The Second Book of
SAMUEL
Author: Possibly Abiathar the Priest
Date: Between 931 and 722 B.C.
Theme: King David, Forerunnerof the Messiah
Key Persons: David, Nathan, Absalom,Joab, Bathsheba
Author. The two books that now make up 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book called “The Book of Samuel.” The actual author is unknown. Samuel undoubtedly had written a great deal about this time in Israel’s history. However, other materials had been collected from which the actual writer could draw. Three of these are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:29, namely: “the book of Samuel the seer,” “the book of Nathan the prophet,” and “the book of Gad the seer.” Both Gad and Abiathar had access to the court events of David’s reign and one or both may have given us these two books.
Date. The book has to be dated after the division of the kingdoms following Solomon’s reign, 931 B.C., because of the comment in 1 Samuel 27:6, “Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.” Though a distinction was often drawn between Israel and Judah, and though David reigned in Judah for seven and one-half years before unifying the kingdom, there were no kings in Judah before this date.
There is no mention or reference to the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C., which makes a date after that event unlikely.
Content. Second Samuel deals with the ascendance of David to the throne of Israel and the forty years of his reign. He is the focal point of the book.
The book begins with the death of Saul and Jonathan at the battlefield on Mt. Gilboa. David is then anointed king over Judah, his own tribe. There is a power play by the house of Saul in the persons of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and Abner, Saul’s commander in chief of the armies. Though the rebellion is quelled, this summary statement describes the seven and one-half years before the nation is unified under David: “Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker” (3:1).
David unifies both the political and religious life of the nation by bringing the ark of the covenant from the house of Abinadab, where it had rested since its return from the Philistines (6:1–7:1).
The theme of the coming King, the Messiah, is introduced as God establishes an everlasting covenant with David and his kingdom, “Your throne shall be established forever” (7:16).
David successfully defeats the enemies of Israel, and a time of stability and prosperity begins to emerge. Sadly however, his vulnerability and weakness lead him into his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, her husband.
Though David repents after being confronted by the prophet Nathan, the consequences of his actions are spelled out:“The sword shall never depart from your house” (12:10).
David’s son Absalom, after a long estrangement from his father, instigates a rebellion against the king, and David flees from Jerusalem. The rebellion ends when Absalom, hanging by his hair from a tree, is killed by Joab.
There is a quarrel between Israel and Judah concerning bringing the king back to Jerusalem. The rebel Sheba rouses Israel to desert David and go back to their homes. Although David makes a series of unfortunate and unwise decisions, the rebellion is quelled and David once again is established in Jerusalem.
The book ends with two beautiful poems, a list of David’s mighty men, and David’s sin in numbering the fighting men of Israel. David repents, buys the threshing floor of Araunah, and presents offerings to the Lord on the altar he builds there.
Personal Application. This book unfolds God’s working in history. Although human beings were sinful and must sometimes be punished by Him, God still worked through them to accomplish His redemptive purpose, fully realized in Jesus Christ, the Messiah and King of Kings. (See Rev. 22:16.)
Likewise, God has left the church in the world as the body of Christ to witness for Him and to carry out His purposes on the Earth today.
Christ Revealed. David and his reign look to the coming of the Messiah. Chapter 7 especially anticipates the future King. God intercepts David’s plans to build a house for the ark and explains that while David cannot build Him a house, God is building David a house, that is, a lineage that will last forever.
In his victory over all Israel’s enemies, his humility and commitment to the Lord, his zeal for the house of God, his combining of the offices of prophet, priest, and king—David is a forerunner of the Root of Jesse, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit at Work. Jesus explained the work of the Spirit in John 16:8: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” We clearly see the working of the Holy Spirit in these ways in 2 Samuel. He functioned most often through the priest. He is seen working as counselor in the many times David would “inquire of the LORD” through the priest and the ephod.
The convincing or convicting work of the Spirit is seen clearly with Nathan the prophet confronting David about his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. David’s sin is laid bare, righteousness is accomplished, and the judgment is spelled out. This, in microcosm, illustrates the broad working of the Holy Spirit in the world, through the Spirit-empowered church.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
SAMUEL
Author: Possibly Abiathar the Priest
Date: Between 931 and 722 B.C.
