Bible. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press. 1987.

Brueggeman, Walter. "1 & 2 Samuel." Interpretation. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1990.

Buttrick George, ed. Interpreter's Bible. New York, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1953.

Dummelow, J.R. A Commentary on the Holy Bible. New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1977.

Evans, Mary. "1 and 2 Samuel." New International Biblical Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000.

Mills, Watson and Richard Wilson. Mercer Commentary on the Bible. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1995

Payne, David. "I & II Samuel." The Daily Study Bible Series. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1982.

Peterson, Eugene. "First and Second Samuel." The Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999.

Robinson, Gnana. "1 & 2 Samuel, Let Us Be Like the Nations." The International Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1993.

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