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Second Book of Samuel
Second Book of Samuel
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Concise Bible Dictionary
:
This gives the definite establishment of
David
in the
kingdom
, with the history of the kingdom and his own personal history to near the close of his
life
. See DAVID.
2 Samuel 1-4. David lamented over the
death
of
Saul
, and did not seek to grasp the kingdom immediately. He committed his way unto the
Lord
, asked to which of the cities he should go, and was content to reign in
Hebron
seven
years and
six
months
, until
God
’s
time
was come for him to reign over the whole of the tribes.
Abner
, Saul’s
captain
, made
Ish-bosheth
, Saul’s
son
, king at
Mahanaim
; but he was not, as Saul had been, God’s anointed. There were
wars
between the two houses, but David does not appear in them; they were conducted by
Joab
and Abner. The
house
of David waxed stronger and stronger. Abner, taking affront at the
rebuke
of Ish-bosheth concerning
Rizpah
, Saul’s concubine, revolted to David; but as he had previously killed
Asahel
, Joab’s
brother
, in one of the wars, Joab treacherously slew him, doubtless as much out of
jealousy
as to avenge the death of his brother. Two of Saul’s captains then killed Ish-bosheth, and brought his
head
to David, but David only condemned them to lose their own lives for their wickedness. This was followed by the whole of the tribes
anointing
David as their king.
2 Samuel 5. David, now king of all
Israel
, went to reside at
Jerusalem
, where he took more wives and
concubines
, and
children
were born to him. Twice he signally defeated the
Philistines
.
2 Samuel 6-7 gives the bringing up of the
ark of God
to Jerusalem. Then David thought to have built a house for God; but this was not God’s will: God would build
him
a house, and his son should build a house for God. David prays and gives thanks.
2 Samuel 8-10. David subdued all the enemies of Israel, and executed
judgment
and justice unto all the people. He then graciously showed kindness to the house of Saul in the person of
Mephibosheth
, son of
Jonathan
: though lame on both his feet, he sat continually at the king’s
table
.
Hanun
, king of the
Ammonites
, by insulting the ambassadors sent to him in kindness by David, drew upon the Ammonites sore
punishment
, and upon the Syrians who went to their aid: a vivid illustration of the solemn fact that those who refuse
grace
will be dealt with in judgment.
2 Samuel 11-12 records the sad story of David’s
sin
respecting
Bathsheba
, and the way he brought about the death of her
husband
. He was rebuked by
Nathan
: he confessed his sin, and it was
put
away; but he had to
bear
the needed
discipline
.
2 Samuel 13-20. Disorders in David’s house are related: his son
Amnon
is killed.
Absalom
is obliged to go into exile, but returns unrepentant; his revolt follows, and David seeks safety in flight. The punishment foretold by Nathan had come to pass, but God had
mercy
on His anointed; the counsels of
Ahithophel
are turned to foolishness, and Absalom meets the end he deserved. David returns to Jerusalem. A smaller revolt by
Sheba
is crushed by his death. David is again established on the
throne
, and his officers in the kingdom are duly recorded: (See
2 Sam. 8:16,18
16
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; (2 Samuel 8:16)
18
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. (2 Samuel 8:18)
).
2 Samuel 21-22. For
three
years God sent a
famine
, for He had a controversy with Saul’s house because Saul had slain the Gibeonites, to whom Israel had sworn protection. David sought to make reparation, and the Gibeonites asked that seven of the descendants of Saul should be given them, and they would hang them up before the Lord. Rizpah, the
mother
of some of them, defended the bodies
day
and
night
, until David buried them with the remains of Saul and his sons. And God was entreated for the land.
The Philistines again war with Israel, and now the descendants of the giants are slain by David’s valiant men. This is followed by a psalm of thanksgiving by David in which he celebrates what God had been for him in his necessities and dangers. Some of the expressions, as in many of the
Psalms
, will only be fully accomplished in the person of Christ Himself.
2 Samuel 23 gives “the last words of David,” wherein he exults in the infallibility of God’s
covenant
, notwithstanding the failure in his house. Then follows a list of David’s worthies, with their deeds of valor and devotedness. God also will have His valiant men; He will count them when He writeth up the people (
Psa. 87:6
6
The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. (Psalm 87:6)
).
2 Samuel 24. It is sad that the last public act of David should be one of sin, but it must be observed that the anger of
Jehovah
was kindled against
Israel
, and God punished their rebellion by allowing
Satan
to act upon the pride of David’s
heart
to number Israel (compare
1 Chron. 21:1
1
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:1)
). Even Joab could see that it was an error, and sought to divert the king from his purpose; but Satan succeeded, and the people were numbered. David then saw that he had sinned greatly, and confessed it to God, and asked Him to take away his iniquity. Three punishments were offered to David by the mouth of
the
prophet
, and he
chose
to fall “into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great.” A
pestilence
swept off 70,000 men, but when the destroying angel came to Jerusalem his hand was stayed. David bought the
threshing
floor of
Araunah
and his
oxen
, erected an
altar
, and offered up burnt offerings and
peace
offerings, and the plague was stayed.
The Second
Book
of Samuel gives the reign of David. In his rejection and in his subduing all his enemies he is a manifest
type
of Christ. David’s sins are not hidden, but his heart always turned to God, and his
faith
was answered by grace and restoration, though for his good the governmental chastisement was not withheld.
Related Books and Articles:
Meditations on 2 Samuel
By:
Henri L. Rossier
Lectures Introductory to the Bible: 2. Earlier Historical Books
By:
William Kelly
Call: 1-630-543-1441
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
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