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2 Samuel

2 Samuel

Summary of the Book of Second Samuel

By H. A. (Buster) Dobbs
  1. Introduction
    1. Authors of this book are unknown
      1. Probably written by prophets
      2. Arranged at the end of the reign of David
    2. Two main sections
      1. David’s reign over Judah (Chapters 1 through 4)
      2. David’s reign over all Isreal (Chapters 5 through 24)
  2. David’s Reign Over Judah (1 through 4)
    1. Report of the death of Saul and Jonathan (1:1-11)
      1. David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites (1:1)
      2. An Amalekite came out of the camp of Saul in mourning (1:2)
      3. The Amalekite reports the death of Saul and Jonathan (1:3-11)
        1. The Amalekite claimed to have killed Saul (1:7-10)
        2. The Amalekite brought Saul’s crown and bracelet to David (1:11)
      4. David and his men mourn the death of Saul and his sons (1:12)
      5. David causes the Amalekite to be executed (1:13-16)
      6. David’s eulogy of Saul and Jonathan (1:17-27)
    2. David appointed King over Judah (2:1-7)
      1. David goes to Hebron and is made King (2:2-4)
      2. David rewards the people of Jabesh-Gilead for burying Saul (2:5-7)
    3. Conflict between King David of Judah and the rest of the nation (2:8-32)
      1. Abner makes Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, King over Israel (2:8-11)
      2. A conflict between Judah and Israel (2:11-32)
        1. Twelve men from either side killed at the pool of Gibeon (2:12-16)
        2. Battle between Judah and Israel (2:17)
        3. Abner of Israel kills Asahel, brother of Joab (2:18-23)
        4. Joab and Abishai pursue Abner (2:24)
        5. Abner negotiates truce with Joab (2:25-29)
        6. The body count – 19 men of Judah; 360 men of Israel (2:30-31)
        7. Joab and his army retire to Hebron (2:32)
      3. Long war between Judah and Isarel (3:1-39)
        1. Six sons born to David at Hebron (3:2-5)
        2. Isbosheth, the King, falsely accuses Abner, his general (3:6-11)
        3. Abner agrees to deliver Israel to David (3:12)
        4. Abner comes to David when Joab is absent (3:13-19)
        5. David makes a feast for Abner and his men (3:20)
        6. Abner makes a deal to deliver Isarel to David (3:21)
        7. Joab upset over the visit of Abner (3:22-25)
        8. Joab send messengers to call Abner back to Hebron (3:26)
        9. Joab kills Abner in the gate of Hebron (3:27)
      4. David mourns the death of Abner (3:28-39)
        1. David rebukes Joab and Abishai for killing Abner (3:28-30)
        2. David is grieved over the death of Abner (3:31-34)
        3. The nation of Israel is solidified behind David (3:35-39)
      5. Death of Ishboseth, King of Israel (4:1-12)
        1. Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, was lame in his feet (4:4)
        2. Baanah and Rechab kill Ishboseth (4:5-7)
        3. Baanah and Rechab bring the head of Ishboseth to David (4:8)
        4. Baanah and Rechab executed for murdering Ishboseth (4:9-12).
  3. David’s Reign Over All Israel (5:1 to 24:25)
    1. The kingdom united (5:1-5)
    2. Victories of David (5:6-25)
      1. Jerusalem is captured (5:6-10)
        1. The task was difficult, but David took the city (5:6)
        2. It became known as "the city of David" (5:7)
        3. Joab lead the assault and became chief captain (5:8-9)
        4. David’s fame increased (5:10)
        5. Palace built for David 5:11-12)
        6. David’s family (5:13-15)
      2. Defeat of the Philistines (5:17-25)
    3. Ark of the Covenant brought to Jerusalem (6:1-23)
      1. David begins to move the ark from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem (6:1-5)
      2. Uzzah stuck dead (6:6-11)
      3. The ark moved from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem (6:12-19)
      4. Michal despises David (6:20)
      5. Michal had no child to the day of her death (6:20-23)
    4. David not allowed to build a house for Jehovah (7:1-29)
