a quick look
Author:
Unknown
Audience:
God’s chosen people, the Israelites
Date:
Sometime after Israel was divided into the northern and southern kingdoms in about 930 BC
Theme:
2 Samuel presents the story of David’s 40-year reign, beginning with his rise to become Israel’s model king and ending with his subsequent decline caused by sin.
Title
1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book (see
Introduction to 1 Samuel: Title
).
Literary Features, Authorship and Date
See
Introduction to 1 Samuel: Literary Features, Authorship and Date
.
Contents and Theme: Kingship and Covenant
2 Samuel depicts David as a true (though imperfect) representative of the ideal theocratic king. David was initially acclaimed king at Hebron by the tribe of Judah (chs.
1–4
) and subsequently was accepted by the remaining tribes after the murder of Ish-Bosheth, one of Saul’s surviving sons (
5:1–5
). David’s leadership was decisive and effective. He captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his royal city and residence (
5:6–13
). Shortly afterward he brought the ark of the Lord from the house of Abinadab to Jerusalem, publicly acknowledging the Lord’s kingship and rule over himself and the nation (ch.
6
;
Ps 132:3–5
).
Under David’s rule the Lord caused the united kingdom to prosper, to defeat its enemies and, in fulfillment of his promise (see
Ge 15:18
), to extend its borders from Egypt to the Euphrates (ch.
8
). David wanted to build a temple for the Lord—as his royal house, as a place for his throne and as a place for Israel to worship him. But the prophet Nathan told David that he was not to build the Lord a house (temple); rather, the Lord would build David a house (dynasty). Ch.
7
announces the Lord’s promise that this Davidic dynasty would endure forever. This climactic chapter also describes the establishment of the Davidic covenant (see notes on
7:1–29
,
11
,
16
;
Ps 89:30–37
). Later the prophets make clear that a descendant of David who sits on David’s throne will perfectly fulfill the role of the theocratic king. He will complete the redemption of God’s people (see
Isa 9:6–7
;
11:1–16
;
Jer 23:5–6
;
30:8–9
;
33:14–16
;
Eze 34:23–24
;
37:24–25
), thus enabling them to achieve the promised victory with him (
Ro 16:20
).
David was a king after God’s own heart because he was willing to acknowledge his sin and repent.
After the description of David’s rule in its glory and success, chs.
9–20
depict the darker side of his reign and describe David’s weaknesses and failures. Even though David remained a king after God’s own heart because he was willing to acknowledge his sin and repent (
12:13
), he nevertheless fell far short of the theocratic ideal and suffered the disciplinary results of his disobedience (
12:10–12
). His sin with Bathsheba (chs.
11–12
) and his leniency with regard both to the wickedness of his sons (
13:12–39
;
14:1
,
33
;
19:4–6
) and to the insubordination of Joab (
3:28–39
;
20:10
,
23
) led to intrigue, violence and bloodshed within his own family and the nation. It eventually drove him from Jerusalem at the time of Absalom’s rebellion. Nonetheless the Lord was gracious to David, and his reign became a standard by which the reigns of later kings were measured (see
1Ki 15:3–5
;
2Ki 18:3
;
22:2
).
The book ends with David’s own words of praise to God, who had delivered him from all his enemies (
22:31–51
), and with words of expectation for the fulfillment of God’s promise that a king will come from the house of David and rule “over people in righteousness” (
23:3–5
). These poems echo many of the themes of Hannah’s song (
1Sa 2:1–10
), and together they frame (and interpret) the basic narrative.
Chronology
See
Introduction to 1 Samuel: Chronology
.
Outline
Below is an outline for 2 Samuel. For an outline of both 1 and 2 Samuel, see
Introduction to 1 Samuel: Outline
.
7. David’s reaction to and lament over Saul’s death (
2Sa 1
)
C. David Becomes King over Judah (
2:1–3:5
)
D. David Becomes King over All Israel (
3:6–5:5
)
VII. David’s Reign Characterized Illustratively (
5:6–8:18
)
A. David’s Conquest of Jerusalem and His Recognition by the King of Tyre (
5:6–16
)
B. David’s Crushing of the Philistine Threat (
5:17–25
)
C. David’s Bringing the Ark into His Royal City (ch.
6
)
D. God’s Covenant with David (ch.
7
)
E. David’s Victories that Secure the Boundaries of His Kingdom (ch.
8
)
VIII. Threats to David’s Reign Overcome (chs.
9–20
)
A. David’s Kindness to Saul’s Remaining Heir (ch.
9
)
B. Defeat of the Ammonite-Aramean Challenge to David’s Reign (
10:1–19
;
12:26–31
)
C. David’s Shameful Abuse of His Royal Power in the Matter of Bathsheba and Uriah (
11:1–12:25
)
D. Absalom’s Challenge to David’s Rule (chs.
13–20
)
1. Amnon’s abuse of power and Absalom’s revenge (ch.
13
)
2. Absalom’s revolt crushed (chs.
14–19
)
3. Absalom’s attempt sparks another unsuccessful revolt (ch.
20
)
IX. Sidebars to the David Story (Chiastically Arranged) (chs.
21–24
)
A. God’s Wrath against Israel because of Something Saul Had Done (
21:1–14
)
B. Exploits of David’s Mighty Men in Wars against Philistines (
21:15–22
)
C. David’s Song in Praise of the Lord for Victories Granted (ch.
22
)
C’. David’s “Last Words” that Speak of God’s Ways with Him and His House (
23:1–7
)
B’. David’s Mighty Men and Their Exploits, Especially against Philistines (
23:8–39
)
A’. God’s Wrath against Israel because of Something David Did (ch.
24
)
[BACK TO 19:24]
He lay naked all that day and all that night.
Saul was so overwhelmed by the power of the Spirit of God that he was prevented from carrying out his intention to take David’s life. His frustrated attempts to kill David—his own inability to harm David and the thwarting of his plans by Jonathan’s loyalty, by Michal’s deception and by David’s own cleverness—all reach their climax here. Is Saul also among the prophets?
This second occasion reinforced the first (see
10:11
and note). Its repetition underscores how alien Saul’s spirit was from that of these zealous servants of the Lord.
[BACK TO 21:4]
consecrated bread.
The “bread of the Presence” (v.
6
; see
Ex 25:30
and note), which was placed in the Holy Place in the tabernacle and later in the temple as a thank offering to the Lord, symbolizing his provision of daily bread. provided the men have kept themselves from women.
Although the bread was to be eaten only by the priests (see
Lev 24:9
), Ahimelek agreed to give it to David and his men on the condition that they were ceremonially clean (see
Ex 19:15
;
Lev 15:18
). Jesus uses this incident to illustrate the principle that the ceremonial law was not to be viewed in a legalistic manner (see
Mt 12:3–4
). He also teaches that it is always lawful to do good and to save life (see
Lk 6:9
). Such compassionate acts are within the true spirit of the law.
[BACK TO 21:10]
Achish.
See note on
Ps 34
title. The name may have been a traditional title used by Philistine rulers (see note on
1Ki 2:39
). It appears as the title of a king of Ekron several centuries later (as attested in the annals of the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal, as well as in an inscription found at Ekron in 1996). Gath.
See
5:8
and note.