Theme: King David, Forerunnerof the Messiah
Key Persons: David, Nathan, Absalom,Joab, Bathsheba
Author. The two books that now make up 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book called “The Book of Samuel.” The actual author is unknown. Samuel undoubtedly had written a great deal about this time in Israel’s history. However, other materials had been collected from which the actual writer could draw. Three of these are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:29, namely: “the book of Samuel the seer,” “the book of Nathan the prophet,” and “the book of Gad the seer.” Both Gad and Abiathar had access to the court events of David’s reign and one or both may have given us these two books.
Date. The book has to be dated after the division of the kingdoms following Solomon’s reign, 931 B.C., because of the comment in 1 Samuel 27:6, “Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.” Though a distinction was often drawn between Israel and Judah, and though David reigned in Judah for seven and one-half years before unifying the kingdom, there were no kings in Judah before this date.
There is no mention or reference to the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C., which makes a date after that event unlikely.
Content. Second Samuel deals with the ascendance of David to the throne of Israel and the forty years of his reign. He is the focal point of the book.
The book begins with the death of Saul and Jonathan at the battlefield on Mt. Gilboa. David is then anointed king over Judah, his own tribe. There is a power play by the house of Saul in the persons of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and Abner, Saul’s commander in chief of the armies. Though the rebellion is quelled, this summary statement describes the seven and one-half years before the nation is unified under David: “Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker” (3:1).
David unifies both the political and religious life of the nation by bringing the ark of the covenant from the house of Abinadab, where it had rested since its return from the Philistines (6:1–7:1).
The theme of the coming King, the Messiah, is introduced as God establishes an everlasting covenant with David and his kingdom, “Your throne shall be established forever” (7:16).
David successfully defeats the enemies of Israel, and a time of stability and prosperity begins to emerge. Sadly however, his vulnerability and weakness lead him into his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, her husband.
Though David repents after being confronted by the prophet Nathan, the consequences of his actions are spelled out:“The sword shall never depart from your house” (12:10).
David’s son Absalom, after a long estrangement from his father, instigates a rebellion against the king, and David flees from Jerusalem. The rebellion ends when Absalom, hanging by his hair from a tree, is killed by Joab.
There is a quarrel between Israel and Judah concerning bringing the king back to Jerusalem. The rebel Sheba rouses Israel to desert David and go back to their homes. Although David makes a series of unfortunate and unwise decisions, the rebellion is quelled and David once again is established in Jerusalem.
The book ends with two beautiful poems, a list of David’s mighty men, and David’s sin in numbering the fighting men of Israel. David repents, buys the threshing floor of Araunah, and presents offerings to the Lord on the altar he builds there.
Personal Application. This book unfolds God’s working in history. Although human beings were sinful and must sometimes be punished by Him, God still worked through them to accomplish His redemptive purpose, fully realized in Jesus Christ, the Messiah and King of Kings. (See Rev. 22:16.)
Likewise, God has left the church in the world as the body of Christ to witness for Him and to carry out His purposes on the Earth today.
Christ Revealed. David and his reign look to the coming of the Messiah. Chapter 7 especially anticipates the future King. God intercepts David’s plans to build a house for the ark and explains that while David cannot build Him a house, God is building David a house, that is, a lineage that will last forever.
In his victory over all Israel’s enemies, his humility and commitment to the Lord, his zeal for the house of God, his combining of the offices of prophet, priest, and king—David is a forerunner of the Root of Jesse, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit at Work. Jesus explained the work of the Spirit in John 16:8: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” We clearly see the working of the Holy Spirit in these ways in 2 Samuel. He functioned most often through the priest. He is seen working as counselor in the many times David would “inquire of the LORD” through the priest and the ephod.
The convincing or convicting work of the Spirit is seen clearly with Nathan the prophet confronting David about his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. David’s sin is laid bare, righteousness is accomplished, and the judgment is spelled out. This, in microcosm, illustrates the broad working of the Holy Spirit in the world, through the Spirit-empowered church.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