    5. David’s victories over all his enemies (8:1 to 10:19)
      1. David defeats the Philistines and the Moabites (8:1-2)
      2. David defeats Hadadezer of Zobah and the Syrians (8:3-8)
      3. Hamath submits to David (8:9-11)
      4. David subdues Syria, Moab, Ammon. Edom (8:9-18)
      5. David seeks out and honors Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son (9:1-13)
      6. David’s messengers to Ammon are insulted (10:1-5)
      7. David defeats the combined forces of Ammon and Syria (10:6-19)
    6. David’s great sin (11:1 to 12:24)
      1. Joab fights against Ribbah, but David remains in Jerusalem (11:1)
      2. David seduces Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite (11:2-5)
      3. David attempts to cover his sin (11:6-13)
      4. David instructs Joab to have Uriah killed in battle (11:14-17)
      5. Death of Uriah reported to David (11:16-25)
      6. David marries Bathsheba (11:26-27)
      7. Nathan’s parable of the ewe lamb (12:1-14)
      8. Death of David’s son (12:15-23)
      9. Birth of Solomon (12:24-25)
      10. Victory over Ribbah of Ammon (12:26-31)
    7. Absalom’s rebellion (13:1 to 19:40)
      1. Amnon rapes Abslalom’s sister, Tamar (13:1-18)
      2. After two years Absalom had Amnon murdered (13:19-29)
      3. Absalom goes into exile (13:30-39)
      4. Joab arranges to have Absalom brought home (14:1-23)
      5. David refuses to see Absalom (14:24)
      6. David and Absalom reconciled (14:25-33)
      7. Absalom’s conspiracy against his father, Daivd (15:1-29)
      8. David leaves Jerusalem (15:30)
      9. Ahithophel is among the conspirators (15:31)
      10. David receives gifts from Mephibosheth (16:1-4)
      11. Shimei curses David (16:5-14)
      12. Atrocious counsel of Ahithophel (16:15-23)
      13. Advice of Hushai (17:1-14)
      14. Word sent to David about the plans of Absalom (17:15-22)
      15. Ahithophel hangs himself (17:23)
      16. Provisions given to David at Mahanaim (17:24-29)
      17. The battle is joined (18:1-8)
      18. Joab kills Absalom (18:9-17)
      19. Absalom’s momument (18:18)
      20. David mourns for Absalom (18:19-33)
      21. Joab rebukes David (19:1-8)
      22. David’s kingship confirmed by all the tribes (19:9-15)
      23. Shimei forgiven (19:16-24)
      24. Restoration of Mephibosheth (19:25-30)
      25. Treatment of Barzillai and Chimham (19:31-40)
      26. Dissension and jealously among the tribes (19:41-43)
    8. Revolt of Sheba (20:1-26)
    9. Last years of David’s reign (21:1 to 24:25)
      1. Three year famine (21:1-9)
      2. Reburial of Saul and Jonathan (21:10-14)
      3. Four battles against the Phlistines (21:15-22)
      4. David’s psalm of thanksgiving for God’s protection (22:1-51)
      5. The last words of David (23:1-7)
      6. A list of David’s mighty men (23:8-39)
      7. Numbering of the people (24:1-9)
      8. Plague sent for making the census (24:10-17)
      9. David sacrifices to the Lord to stay the plague (24:18-25)
2 Samuel

Samuel, two books of the Old Testament detailing the history of Israel during the 11th and 10th centuries BC. Originally a single book in the Hebrew Bible, the books contain the history of Samuel—the last judge of Israel and the first of the prophets after Moses—and that of the two kings Saul and David. Samuel did not appear as two books until the middle of the 15th century. In modern Bibles the two books of Samuel immediately precede the two books of the Kings. The books of Samuel cover events from the end of the period of the Judges to the last years of King David's life and reign. This relatively short period is a significant one in Jewish history; the first Hebrew monarchy was established during it and the Israelite tribes united into one kingdom with its capital at Jerusalem. According to the traditions of the Talmud, Samuel was the principal author of 1 Samuel. Modern scholars generally agree that the books were composed between 961 and 650 BC by several authors and author-editors from a number of different sources.