David s Era: Main People

Transcription

1 David s Era: Main People 1. David s family Abigail was wife to Nabal and, after his death, married David. When Nabal offended David, Abigail placated the future king with gifts, while interceding for her household. Ten days after this, Nabal died, and Abigail became David s wife, bearing him his second son, Chileab (aka Daniel). 1 Samuel ; 27.3; 30.5; 2 Samuel 2.2; 3.3 Absalom was David s third (the first by Maacah) and favourite son. After Tamar s rape, Absalom arranged the murder of the guilty Amnon, his half-brother and David s heir. He fled Israel and was sheltered by Talmai, son of the king of Geshur, until Joab arranged a reconciliation with David. Absalom subsequently plotted against his father with the support of Ahithophel and others, and the king fled Jerusalem. Badly advised by David s ally Hushai, who had feigned loyalty to him, Absalom was defeated in battle by Joab. As he fled the battlefield, Absalom was caught by his head in the branches of a tree and killed by Joab. 2 Samuel 3.3; 13.1, ; 20.6; 1 Kings 1.6; 2.28; 1 Chronicles 3.2; Psalms 3 Adonijah was the son of David (his fourth) and of Haggith, born at Hebron. At the time of Solomon s ascension, Adonijah was his rival for the throne. Though Adonijah was apparently the eldest surviving son of David, and favoured by Joab, Solomon s less obvious claim to the throne was successful, being approved by David shortly before his death. Adonijah was at first tolerated by his half-brother but later executed when his request for Abishag as a wife gave Solomon a pretext for disposing of his rival. 2 Samuel 3.4; 1 Kings ; , 28; 1 Chronicles 3.2 Amnon was the son of David (his eldest) and Ahinoam. Amnon became infatuated with his half-sister Tamar, and, aided by his cousin Jonadab, raped her. Two years later, Absalom (Tamar s full brother) had Amnon murdered during the sheep-shearing festivities at Baal-hazor. 2 Samuel 3.2; , 33, 39; 1 Chronicles 3.1 Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah and later of David, by whom she was the mother of Solomon. During Uriah s absence on military service, David seduced Bathsheba and eventually murdered Uriah. The prophet Nathan condemned the marriage and predicted that Bathsheba s child would die. This happened, but her second child, Solomon, was especially favoured by God and became David s heir instead of Adonijah, his elder half-brother, giving Bathsheba a part in the Messianic line. When Adonijah wished to take Abishag the Shunnamite as his wife, he asked Bathsheba to act as an intermediary, and put the request to Solomon. Bathsheba did so, but Solomon refused the request and executed Adonijah for his presumption. 2 Samuel ; 1 Kings ; ; 1 Chronicles 3.5; Ps. 51 Michal was the second daughter of Saul. She became the wife of David after he had obtained the marriage-present demanded by her father which was one hundred foreskins of the Philistines. Saul had hoped that David would be killed in attempting this, but the younger man produced twice the requisite quantity. Later, when Saul was seeking to kill David, Michal helped her husband escape by hiding a dummy in his bed while he took flight. After this, Saul had Michal remarried to Palti. When David became king in Judah, he insisted that his first wife be restored to him, despite the protestations of Palti (who was eventually deterred from further protest by Abner s threats). David s ecstatic dancing when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem led to a quarrel with Michal (who thought his conduct unseemly for a ruler). From this time, she had no more children; though it is not known 1

2 if this was the result of natural causes or if the king put her away. 1 Samuel 14.49; ; ; 25.44; 2 Samuel ; 1 Chronicles15.29 Solomon was a son of David (the fourth born in Jerusalem, and his second by Bathsheba), the father of Rehoboam, and a king of Israel (reigned ca B.C.). After David s death, many people assumed that the throne would pass to Adonijah, his eldest surviving son. But David had already promised Bathsheba that her son would be his heir and the plotting of Zadok, Nathan, and Bathsheba enabled Solomon to claim the throne and have Adoniliah executed. Israel achieved a golden age of peace and prosperity under Solomon, who was noted for great wisdom (in recognition