The Battle at Mount Gilboa

c. 1010 B.C.

Philistine forces advanced to Shunem from Aphek and prepared to attack the Israelites near their camp in Jezreel. Saul, fearing the great army that faced him, slipped away during the night to consult a medium at En-dor in order to seek the counsel of the deceased Samuel. When the Philistines attacked the next morning, the Israelites retreated up the slopes of Mount Gilboa. Saul and three of his sons were killed, and the Philistines mocked Israel by hanging their bodies on the wall of Beth-shean. Later, men from Jabesh-gilead traveled through the night and recovered the bodies.

The Battle at Mount Gilboa

Introduction to 2 Samuel

2 Samuel

See Introduction to 1–2 Samuel.

Outline

  1. Story of King David (1:1–20:26)
    1. David and the death of Saul (1:1–27)
    2. David becomes king (2:1–5:5)
    3. Jerusalem, the city of David (5:6–25)
    4. Zion, the place of worship (6:1–23)
    5. Davidic covenant: eternal throne (7:1–29)
    6. Catalog of David’s military activities (8:1–18)
    7. Mephibosheth (9:1–13)
    8. Israel-Ammon war (10:1–12:31)
      1. Beginning of Israel-Ammon war (10:1–19)
      2. David and Bathsheba (11:1–12:25)
      3. End of Israel-Ammon war (12:26–31)
    9. Absalom’s banishment and reinstatement (13:1–14:33)
    10. Absalom’s rebellion (15:1–19:43)
      1. Absalom’s conspiracy (15:1–12)
      2. David’s escape from Absalom (15:13–16:14)
      3. Ahithophel and Hushai (16:15–17:23)
      4. David arrives at Mahanaim (17:24–29)
      5. Death of Absalom (18:1–19:8a)
      6. David’s return to Jerusalem (19:8b–43)
    11. Sheba’s rebellion (20:1–26)
  2. Epilogue (21:1–24:25)
    1. Famine and the death of Saul’s sons (21:1–14)
    2. Philistine wars (21:15–22)
    3. Song of David (22:1–51)
    4. Last words of David (23:1–7)
    5. David’s heroes (23:8–39)
    6. The census and the threshing floor (24:1–25)