Second Book of Samuel

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. 8:16,18¹⁶And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; (2 Samuel 8:16)
¹⁸And 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. 87:6⁶The 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. 21:1¹And 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.

Bible Handbook:

1056 B.C. – 24 Chapters – 695 Verses

In this book we have the reign of David, first over Judah at Hebron for about seven years, then in Jerusalem over all Israel for thirty-three years (2 Sam. 5:4-5⁴David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. ⁵In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. (2 Samuel 5:4‑5)), in all 40 years — the period of time comprehended in the book. The reign of David foreshadows the victorious power of the Lord Jesus in the establishment of the future millennial kingdom. Solomon typifies Christ afterward reigning in peace and glory, and sought for by the Gentiles, as the Queen of Sheba sought Solomon. Psalm 45 would represent the Davidical reign, while Psalm 72 would as fittingly set forth the Solomon reign. In this book David represents the Lord as King (1 Sam. 5), as Priest (1 Sam. 6), and as Prophet (1 Sam. 23). In the former book we have traced the Kingdom — its history and sorrowful issue in the hands of man; while in this we have its establishment according to God — in David typically of course.

In the first book of Samuel everything is cast in a Jewish mould, in the second book the typical bearing is more of a Gentile character. In the first book Saul figures the anti-Christ opposed to the Messiah, the central object in Old Testament prophecy. Jonathan, whose love and devotedness to David is most touching, sets forth the Jewish remnant cleaving to Christ, and Kingdom-hopes and prospects. The future and personal anti-Christ will unite in his own person royal power and prophetic energy, thus, “the King” (Dan. 11:36³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)) in Israel is also “the false prophet” (Rev. 19:20²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)). Saul at one time united in himself both characters. In the typical application to the future crisis, the first book of Samuel would answer to the rule of Antichrist amongst the Jews, after the removal of the Church to heavenly glory, and before the descent of the Lord to take and establish the Kingdom. Now in this second book of Samuel we have in Absalom additional features of antichristian wickedness in the closing days. From 1 John 2, we learn that Antichrist will head up Jewish apostasy — the denial of royal power in the Messiah; and also sum up Christian apostasy — the denial of grace in the revelation of the Father and the Son. Thus, in this second book, we meet with that truly beautiful expression, “the kindness of God” (ch. 9:3), and that shown to a member of Saul’s family, the sworn enemy of David. Again and again does the grace of Jehovah and of Jehovah’s anointed King shine out in this book; surely this is distinctive of Christianity. Absalom, then, sets forth the Antichrist, but in special connection with Christendom — the worst of all apostasy. The opposition of Absalom to David was in certain respects much worse than that of Saul’s. In the former every feeling of filial relationship was trampled upon. The grace of David, too, in forgiving Absalom for the cruel murder of his brother, was equally set at naught, and pride and deceit filled the foolish young man. In Absalom we have a type of him who is “the bloody and deceitful man,” insensible to the grace shown him, and inflated with his beauty and self-importance, setting himself against all that is called God (2 Thess. 2:4⁴Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)), that is, against all divinely constituted authority; for David, be it remembered, being God’s King on earth, became thereby the source of all power and authority in Israel. Thus the typical bearing of this book, in its broad features and general principles, is clearly applicable to the great events of the closing period of this age.

It may be well to remark that in the first book of Samuel the prophet and the priest are identified with the rejected King; whereas in our book, Ahithophel, the wise counsellor, but not the priest, is identified with the usurper Absalom. Why this? Because in the future crisis, of which all this is distinctly typical, the Antichrist will set himself against the royal and prophetic rights of the blessed Lord. Satan is now the great anti-priest on high. Very soon, however, he will be cast down to the earth (Rev.12:9-10), and will then raise up the Antichrist to oppose the Lord in His earthly relationships as King over the earth and Prophet amongst His people.

The faith of David, his exercises, trials, and confidence in God, is a study of a most delightful character, and one full of profound instruction. Surely if the Holy Spirit in the book of Psalms has freely used the life of the shepherd-King — the man after God’s own heart — as ground and material in writing many of the most plaintive strains ever penned, in composing odes of the most magnificent and grand description, we may enter upon, with deep and deepening soul profit, the study of a life which is second to none in the rich stores of experience to be gathered, and of typical instruction concerning Christ in His afflictions and glories. Using the book, however, as a figure of Christ taking the kingdom gradually, and then reigning in Jerusalem, the seat of royal government, as did David, affords valuable insight as to the manner in the establishment of the coming millennial kingdom.

In the historical circumstances noted in this interesting book, three things are worthy of careful attention, and in fact characterize the history. It is the sovereign election of God, and not the will or responsibility of the creature, which secures the blessing of man, and accomplishes the counsels of God. Had the establishment of the kingdom been dependent upon man, then its utter ruin were full and final in Saul. This surely is demonstrated in the first book of Samuel. But the calling of God is without repentance or withdrawal, because founded on His sovereign will. Psalm 78 clearly establishes this point, one which ought ever to be the boast and security of our souls. “Moreover He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: But chose the tribe of Judah. ... He chose David also His servant.” But not only is the tribe, and the family, and the person chosen of God, in whom his counsels would be surely accomplished, but Zion, the seat of Divine government, the center from whence David pursued his victorious career of war and conquest, is “chosen” of God, and is the “desired” place of Jehovah’s habitation and rest forever (Psa. 132). Thus the three historical circumstances alluded to are, first, the sovereign choice of David, the king; second, the sovereign choice of Zion as seat of government on the earth, and of Jehovah’s habitation and rest; and third, the ark, the basis and center of God’s moral dealings and relationships with His people — called “His strength” and “His glory” — brought in triumph to Jerusalem, and established there, so that God could make Zion His habitation and rest. These things will find their full development, according to God, in the coming reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Isles of the deep, rejoice! rejoice!

Ye ransom’d nations, sing

The praises of your Lord and God,

The triumphs of your King.

“He comes — and at His mighty word,

The clouds are fleeting fast,

And o’er the land of promise, see,

The glory breaks at last.

“There He, upon His ancient throne,

His power and grace displays,

While Salem, with its echoing hills,

Sends forth the voice of praise.”

Sir Edward Denny

General Divisions

Chapters 1-4 — David’s reign in Hebron over Judah only, for seven and a half years. The first verse of the third chapter gives the key to this portion of the book, which will find its antitype in the opening years of the millennial reign.

Chapters 5-12 — David, King over all Israel; Jerusalem the seat of government. David victorious in war and conquest, thereby establishing the ground of blessing to the people, and restoring the relationship of the people with God in bringing home the ark to Zion.

Chapters 13-24 — Absalom figuring the antichrist of the last days; consequent upon his death, David, fully established on the throne, clears the land of the Philistines, etc. enemies within the territory of Immanuel. The Messiah, the great subject of the book and prophecy. Compare Psalm 18 with chapter 22. The last words and last actions of David.

Note

David was anointed for the throne when about 15 years old; after the death of Saul he reigned 40 years, and died when about 71 years old. He was the only one of the kings of Judah who was born at Bethlehem — the birth-place of our Lord.

Second Book of Samuel

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