of which Ecclesiastes and much of Proverbs was written by him) and for his wealth. His reputation drew the admiration of many foreign visitors, notably the queen of Sheba. His wealth came from the extensive trading relations he instituted with neighbouring countries, especially Tyre. This peace and prosperity enabled Solomon to undertake the construction of the temple in Jerusalem (the materials and labour were supplied by his friend and trading-partner Hiram of Tyre) and a royal palace. Solomon was originally famed for his wisdom and piety, but later his many wives and concubines (numbering seven hundred and three hundred, respectively) corrupted him. They induced him to adopt the ritual practices of the surrounding pagan countries. Because of this, it was prophesied that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon s successor, leaving only Judah and Benjamin loyal to David s heirs. During Solomon s reign, the period of unrest which was to lead to Rehoboam s loss of power in Israel began under Hadad, while Abijah foretold the success of Jeroboam. 2 Samuel 5.14; 12.24; 1 Kings ; 2 Kings 21.7; 23.13; 24.13; 25.16; 1 Chronicles 3.5, 10; 6.32; 14.4; ; , 22-25; 2 Chronicles ; Psalms 72; 127; Proverbs 1.1; 10.1; 25.1; Ecclesiastes 1.1; Song of Solomon 1.1; 3.7, 9, 11; Matthew 1.6, 7; 12.42; Luke 11.31; Acts 7.47 Tamar was a daughter of David and Maacah, the sister of Absalom, and a half-sister of Amnon. Assisted by Jonadab, Amnon raped her then sent her away. Absalom s discovery of this crime provoked him to murder Amnon. 2 Samuel ; 1 Chronicles David s army Abishai was the son of David s sister Zeruiah and the elder brother of Joab and Asahel. Despite his loyalty to David, Abishai and Joab, by the violence of their actions, earned the king s displeasure. During Absalom s rebellion, David rebuked Abishai for threats towards Shimei. Nevertheless, Abishai assisted Joab in crushing the revolt. Due to his many victories over David s enemies, he went on to achieve distinction as the chief of the Thirty (David s mighty men). 1 Samuel ; 2 Samuel 2.18, 24; 3.30, 39; ; ; 18.2, 5, 12; 19.21, 22; 20.6, 7, 10; 21.17; 23.18, 19; 1 Chronicles 2.16; 11.20, 21; 18.12, 13 Adino the Eznite ( the spear ) was the chief of the Three (David s mighty men). In one battle, he killed 800 Philistines with a spear. Jashobeam is the name used by the Chronicler for Jasheb-bassebeth. 2 Samuel 23:8;1 Chronicles 11.11; 27.2 Amasa was an Ishmaelite, the son of Ithra and David s half-sister Abigail. When Absalom revolted, he made Amasa commander. Amasa was completely defeated by his cousin Joab in the forest of Ephraim. David not only forgave Amasa but gave him Joab s place as commander of his army until the revolt of Sheba. Amasa s delay in mustering the forces loyal to the king led Joab to murder him, and then quell the rebellion. 2 Samuel 17.25; 19.13; ; 1 Kings 2.5, 32; 1 Chronicles

3 Asahel was the third son of Zeruiah, a younger brother of Abishai and Joab, and one of the Thirty (David s mighty men). He was famous for his swiftness of foot. Asahel was murdered by Abner (whom Joab subsequently killed). 2 Samuel ; ; 23.24; 1 Chronicles 2.16; Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada and the commander of David s army after Joab. He was second of the Thirty (David s mighty men). One of the king s younger followers, he was an ally of Nathan and Zadok in their rivalry with the established officials, Joab and Abiathar. Benaiah led the Cherethites and Pelethites (David s bodyguard). When Joab supported Adonijah, Solomon s rival, Benaiah replaced him. Soon afterwards, Solomon ordered him to execute Adonijah and Joab. Benaiah later, on Solomon s orders, killed Shimei for violating the terms of his house arrest. 2 Samuel 8.18; 20.23; ; 1 Kings 1.8,10, 26, 32-39, 44; 2.25, 29-35, 46; 4.4; 1 Chronicles ; 18.17; 27.5, 6 Eleazar was the son of Dodo and the second of the Three (David s mighty men). His hand cleaved to the sword. 