INTRODUCTION TO II SAMUEL
In this first chapter of 2 Samuel, a messenger comes into the camp of David and reports the death of Saul....but something about this messenger's narrative doesn't add up.
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In chapter 2, God commands David to go to Hebron. Upon arriving, the people of Judah make him king…but there is about to be a power struggle between the forces of David and the remaining forces of Saul.
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The conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David intensifies…until one key figure decides to defect and form an alliance with David.
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When Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, found out that Abner had passed away in Hebron, he lost his bravery and all of Israel soon became very concerned. Ish-Bosheth had two commanders that decide to betray him in an attempt to gain David’s favor…will their plan succeed?
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2 Samuel Chapter 5 chronicles David’s rise to the position of king of all Israel.
The elders of each tribe fully support David’s kingship and meet him in Hebron to anoint him king over all Israel.
After the anointing, David leads a campaign to take Jerusalem from the Jebusites…but they firmly oppose David and mock his efforts to take the city. What’s more, the Philistines come out to meet the Israelites and destroy David.
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2 Samuel Chapter 6 begins with David and certain chosen men of Israel making the trip to retrieve the ark of God back to Israel.
They put the ark of God on a new cart and bring it out of the house of Abinadab in Gibeah. Those that were with David were joyful and happy. They sang and celebrated that the Lord's presence would soon be back with His people. However, along the way trouble and sadness struck. Something happened that none of Israel was expecting...
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King David is settled – the kingdom is in a good place, the palace is in order, his enemies are subdued – things are going well. But something stirs within him, something bothers him in the midst of all this peace and prosperity. He looks out of his cedar palace and sees the tent that holds the Ark of God. And this troubles him… How could he enjoy his palace as King when his God is sitting in a tent? Something must be done! So, he calls Nathan the prophet and the response given to him by God was overwhelming.
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With the assurance of God’s promise to establish the kingdom under David (chapter 7), David goes forth to establish his dominance over the surrounding countries. This chapter describes David’s successful defeat of 7 nations and his growing popularity with the people of Israel as he rules in judgement and justice.
The chapter ends with the listing of David’s administration, including his sons being chief rulers in Israel.
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2 Samuel Chapter 9 showcases David’s kindness to the house of Saul.
The chapter began as David asked his servants if anyone of Saul’s house was left to show compassion to. He soon discovers Saul’s son Jonathan has one remaining son. A crippled young man named Mephibosheth. The loving kindness David shows him is deeply symbolic of God’s mercy toward us. For every one of us sinners, this short but profound chapter reveals the depths of God’s mercy.
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When Hanun became king of the Ammonites after his father died, David chose to show kindness to him as his father was kind to David. A delegation was sent to express sympathy over the passing of his father. Once they arrived, the Ammonite commanders convinced Hanun that the delegate had evil intentions and were there as spies.
Hanun shaved their beards and further humiliated the delegation and sent them back to David. This angered David and the Ammonites knew they had to act quickly to gather a massive force to counter the power of the Israelites…will it be enough?
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During the spring, at a time when most kings head off to war, King David told Joab to go battle with his men, as well as the entire army of Isreal. They wiped out the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah while the king stayed in Jerusalem.
One evening while walking on the palace roof, David notices someone a short distance below...what he does next dramatically changes the course of his life and the remainder of his kingship.
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God sends the prophet Nathan to tell David a parable.
When David hears the parable, he is full of righteous anger, not realizing that it applies to him. Nathan then reveals to David that the story is about him and proceeds to issues a God given consequence that marks the most tragic moment in the life of David.
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“The sword will never depart from your house.”
These were the ominous words of Nathan the Prophet and directed by God. In other words, because of David’s sin with Bathsheba, there would always be division within his family. That disunion begins to take shape in Chapter thirteen with the introduction of some of David’s children and their troubling affairs.
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2 Samuel Chapter 14 describes thereunion of David and his son Absalom. It begins with Joab, David's, captain. He perceived David’s mourning the pesence of his exiled son.
Joab successfully enacts a plan to get the king to agree to bring Absalom back from exile. Absalom returns to Jerusalem but is not allowed to seethe king.
