Bible

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­We’re back in the Bible room today with the book of 2 Samuel. We will read this summary in 3 parts, beginning here with Part 1, Chapters 1 through 8.

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2 Samuel – Part 1

Introduction to 2 Samuel – Part 1:

Author: See 1 Samuel – Part 1 on this subject. 

Scope: 2 Samuel can be considered an extension of 1 Samuel, however, the chronological order of some events and times can only be approximated. Essentially, this book spans the period of time from Saul’s death through the reign of David, first over Judah, and then over all Israel.

Chapter 1. Mourning

Saul’s death means great sorrow, mourning for David:

• After routing the Amalekite raiders, David returns to Ziklag;
• A few days later a stranger comes off the road into town;
• Recognizing David, the man falls to the ground in his honor;
• Apparently, he does not know about the Amalekite raiders;
• He says he is an Amalekite who has come from Mt. Gilboa;
• He gives David the crown and arm band worn by Saul;
• And he brings news that Saul and his son Jonathon are dead;
• He claims to have killed a wounded Saul at his request;
• David and his men mourn for Saul and Jonathon, all Israel;
• Any man who would kill the Lord’s anointed must die;
• David orders the stranger be put to death;
• David mourns the death of Saul, Jonathon his best friend.

Chapter 2. Contention

Contention arises between the factions for David and for Saul:

• David, his family and supporters, settle in Hebron;
• He meets the men of Gilead who buried Saul and Jonathon;
• As king, he pledges to support them as did Saul;
• David has been anointed to be king in Judah;
• Abner, leader of Saul’s army, assumes command in Israel;
• He installs the son of Saul’s concubine, Ish-Bosheth as king;
• David rules in Judah, with Joab, for seven and a half years;
• Ish-Bosheth rules in Israel, with Abner, for two years;
• Abner and Joab propose a hand-to-hand death match:
• Twelve young men for each side fight, all kill each other;
• This fighting arrangement is inconclusive, battle rages;
• Abner kills Joab’s brother, Asahel;
• Joab’s forces prevail over the army of Abner;
• Abner and Joab call a truce, take their men home.

Chapter 3. Treachery

Disputing between factions lasts for several years:

• Fighting between forces of Joab and Abner continues;
• Joab’s army strengthens, Abner’s army weakens;
• The mother of Ish-Bosheth is Saul’s concubine, Rizpah;
• Ish-Bosheth accuses Abner of sleeping with Rizpah;
• Furious, Abner vows to change sides, support David;
• He brokers a deal between David and Ish-Bosheth;
• David’s terms:  His first wife, Michal, must be returned;
• The deal is confirmed, Abner heads home in peace;
• Joab meets with David, tells him not to trust Abner;
• The one David should not trust is Joab;
• He gets Abner to return to Hebron for a private meeting;
• As revenge for killing his brother, Joab stabs, kills Abner;
• David gets word, pronounces a curse on Joab’s life;
• Abner, a one-time enemy, is mourned by David;

Chapter 4. Offended

Ish-Bosheth, Israel’s king, has two renegade army raiders:

• They slip into Ish-Bosheth’s house at midday break;
• The king is murdered in his bed, decapitated;
• To please David, they take the king’s head to Hebron;
• Not pleased, but offended, David orders the men killed;
• They receive the same reward as the Amalekite at Ziklag;
• Their hands and feet are removed, bodies hung on display;
• Ish-Bosheth’s head is buried with Abner at Hebron.

Chapter 5. Power

At Hebron, David is installed king over all Israel–Judah and Israel:

• David is made king at thirty years old, reigns forty years–
• Seven and a half years at Hebron, thirty-three at Jerusalem;
• David defeats the Jebusites, takes Jerusalem as his capital;
• The Lord God Almighty is with David, he gains great power;
• Hiram, king of Tyre, builds David a palace at Jerusalem;
• At Jerusalem, David takes more wives, has children;
• With God’s help, David defeats repeated Philistine attacks.

Chapter 6. Presence

The Ark of the Covenant is the Presence of God for Israel:

• David wants to bring the Ark from Hebron to Jerusalem;
• The Ark is placed on a new oxcart at Abinadab’s house;
• Uzzah and Ahio, his sons, are guiding the cart;
• The ox stumbles, Uzzah touches the Ark, dies instantly;
• Traumatized, David leaves the Ark at Obed-Edom’s house;
• For three months, Obed-Edom is greatly blessed by God;
• David is told it’s the presence of God blessing Obed-Edom;
• He decides again to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, City of David;
• At Jerusalem, he sets the Ark in a special tent with a ceremony;
• David celebrates the occasion but his wife, Michal despises him;
• Michal is barren all her days for despising David.

Chapter 7. Prophecy

David has an idea to build a permanent home for the Ark: 

• He now has a house made of cedar, but the Ark is in a tent;
• He tells this to Nathan, the prophet, then asks for his opinion;
• Nathan tells David the Lord will be with him;
• That night the word of the Lord comes to Nathan;
• Concerning David’s plans: Nathan gets this prophecy:
• The Lord has, and will, bless David, he will be a great king;
• The nation of Israel will prosper, and be established forever;
• After David, his son will be the one who builds God’s house;
• The Lord will bless the house of David forever;
• Nathan gives this entire prophecy to David;
• David offers prayer and praise to God for his blessing.

Chapter 8. Control

With military might, David is in control of the entire region:

• He defeats the Philistines, the Moabites, the Edomites;
• He overruns the Ammonites, and various towns;
• All people of the region are made subject to Israel;
• The Lord gives victory to David in every battle;
• He controls everything to the Euphrates River.

END OF 2 SAMUEL – PART 1