2 Samuel 23.9,10; 1 Chronicles Joab was the son of Zeruiah, nephew of David, brother of Abishai and Asahel, and commander of David s armies. Though at all times a staunch supporter of the king, Joab, by his violence, inspired no love in his master, who, on his deathbed, made arrangements for Joab s execution. Joab first began to follow David during his flight from Saul. After Saul s death, Joab fought inconclusively against Abner (general of the forces of Ish-bosheth) who killed Asahel in a skirmish. Abner s decision to join David s side led Joab to have him murdered both to eliminate a rival for his post, and to avenge his brother s death. When David was king of both Israel and Judah, Joab led his forces in various successful military enterprises: he fought against the Ammonites and their Syrian allies (in which war, at the siege of Rabbah, he arranged the death of Uriah, on David s orders). After the murder of Amnon, Joab reconciled Absalom to his father; but when Absalom rebelled, Joab defeated his army and later had the rebel son killed, for which David probably never forgave him. David then transferred the command of his armies to Amasa, but the delay of Joab s successor in quelling Sheba s revolt prompted David (using Abishai as an intermediary) to recall Joab. Joab killed Amasa and duly crushed Sheba s uprising. The last official duty of Joab for the king which is recorded in 2 Samuel is his administration of a census of the Israelites, a matter which earned the king divine censure and against which the prudent Joab had advised him. On his death-bed, David, remembering Joab s various murders, advised Solomon to deal suitably with him. This advice, combined with Joab s subsequent support for Adonijah, Solomon s rival for the throne, led the new king to order Joab s execution by the hand of Benaiah. 1 Samuel 26.6; 2 Samuel 2.13, 14, 18, 24-32; ; 8.16; ; 11-1,14-25; ; , 29-33; 17.25; 18.2, 5, 10-16, 20-23, 29; , 13; ; ; 1 Kings 1.7, 19, 25, 41; 2.5, 6, 28-35; 11.15; 1 Chronicles 2.16; 11.6, 8, 20; 18.15; ; 20.1; ; 27.34; Psalms 60 Shammah was a Hararite, the son of Agee, and the third of the Three (David s mighty men). He won fame for stopping a rout of the Israelite army by his single-handed defeat of the Philistines in a lentil plot at Lehi. 2 Samuel 23.11, 12, 33 Uriah was a Hittite, an officer of David s army, one of the Thirty (David s mighty men), and the first husband of Bathsheba. Learning that Bathsheba, with whom he had had relations, was pregnant, David sent for Uriah, supposedly to discover from him news of the campaign against Rabbah. David s attempt to persuade Uriah to sleep with his wife failed, and, though plied by David with drink, he slept on a couch with David s servants. David 3

4 then sent orders (by Uriah s own hand) to Joab to arrange his death. Joab sent Uriah to the forefront of the fighting for Rabbah, then withdrew the forces around him; and Uriah fell in the battle. 2 Samuel 11-3,6-26; 23.39; 1 Kings 15.5; 1 Chronicles David s foes Ahithophel, from Gilo, was a counsellor of David and of Absalom. In planning his revolt against David, Absalom sought the advice of Ahithophel, who transferred his loyalty to the younger man. Absalom followed his suggestion of taking over his father s concubines publicly, but rejected his military strategy (launching a swift attack on David) for that of Hushai, who was secretly loyal to David. Seeing his advice ignored (and perhaps foreseeing Absalom s defeat), Ahithophel hanged himself. Comparison of different passages in 2 Samuel (11.3; 23.34) suggests that Ahithophel might have been Bathsheba s grandfather, which would explain his disloyalty to David. 2 Samuel 15.12, 31, 34; 16.15, ; 1 Chronicles 27.33, 34 Goliath was the name of a Philistine giant who stood six cubits and a span (about ten feet) in height and challenged the Israelite army to send its champion against him to decide the winner of the battle. He was killed by David with a sling, and decapitated. He had a spear the shaft of which was as wide as a weaver s beam. 1 Samuel ; 2 Samuel Ish-bosheth was a son of Saul after whose death he reigned briefly. Baanah and Rechab murdered him after his general, Abner, had deserted to David. The assassins brought Ish-bosheth s head to David, hoping to be rewarded for killing the king s rival. David showed respect for the memory of Saul by executing the killers and burying the disembodied head in the tomb of Abner at Hebron. 