- An Amalekite returns from Mt. Gilboa where Saul & Jonathan were slain. He tells David that he killed Saul, who had not yet died. David has him slain for killing the Lord’s anointed. How the mighty are fallen! Jonathan’s love for David surpasses the love of women. #2Sam1
- David, his wives & men move to Hebron, where David is anointed king of Judah. Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, is made king of Israel. He has 12 of his men fight 12 of David’s. Abner kills Joab’s brother Asahel. He & Joab call a truce after 20 of David’s & 360 of Abner’s men die. #2Sam2
- The house of David grows stronger. David has 6 sons in Hebron. Abner, accused by Ish-bosheth of sleeping with his father Saul’s concubine, arranges a meeting with David to make him King of Israel. Abner leaves, but is murdered by Joab to avenge Asahel’s death. #2Sam3
- Jonathan has a lame son, Mephibosheth. Ish-bosheth loses courage on learning that Abner is dead. Two Benjaminites, Baanah & Rekab, murder Ish-bosheth and take his head to David. David orders his men to kill Baanah & Rekab, cut off their hands & feet, & hang their bodies. #2Sam4
- David was made king over all Israel when he was 30, & reigned 40 years (7 1/2 years in Judah). David takes Jerusalem, containing the city of David, & has many wives, concubines & children. He defeats the Philistines at Baal-Perazim & strikes them down from Gibeon to Gezer. #2Sam5
- The ark is taken from Gibeah, but the Lord smites Uzzah when he touches the ark to steady it in the cart. This displeases David. He waits 3 months to take it to the city of David. Oxen are sacrificed & David dances, making Michal despise him. She was barren all her life. #2Sam6
- David laments that he lives in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent. The prophet Nathan tells David that the Lord wants him to build a house for the Lord. The Lord affirms a covenant to establish a throne of his kingdom forever with the house of David. #2Sam7
- David smote the Philistines, Moabites (killing 2/3rds of them), Syrians of Damascus & the host of Hadadezer. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. He dedicated gifts of silver & gold to the Lord. Joab was David’s commander, Ahimelek his priest, & his sons rulers. #2Sam8
- David wishes to do kindness to Saul’s family. Only Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who is lame, lives. David restores Saul’s lands & property to him, who is assisted by Saul’s servant Ziba, his 15 sons & 20 servants. As for Mephibosheth, David says he shall eat at my table. #2Sam9
- David sends comforters to Ammon when Ammon’s king dies. Thinking they are spies, the Ammonites cut off half their beards & strip them. David sends the army led by Joab & his brother Abishai to fight them. Even with Syrian support, Ammon retreats & is forced to make peace. #2Sam10
- David sees a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite. He lies with her & she conceives. David meets Uriah & sends him with a letter to Joab saying to put Uriah in the fiercest fighting. Uriah dies, Bathsheba mourns, & David weds her. The Lord is displeased. #2Sam11
- Nathan tells a parable of a rich man taking a poor man’s sheep to accuse David. David repents, but Bathsheba’s child dies. I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. A son Solomon, also called Jedidiah, is born. David fights Ammon, and takes Ramah & their wealth. #2Sam12
- Amnon, son of David, brother of Absalom., pines for Tamar, his virgin sister. Feigning sickness, he calls for Tamar to feed him & rapes her. Two years pass. Absalom asks his brothers to attend a dinner with sheepshearers in Baalhazor. He murders Amnon & flees to Geshur. #2Sam13
- King David’s heart was toward Absalom. Joab sends a woman to tell a tale of her son killing his brother & being banished. David promises to restore him, but sees that it incriminates his actions. He calls Absalom back from Geshur but refuses to see him until he complains. #2Sam14
- Absalom asks David’s permission to go to Hebron. There he gathers forces, conspires against the King, & sends spies throughout Israel. David flees Jerusalem & sends Hushai the Archite to Jerusalem to spy on Absalom & frustrate the advice of Absalom’s counselor Ahithophel. #2Sam15
- Because Mephibosheth joins Absalom, David grants all of Saul’s inheritance to Ziba. Shimei of Benjamin curses & pelts David, who allows the insult. Hushai is accepted into Absalom’s council. Ahithophel advises Absalom to lie outside with David’s concubines to spite him. #2Sam16
- Ahithophel counsels Absalom to attack & kill David. Hushai argues that David would take refuge &, if Absalom lost many men, his support would falter. Absalom takes Hushai’s advice though Hushai sends people to warn David to cross the Jordan. Ahithophel hangs himself. #2Sam17
- David divides his army into 3 parts & tells them to take Absalom alive. A great battle in the woods of Ephraim claims 20000. Absalom is caught by his hair in an oak. Joab & his men slay Absalom. Two messengers inform David. O my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee! #2Sam18
- Joab rebukes David for mourning Absalom instead of celebrating his warriors. Thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. David returns to Jerusalem, forgives Mephibosheth, who is to divide Saul’s inheritance with Ziba, & thanks Barzalilai, who helped him in Gilead. #2Sam19
- A rebel, Sheba, gains a following. David’s nephew Amasa is told to have men of Judah report quickly, but is delayed. Joab stabs & kills Amasa. Sheba & his men go to Abel Beth Maakah. A woman of Abel is told to kill Sheba so that Abel is not sacked. She delivers his head. #2Sam20
- The Lord sends a famine due to Saul’s past persecution of Gibeon. David asks them how to atone, & 7 of Saul’s grandsons are sacrificed. Saul’s concubine Rizpah protects the exposed bodies. The bones of Saul & Jonathan are brought to Zela. Israel clashes with Philistine. #2Sam21
- David sings in praise of the Lord for delivering him from his enemies & the hand of Saul. The Lord is my rock & my fortress. He delivered me from my enemy, for I have kept the ways of the Lord. Thou art my lamp, O Lord, to lighten the darkness. God is my strength & power. #2Sam22
- David, son of Jesse, anointed of God & psalmist of Israel, speaks his last words. God hath made with me an everlasting covenant. David praises the deeds of his mighty warriors. They got him water from the well of Bethlehem, though he refused it. He lists 38 of his guard. #2Sam23
- Against Joab’s counsel, David orders a census of Israel, angering the Lord. There were 800000 men in Israel & 500000 in Judah. David’s seer Gad offers 3 choices to atone: famine, war, or plague (which is chosen, killing 70000). David builds an altar to stay the plague. #2Sam24