A Brief Overview of II Samuel

Chapter 1: David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

David’s humility is still intact…still on the upward trajectory of his life.

Chapter 2-6: Success and Blessing

David unties Israel under his rule

David is a man of conquest and he settles Jerusalem as Israel’s capital (Zion)

David returns the Ark to Jerusalem and restores the tabernacle

David expresses a desire to build God a house (temple), but God refuses and instead says that He will make David a house (dynasty)

II Samuel 7

A key chapter to Samuel and the Bible as a whole:

2 Samuel 7:9–17 ESV

And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

There will be a future king, temple, and eternal kingdom.

There will be a Messiah, a theme that gets picked up on in the Psalms and the prophets.

The Promise to Abraham will be fulfilled through this Messiah and His kingdom.

Not long after, David’s downward spiral begins...

Chapter 11: David and Bathsheba

Chapter 12: Nathan Confronts David

Chapter 13:Tamar, Amnon, and Absalom

Chapters 15-18: Absalom’s Rebellion, David’s Flight

Chapters 19-20: David’s Last Days: Back on the Throne and Humble

Chapters 21-24: A Chiastic Close

The Failure of Saul: Harms the Gibeonites, so David has to avenge them

David and his Mighty Men -VS- the Philistines (David is shown weak)

David’s “Poetic Memoirs” — Remembers God’s Grace, God’s Covenant Promise, and Hope for a Future King

David and his Mighty Men -VS- the Philistines (David is NOT the hero of the story)

The Failure of David: Harms the Israelites

A final word of hope as the scarlet thread continues:

2 Samuel 24:24–25 ESV

But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.