2 Samuel 2.8, 10, 12, 15; ; 4.1-3, 5-12; 1 Chronicles 8.33; 9.39 Saul was the son of Kish; the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, Ish-bosheth, Armoni, Merab, and Michal; and the first king of Israel (reigned c BC). Following the public clamour for a king, the prophet Samuel anointed Saul. Initial opposition to Saul was swiftly dispelled by his defeat of Nahash. He had besieged Jabeshgilead, but Saul routed him after a night march and a surprise attack. Saul s disobedience to the Lord s commands caused him in time to fall from the prophet s favour. At this time, Saul became subject to bouts of acute melancholia, and David was engaged to play the lyre to soothe him. The growing popularity of David caused Saul to become jealous of him and to devise plots against his life. Assisted by Michal (whom the king had given him in marriage) and by Jonathan, David escaped from Saul. A rumour that the priests of Nob had aided David led Saul to authorise their slaughter. The first book of Samuel records two different incidents where, while Saul was pursuing him, David had the opportunity to kill his enemy but declined it. Saul died in battle against the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa. The spirit of Samuel, which the witch of En-dor had conjured up at Saul s request, had foretold his death in the battle. The victorious Philistines exhibited Saul s body and armour in public, but the men of Jabesh-gilead recovered them, cremated the body, and buried Saul s bones in their city. His elder sons having died in battle with him, Saul was succeeded by Ish-bosheth. 1 Samuel ; 2 Samuel ; 4.4; 7.15; 1 Chronicles 8.33; 9.39; ; Psalms 18; 52; 54; 57; 59; Acts 13.21, 22 Sheba was the son of Bichri and the leader of a rebellion against David after Absalom s death. This was initially successful because of Amasa s failure to muster David s army. Joab defeated Sheba, replaced Amasa as commander, and pursued Sheba to Abel. Here, Joab besieged the city and persuaded the residents to execute Sheba. 2 Samuel

5 Shimei was a Benjaminite, the son of Gera, and a relative of Saul. During Absalom s rebellion, Shimei cursed David as he withdrew from Jerusalem, claiming the revolt was a divine punishment for David s seizing power from the heirs of Saul. David restrained Abishai from killing Shimei for this, and apparently forgave Shimei when, after Absalom s defeat, he begged for forgiveness. On his deathbed, David told Solomon to deal with Shimei in accordance with his earlier disloyalty. The execution of Adonijah led Solomon to place Shimei under house arrest. Forbidden to cross the Kidron, he complied with the terms of his arrest for two years. But when he pursued two runaway slaves to Gath, he was executed, on Solomon s orders, by Benaiah. 2 Samuel ; ; 1 Kings 2.8, 9, David s spiritual influences Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech and priest of Israel. He escaped Saul s slaughter of the priests and fled to David. David sheltered him and, when he became king, appointed him high priest. Abiathar helped David at the time of Absalom s rebellion. Later, he supported Adonijah in his abortive bid for power. He fell from favour, and Solomon banished him to his family home in Anathoth. 1 Samuel 22.21; 23.6, 9; 30.7, 8; 2 Samuel ; 17.15; 19.11; 20.25; 1 Kings 1.7, 19, 25; 2.26, 27, 35; 4.4; 1 Chronicles Gad was a prophet and servant of David to whom, on several occasions, he gave counsel. When David was fleeing from Saul, Gad advised him to take refuge in Judah. When David later carried out an unlawful census, Gad described to the king the three divine punishments, one of which David had to choose. David chose a plague and after this, Gad gave the king instructions to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah, where the angel of the Lord had appeared to David. 1 Samuel 22.5; 2 Samuel , 18; 1 Chronicles ,18, 19; Nathan was a prophet and friend of David and Solomon. Nathan informed David that he was not to undertake the building of the temple but was to leave this to his son Solomon. In the affair of Uriah the Hittite, Nathan condemned David s behaviour. When the king abdicated in old age, Nathan was instrumental in securing the throne for Solomon and in plotting the downfall of Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab. 2 Samuel ; ; 1 Kings 1.8, 11-40, 44, 45; 1 Chronicles ; 29.29; 2 Chronicles 9.29; Psalms 51; Zechariah Samuel was a son of Elkanah and Hannah and the last of the judges of Israel. When Israel demanded a human king, God told Samuel to anoint Saul. When Saul rebelled, God told Samuel to anoint David. Samuel foretold Saul s loss of the throne and was then divinely instructed to anoint David king in succession to Saul. Having done this, Samuel retired to Ramah, where he stayed until his death. 