Why study 2nd Samuel? The book of 2nd Samuel is about God’s promises through His covenant with David to ensure that the throne, kingdom and lineage of David’s line will last forever. 2nd Samuel also relates the tragic consequences of sinfulness within the family of David. The book contains many lessons for living a holy life before God and the need to seek God’s guidance in all areas of life.
The books of 1st. and 2nd. Samuel were considered one book in the earliest Hebrew Scriptures and were divided into two books when the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint was written in about 200BC. English versions have kept the division as well as also dividing Kings and Chronicles into two books each. The book of 2nd Samuel relates the events of the days of the rule of king David. This is a period approximately from 1011 to 970 BC.
Basic Outline of 2nd Samuel
David Secures the kingdom: Chapters 1-10
David’s Sin and its Consequences: Chapters 11-20
David’s final Days: Chapters 21-24
Summary of 2nd Samuel
The book of 2nd. Samuel begins with the mourning of David over the death of Saul and his sons including Jonathan who was a dear friend to David. David wrote a lament in his grief over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan which is recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 1. David then inquired of the LORD as to where he and his family should reside. God told David to go to Hebron and in this place, David was anointed king over Judah. Soon after this, there were attempts to thwart the rulership of David. Abner, who was commander of Saul’s army installed Saul’s remaining son Ish-bosheth as king over Gilead, which is east of the Jordan River. This rule lasted for two years. There was also conflict between the followers of David and those still loyal to Saul. The leader of David’s forces, Joab killed Abner who had led the army of Saul. David mourned for Abner, showing his compassion for those who had been faithful to Saul. Soon after this, Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was killed which was destressing to David. As Saul’s influence over Israel was finally diminished, the tribes of Israel came to Hebron to anoint David king over Israel. Thus, David became king over the entire nation of the Israelites, those in the north of the tribes of Israel and those in the south, the people of Judah. The Philistines, upon hearing of David’s kingship over Israel and Judah, sought to kill David and fought against him twice but were defeated by David and his army.
David sought to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. The moving of the ark was a dangerous activity and the LORD struck down Uzzah, who had put his hands on the ark during this journey to Jerusalem. Because of this, David decided to leave the ark for three months at the home of Obed-edom, during which time the LORD blessed this home. After this three-month period. David successfully brought the ark to Jerusalem. David was so exuberant during this event that he danced before the LORD, leaping with joy. This incensed David’s wife Michal because David was only wearing a linen ephod and she berated him for his lack of judgment in not covering himself adequately. It was said of Michal that she remained childless until she died (perhaps due to the LORD’s response to her because of her anger over David’s rejoicing over bringing the ark to Jerusalem).
David was blessed by the LORD after bringing the ark to Jerusalem. The LORD had brought David and the kingdom rest from their enemies. David sought to build a permanent house (temple) for the ark to reside in as it was “housed” in tents for many generations. The LORD however would not allow David to build a temple for Him. Instead, the LORD declared that He would build a “house” for David. In his declaration to David through the prophet Nathan, the LORD made several promises to David in what is known as the Davidic Covenant, 2 s Samuel 2, chapter 7. These covenant promises included that during the lifetime of David, he would be given a great name in the earth and would be victorious over his enemies. Following David’s death, the LORD promised that David’s house (lineage), his throne and kingdom would last forever. (These promises would be fulfilled by David’s greater son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ who would in a future day, be born in David’s line in Bethlehem, the town of David’s birth. This greater son, who is the Son of God, will rule the earth sitting on the throne of David. The rule, throne and kingdom of the Messiah will last forever.) Note: the word “covenant” does not occur in 2 Samuel chapter 7 but is stated as a covenant in 2 Samuel 23:5; Psalm 89:3; 132:11 (oath); and is referred to in Isaiah 55:3.
Following the declaration of the LORD’s covenant with David, the army of David was successful in several battles, subduing the enemies of Israel. However, during one of these battles, in the springtime, David stayed in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel chapter 11. This was a dangerous time for David. Although he was “at ease,” he fell into temptation and committed adultery with Bathsheba whose husband Uriah, was away fighting for David in the war with the enemies of Israel. David, upon learning that Bathsheba was pregnant, sent word for Uriah to be brought home. David hoped that Uriah would have relations with his wife and would think that the child Bathsheba was carrying was Uriah’s child. Uriah however did not sleep at his house but slept at the door of the king’s house. David then sent Uriah back to the battle and requested, in a note to Joab, that Uriah be placed unprotected in the frontline of the battle ensuring his death. Follow Uriah’s death, after a period of mourning, David brought Bathsheba into his house as his wife.
