THE BOOK OF 2 SAMUEL INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW. 1. Historical Setting of 2 SAMUEL. 2. Davidic Covenant. 3. The outline of 2 Samuel:

Transcription

1 THE BOOK OF 2 SAMUEL INTRODUCTION 1. Historical Setting of 2 SAMUEL A. In 1 Samuel, the Hebrew monarchy was established. B. In 2 Samuel, the Davidic dynasty is established in Israel. 2. Davidic Covenant 3. The outline of 2 Samuel: I. David at Hebron: Ruler over Judah from Hebron (1-4) II. David s Triumphs: Years of Prosperity (5-10) III. David s Sin: Adultery and Murder (11-12) IV. David s Troubles: Years of Domestic Problems (13-20) V. David s Final Years: Appendixes (21-24) OVERVIEW I. David at Hebron: Ruler over Judah from Hebron (1-4)

2 A. The Lamentation of David (chap 1) Notice: 1) A young Amalekite was brought to David claiming to have witnessed the death of King Saul on the sides of Mt Gilboa (1:1-10). How did this young man s account differ from that of the prophet in 1 Samuel 31:1-6? 2) How ought the two accounts be reconciled? B. Civil War in Israel (chaps 2-4) King in the North = King in the South = Summary: o long war between the house of Saul (led by Ishbosheth) and the house of David (3:1). o Long story short: Ishbosheth is murdered by two of his own dudes, Rechab and Baanah (4:2, 5), and so David became king over all Israel (5:1) 1. David s Triumphs: Years of Prosperity (5:1-10:19) chaps. 5-7 focus on God s kingdom o chapt 5 God established his place of residence o chapt 6 God moves into his place of residence o chapt 7 God establishes his kingdom through David in Jerusalem, the place of his residence A. The land of Israel is united under one king (5:1-25) Capture of Jerusalem o Judges 1? o 1 Sam 17?

3 B. A new home for the ark of the covenant (6:1-23) Poor Uzzah; was he not just doing what he thought was right? 1) Mode of of wrong 2) Uzzah is not to touch the ark C. David Dances while Michal Denounces notice: o Michal daughter of Saul (6:16, 20, 23) and not Michal wife of David o Michal represents the desire for power and prestige exemplified in Saul she s ashamed of David s seemingly self-degrading behavior (6:20) o David rightfully humbles himself by taking the form of a slave (loin cloth; 6:14) and publically celebrates the presence of YHWH entering Jerusalem D. The Climax of David s Reign: 2 Samuel Sam 7 = God s covenant with David 2 Sam 8 = God s victory over David s enemies annul-like survey of David s military success focus on God s work through David (8:6, 14)

4 partial fulfillment of the promises in ch. 7: great name, security from oppression, and rest from enemies (7:9-11) the heavenly kingdom of God s will being done on earth broke loose during David s lifetime (Waltke, OT Theology, 661) God s Covenant with David (7:12-16) A. Introduction 1) The Covenant mediates and kingdom through David, the human mediator. 2) The Covenant is notice the I wills (vv. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) 3) The Covenant is related to the B. Key features of the Davidic Covenant: 1. God would raise up David s who would build a (12-13) Note: the play on the word house 2. God would establish David s forever (13) 3. God would be to David (i.e. David would be God s son) (14) 4. God would David s son(s) when they sin (v. 14) 5. God s lovingkindness would not from David s seed as it did from Saul (14-15). Partial fulfillment in and ; ultimate fulfillment in

5 C. Focus on David in the rest of the OT (and NT!) In the rest of the OT, there is a narrowing focus on God s promises to and through David Prophetic Literature: Isa 9; 11; Jer 23; Ezek 34; 37; Amos 9; Hos 3 Could say: o Gen 1-12 = Adam to Abraham o Gen 12-2 Sam 7 = Abraham to David interlude: Exile! o 2 Sam 7 = David to Jesus o See Matt 1:1-17 Cf. Matt 4:17; Luke 1:32-33, 69; Acts 2:29-36; Rom 1:3 III. David's Sin: Adultery and Murder (11-12) A. David's crime against YHWH, Bath-sheba, and Uriah (11:1-27) Magnitude of David s sin! Who is Uriah? B. Moral Lessons from David and Bathsheba a. Even the best and most righteous are not above the most heinous of sins b. Even forgiven sin can result in a lifetime of consequences c. No sin or situation is beyond the reach of God s grace

6 d. IV. God uses evil to accomplish his purpose David's Troubles: Years of Domestic Problems (13-20) Overview 1. This section narrates David s moral, political, and psychological decline. o Compare the summary of David s latter years in 2 Sam 20:23-25 with the summary of David s previous (more positive) years in 2 Sam 8:15-18 o latter account: Joab s rule is the focus David is hardly mentioned No mention of David ruling with justice and righteousness (cf. 8:15) o This section is somewhat difficult to follow, but we should read it negatively, flowing from David s sin and the downfall of his kingdom o Example: David s brutal torture of the city of Rabah (12:26-31) o vs. 31! o Example: The David-Ziba-Mephibosheth Triangle (9:1-13; 16:1-4; 19:25-31) Episode 1: 2 Sam 9:1-13 Episode 2: 2 Sam 16:1-4

7 Episode 3: 2 Sam 19:24-31 Moral of the Story: David has lost his political and moral edge. He no longer is capable of making wise and just decisions. 2. This decline is God s discipline of David for his sin see 12:10-12 This episode dealing with David s flight before the advancing army of Absalom draws attention to two important aspects: it shows that the present calamity is regarded as Yahweh s work (15:26; 16:10 11), and it affirms that any change of fortunes can come about only through Yahweh s favor and intervention (15:25; 16:12). (WBC) o David s kingdom begins to fall apart in 2 Sam Chapter = Amnon s rape of Tamar Chapters = Absolom s rebellion V. David s Final Years: Appendixes (21-24) The final section is structurally and chronologically set apart from the rest of the book (21:1) It is arranged chiastically:

8 A Short Story: David s prayer regarding the Gibeonites (21:1-14) B Short Annuls: David and the 4 giants from Gath (21:15-22) C Long Poetry: David s song of praise (22:1-51) C Short Poetry: David s last words (23:1-7) B Long Annuls: David s mighty men (23:8-39) A Long Story: David s prayer regarding the plague (24:1-25) The theme of this section is that God s grace is greater than God s wrath. compare: 21:14 with 24:25: God answered the prayer in behalf of the land. Chapter 24: The plague is stopped; an alter is build; Jesus foreshadowed And so 2 Samuel ends on an implicit Christological note: Abraham David Jesus At the place where Abraham once held a knife over his son (Gen 22:1-19), David sees the angel of the Lord with sword ready to plunge into Jerusalem. In both cases death is averted by sacrifice. The temple is established there as the place where Israel was perpetually reminded that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb 2:22). Death for Isaac and for David s Jerusalem was averted because the sword fo divine justice would ultimately find its mark in the Son of God (Dillard, David s Census, 108, cited in Waltke, 678).