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History · Old Testament · 24 chapters

The book of 2 Samuel

David’s reign, between glory and fall

Author
The prophets Nathan and Gad, according to tradition (cf. 1 Chr 29:29)
Written
Probably completed shortly after the division of the kingdom (around 930 BC)
Time covered
The forty years of David’s reign (around 1010–970 BC)
Key word
Covenant

David mourns Saul and Jonathan, then is anointed king of Judah at Hebron. After a long war against the house of Saul, all Israel acknowledges him. He captures Jerusalem, brings the ark up to it, and receives through Nathan a crucial promise: his throne will be established forever. Victorious on every side, he also shows grace to Mephibosheth. Then comes the fall: adultery with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah. Nathan confronts him and David repents, but the sword strikes his house: Amnon, Tamar, Absalom’s revolt and death. The book closes with songs, and with a census punished by plague.

Main theme

God establishes David as king over all Israel and promises him an eternal dynasty; but the king’s sin with Bathsheba brings down on his house a sword that will never depart from it, while God’s grace endures.

Outline

  1. 2 Samuel 1-5 — David becomes king of all Israel

    From the lament over Saul to the anointing at Hebron and the capture of Jerusalem.

  2. 2 Samuel 6-10 — The years of blessing

    The ark in Jerusalem, the Davidic covenant, the victories and the grace shown to Mephibosheth.

  3. 2 Samuel 11-12 — David’s sin

    Bathsheba, the death of Uriah, Nathan’s parable and the king’s repentance.

  4. 2 Samuel 13-20 — The sword in David’s house

    Amnon’s crime, the revolt and death of Absalom, then Sheba’s revolt.

  5. 2 Samuel 21-24 — Appendix to the reign

    Famine, songs, mighty men, the census and the altar on Araunah’s threshing floor.

Key points

  • David refuses to rejoice at Saul’s death and mourns Saul and Jonathan in a famous lament (1:17-27).
  • Anointed at thirty, David reigns forty years: seven years and six months at Hebron, thirty-three years at Jerusalem (5:4-5).
  • David takes the stronghold of Zion and makes Jerusalem the political and religious capital of Israel (5:7; 6:12).
  • Through Nathan, God promises David a house, a kingdom and a throne established forever (7:12-16).
  • David shows God’s kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, whom he has eat at his table (9:7).
  • The adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah mark the turning point of the reign; Nathan declares: “Thou art the man!” (11:4, 15; 12:7).
  • Absalom’s revolt forces David to flee Jerusalem; the death of his son shatters him (15:14; 18:33).
  • David buys Araunah’s threshing floor and refuses to offer God what costs him nothing (24:24).
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2 Samuel 7:12–13 — The heart of the Davidic covenant: a descendant of David will reign, and his throne will be established forever.
Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
2 Samuel 7:18 — David’s humble reaction before God’s grace: “Who am I, O Lord GOD?”
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
2 Samuel 12:13 — David’s confession and the immediate forgiveness announced by Nathan.

Jesus in 2 Samuel

The promise made to David (7:12-16) is one of the great messianic prophecies: Jesus is the Son of David to whom God gives “the throne of his father David” for a reign without end (Luke 1:32-33), and the Son of whom God says “I will be to him a Father” (Heb 1:5). Just as David, rejected, crosses the Kidron and climbs the Mount of Olives in tears, the Son of David will take the same path on the night he is betrayed (John 18:1).

Did you know?

  • The song of 2 Samuel 22 is found almost word for word in Psalm 18, whose title recalls the same circumstances (Ps 18:1).
  • The list of David’s mighty men ends with the name of Uriah the Hittite (23:39), a discreet reminder of the king’s crime.
  • The threshing floor of Araunah, bought by David (24:24), is the place where Solomon will build the temple, on Mount Moriah (2 Chr 3:1).

Quiz on 2 Samuel

In which city is David first anointed king over the house of Judah?

Which prophet confronts David after his sin with Bathsheba?

Which son of David rebels against him and has himself proclaimed king at Hebron?

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