These actions greatly displeased the LORD who sent a message to David through the prophet Nathan. 2 Samuel chapter 12. This message was that in the future David would experience evil from within his own house including the abuse of David’s wives by David’s neighbour. Also, the child, a son, that was to be born would not live. All this happened to David and the remainder of David’s life was filled with distress, family discord and an attempt by David’s son Absalom to usurp the throne from David. Some time after the declaration of God’s judgment upon David, his wife Bathsheba, gave birth to a son whom they called Solomon who would be destined to become king over Israel, after the death of David.
The remaining chapters of 2 Samuel, chapters 13-23 are stories of the internal conflicts and moral failures of the family of David. Chapters 12 to 18 relate the events of David’s son Absalom who sought to usurp the throne of his father. Absalom was killed by Joab, the commander of David’s army. Upon hearing of Absalom’s death, David mourned for his son with much grief. Joab, however, reminded David of his royal duties and loyalty to his subjects who depended upon him. David heeded the admonition of Joab and sought to reconcile by forgiveness those who had sided with Absalom, chapter 19. David’s struggles were not over, and he faced the rebellion of Sheba who successfully had the tribes of Israel follow him instead of David. Sheba was eventually killed, and this rebellion was put down, chapter 20.
Then the land experienced famine for three years. The LORD explained that this was judgment for Saul and his followers who had decimated the Gibeonites whom Joshua had promised protection. David sought to bring reconciliation with the Gibeonites. They demanded that seven relatives of Saul be given to them so they could have revenge on Saul by putting these relatives to death. David agreed but spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. David then took the bones of Saul and Jonathan, which were interred in Jabesh-Gilead and had then buried in the land of Benjamin in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. After this, the LORD removed the famine from the land. The Israelites once again fought against the Philistines and prevailed over them, however, David’s soldiers pleaded with him to refrain from engaging in battle, due to his age and his weariness in fighting the enemy, chapter 21.
The last chapters of 2 Samuel, record a song of David, praising the LORD for his deliverance and protection during the days when Saul sought to kill him and also for the LORD’s continual protection of David from all of his enemies, chapter 22. The last recorded words of David are recorded in chapter 23 however this is not the end of the story of David. Chapter 24, the final chapter of 2 Samuel, is a record of the LORD’s anger against David, who determined to have a census taken of his kingdom This may have been undertaken to determine the number of men who were eligible for fighting their enemies. God punished this lack of faith by David in not trusting in Him for protection. God sent a pestilence (plague) on the people and 70,000 men died. David pleaded with God to forgive him for his sinfulness and had an altar built where burnt offerings and peace offerings were made before the LORD. The LORD responded by removing the plague from the land.
Verses to Memorize from 2nd Samuel (verses from the ESV)
7:8-9 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
7:12-13 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
7:22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
12:7-8 Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.
22:2-4 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 4 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
22:29 For you are my lamp, O Lord and my God lightens my darkness.
22:31-32 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
23:2 The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.
Resources for studying the book of 2nd Samuel
See the article on how to study the Bible for suggestions on the method of Bible study and recommended resources to obtain. Suggested commentaries and studies are listed below for a more extensive study. Some are available on-line in a pdf format.
One Hour – One Book: Scroll down to video on 1st and 2nd Samuel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrCJNW5eUWQMyVw_2VqW_w
Commentaries
Bergen, Robert D. 1, 2 Samuel. The New American Commentary, Broadman & Holman, 1996.
Chisholm, Robert B., Jr. 1 & 2 Samuel. Teach the Text Commentary series. Baker Books, 2013.
Constable, Thomas. Notes on 2 Samuel, latest edition. Online at Plano Bible Chapel.
Laney, J. Carl. First and Second Samuel. Everyman’s Bible Commentary series. Moody Press, 1982.
Merrill, Eugene H. 1, 2 Samuel. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, Victor Books, 1987.
Neely, Winfred, O. 1, 2 Samuel. The Moody Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers, 2014.
Youngblood, Ronald R. 1, 2 Samuel. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, Zondervan, 1992.
Studies
Grisanti, Michael. A. The Davidic Covenant. The Master’s Seminary Journal 10/2 (Fall 1999) 233-250.
Hanna, Kenneth G. From Moses to Malachi: Exploring the Old Testament. 2nd ed. CrossBooks, 2014.
Heater, Homer, Jr. A Theology of Samuel and Kings. In A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, Moody Press, 1991
Kaiser, Walter C. Jr. 2 Samuel 7: The Davidic Covenant (1). The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy, Moody Publishers, 2019, Pages 385-397.
Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests. Baker Book House, 1987.
Rydelnik, Michael A. 2 Samuel 23:1-7: David’s Last Words. The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy, Moody Publishers, 2019, Pages 399-409.
Swindoll, Charles R. David: A Man of Passion and Destiny. Great Lives from God’s Word Series. Word Publishing, 1997.
Thiele, Edwin R. The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1965.
Wood, Leon J. A Survey of Israel’s History. Revised by David O’Brien. Zondervan Publishing House, 1986.
This survey is posted below in .pdf format for downloading to your computer.