After two years without seeing his father, Absalom decides it's time to make up. He tries to use Joab as a middleman to things right, but Joab fails to respond to two of Absalom's requests. So, Absalom has his servants set fire to Joab's barley field. How do Joab and David respond to Absalom's aggression?
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Absalom was the son of King David and seemed to be in line for the throne. But it didn't come fast enough for Absalom. He saw his best years passing by and David was still alive. Bitter because of David's unwise parenting, inspired by raw ambition, and energized by brilliant political instincts, Absalom began to overthrow the reign of King David.
In the early morning hours, Absalom would ride a chariot into Jerusalem and have fifty men run ahead of him. Then, he would stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate and interact with the people in a humble manner in order to steal their hearts and allegiance away from David.
In the course of time a messenger informs David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”
David tells his officials, “We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”
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David is on the run and encounters a hostile Israelite who begins to curse and throw stones at him. Meanwhile, Absalom arrives in Jerusalem and attempts to set himself up as the new king. He received some of David’s counselors and servants who hoped to gain political favor. One of them encouraged Absalom to sleep with his father’s concubines as a symbol that he was now the king. Would Absalom follow through with this advice?
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In Chapter 17, Absalom takes counsel from two of David's advisors, Ahithophel and Hushai. Both men offer guidance on how best to pursue and kill David. This chapter provides a wonderful example of Divine intervention. God blinds the mind o f Absalom and influences his heart by convincing him not to accept Ahithophel's counsel, and that he should desire Hushai' s advice. In this chapter, we see how God can arm a man against himself and destroy him by his own mistakes and passions. We see clearly in this chapter that God can overrule all counsels. Whatever wisdom or help any man employs or affords, the success is from God alone.
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The conflict between David and Absalom has reached its climax. As Absalom leads a massive army toward his father's position, David prepares his men to meet Absalom in battle. The people object to David going with them, saying he's too important (sort of like the king in chess). David stays behind but informs his commanders to deal gently with Absalom if they find him.
The battle happens in the forest of Ephraim. Amid the fighting, Absalom runs into some of David's soldiers, while riding on his mule. What happens next is both comical and tragic...
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In the aftermath of the battle between Absalom and David, Israel is confused about what's going to happen. Most of the people sided with Absalom, so they don't know how David is going to react to being their king again.
David is aware of the people’s uncertainty and takes measures to reassure and reunite the nation.
As he travels over the Jordan into Judah and back to the city of Jerusalem some unexpected men come out to greet him…and a new conflict arises between the nation of Israel and the tribe of Judah.
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Judah is the only tribe that clings to the king.David sends Amasa to summ on the men of Judah to deal with Sheba . However, Amasa isunable to get organized, so David tells Abishai (Joab's brother) to take his men and pur sue Sheba . Abishai take the men along with Joab. Along the way, they meet up with Amasa,Joab (remembering that Amasa replaced him as general) does something that horrifies the men ...and as the men stand in stunn ed silence a demand isproclaimed forcing the men to make a choice...
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This chapter begins with a famine in Israel that lasts for three years. David asks the Lord why the famine is taking place in his kingdom.
The Lord God answers that Saul broke a vow and killed the Gibeonites and the matter needed to be corrected.
David rides into battle one last time and faces off with yet another giant from the Philistine lands.
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This chapter consists entirely of a song that David sings praising God for saving him from his enemies and from Saul. It is included later among the Psalms of David (Psalm 18).
This Psalm has a spiritual application to all that read it and serves as a devotional, in giving thanks to God for all His deliverances in our personal battles.
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This chapter begins with the last speech David made to the people of Israel. David, the anointed of the God of Jacob, spoke to the people. He told them that the Spirit of the Lord spoke by him.
David reminds the people of the everlasting covenant God made with him and the house of Judah.
In closing, David acknowledges the powerful and valiant mighty men who had been with him throughout his life
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Chapter 24 is the final chapter of 2 Samuel; it records David’s determination to number, the people in Israel. The record states that the Lord was displeased with him for doing this. Apparently, David was numbering the people to see how successful he really was as king. The Lord, however, was the one who gave David strength to conquer Israel’s enemies.
We learn, however, that there was a hidden enemy that prompted David to number the people. That enemy is still around today and is the author of much of our misery.
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