1 Samuel ; ; 25.1; 28-3,11-20; 1 Chronicles 29.29; Psalms 99.6; Jeremiah 15.1; Acts 3.24; 13.20; Hebrews Zadok was the son of Ahitub, father of Ahimaaz, and priest in succession to Abiathar. He was a friend of David and an ally of Nathan and Benaiah. Zadok oversaw the return to Jerusalem of the Ark of the Covenant and supported Solomon in his successful bid to secure his father s throne. 2 Samuel 8.17; , 35, 36; 17.15; 19.11; 20.25; 1 Kings 1.8, 26, 32-39, 44, 45; 2.35; 4.4; 1 Chronicles 6.8, 53; 16.39; 18.16; 24.31; 27.17; 20.22; Ezekiel 40.46; 43.19; 44.15;

6 5. Others Abner was the son of Ner, cousin of Saul, and commander of his army. When he murdered Asahel, Abner provoked a blood feud with his victim s elder brother, Joab. A truce was agreed, and Abner subsequently supported David in his accession to the throne of Israel. Joab treacherously murdered Abner shortly afterwards. 1 Samuel 14.50, 51; ; 20.25; ; 2 Samuel ; ; 1 Kings 2.5, 32 Araunah was a Jebusite and the owner of a house purchased by David which later became the site for Solomon s temple. Solomon built on this site because it was here that David saw the angel of the Lord who was destroying the Israelites as a punishment for the census undertaken by the king. 2 Samuel Hushai was an ally of David instrumental in the king s defeat of his rebellious son, Absalom. Posing as Absalom s friend, Hushai gave him bad military advice, while simultaneously passing on to David information about the disposition of the rebel forces. On the advice of Hushai (and against that of Ahithophel), Absalom decided to assemble a large force rather than launch a swift attack on David s army. This led to Absalom s crushing defeat in the forest of Ephraim. 2 Samuel ; ; ; 1 Chronicles Jonathan was the eldest son of Saul. He was an able commander in his father s army, winning important victories over the Philistines at Geba and at Michmash. When David entered Saul s service, he and Jonathan became inseparable friends. Saul s persecution of David led Jonathan at first to attempt to reconcile the two but when this failed, he helped David escape from his father. In his famous elegy, David lamented Jonathan s death with Saul in battle on Mt. Gilboa. As king, David gave Jonathan s son, Mephibosheth, favourable treatment for Jonathan s sake. 1 Samuel 13.2, 3, 16, 22; , 49; ; ; ; ; 31.2, 8; 2 Samuel 1.5, 17-27; 4.4; 9.1, 3, 6, 7; 1 Chronicles 8.33, 34; 9.39; 10.2 Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and father of Mica. He was lamed in childhood when his nurse dropped him. David befriended Mephibosheth for Jonathan s sake. However, during Absalom s rebellion, Mephibosheth s servant Ziba claimed that his master was hoping for David s overthrow. Mephibosheth later protested that this was an invention of Ziba, but David, unsure of his innocence, transferred half of Mephibosheth s property to Ziba. Later, when David had Saul s surviving descendants executed, he spared Mephibosheth out of regard for Jonathan. The Chronicler calls him Meribaal. 2 Samuel 4.4; ; ; ; 21.7; 1 Chronicles 8.34; 9.40 Ziba was a servant of Saul, subsequently appointed steward of Mephibosheth by David. During Absalom s rebellion, Ziba brought David supplies, claiming that his master was disloyal to the king. David decided to give Mephibosheth s estates to Ziba. After Absalom s defeat, Mephibosheth protested that Ziba s accusation was untrue and that he had taken advantage of his master s lameness to desert Mephibosheth. Uncertain whom to believe, David divided the estate between the two disputants. 2 Samuel ; ; 19.17,

7 David s family 1 Jesse David Zeruiah Amnon Absalom Adonijah Solomon Tamar Joab Abishai Asahel Saul s family 1 Abiel (Ner) Kish Ner Saul Abner Jonathan Ish-bosheth Mephibosheth David s mighty men 2 Samuel 23:8-39; 1 Chronicles 11:10-47 The Three Adino (chief) Eleazar Shammah The Three Unnamed Men The Thirty Abishai (chief) Benaiah Asahel Various others (including Uriah the Hittite) 1 These are selected entries. For instance, David had other sons and daughters, but only the ones described in this document are included in the family tree. 7