2 Samuel · The Old Testament, Animated

Overview

2 Samuel is the story of David's forty-year reign, roughly the early tenth century BC. It continues straight on from 1 Samuel (originally one book) and moves from Hebron to Jerusalem, from the battlefields of Israel's neighbours to the inner rooms of David's own palace.

The book is unusually honest about its hero. The first half shows David's rise to power and God's covenant promise to his house. The turning point is his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah (ch 11). The second half traces the consequences: violence and rebellion within his own family, and a kingdom that nearly falls apart. Its last four chapters form an appendix of stories, lists and songs.

The structure: David becomes king over Judah, then all Israel (ch 1–5); the Ark, the covenant and the kingdom established (ch 6–10); Bathsheba and Nathan (ch 11–12); Absalom's revolt and its aftermath (ch 13–20); and the appendix (ch 21–24).

Part 1 — David becomes king (chapters 1–5)

News of Saul's death (1). At Ziklag an Amalekite brings Saul's crown and bracelet, claiming to have killed him. David has him executed for striking "the Lord's anointed." He laments Saul and Jonathan in the Song of the Bow: "How are the mighty fallen!" — "thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."

King in Hebron (2). Judah anoints David king at Hebron. Saul's commander Abner makes Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, king of the other tribes. A contest at the pool of Gibeon turns into battle; Abner kills Joab's brother Asahel.

Abner and Ish-bosheth (3–4). "David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker." Abner defects to David, but Joab murders him at Hebron's gate in revenge. David mourns publicly and curses Joab's act. Two captains assassinate Ish-bosheth and bring his head to David, who has them executed.

King over all Israel (5). The tribes anoint David at Hebron. Aged thirty, he reigns forty years. He takes the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem, makes it the City of David, and defeats the Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim. Hiram of Tyre builds him a cedar palace.

Part 2 — The Ark, the covenant and the kingdom (chapters 6–10)

The Ark comes to Jerusalem (6). David moves the Ark on a new cart. When the oxen stumble, Uzzah touches the Ark and dies. After three months at Obed-edom's house, David brings it up with sacrifices and joy, dancing "before the Lord with all his might." Michal despises him; David says he will be humbler still before the Lord.

God's covenant with David (7). David wants to build God a house. Through Nathan God replies that he will build David a "house," a dynasty: "Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee." David's son will build the temple. David prays in awe: "Who am I, O Lord God?" This promise becomes central to later hopes for a king from David's line.

Victories and kindness (8–10). David subdues the Philistines, Moab, Zobah, Aram, Edom and Ammon, and "executed judgment and justice unto all his people." For Jonathan's sake he brings Mephibosheth, Jonathan's lame son, to eat at his table and restores Saul's lands to him. Ammon insults David's envoys, provoking war.

Part 3 — Bathsheba and Nathan (chapters 11–12)

The sin (11). In spring, "at the time when kings go forth to battle," David stays home. From his roof he sees Bathsheba bathing, sends for her, and she conceives. He recalls her husband Uriah the Hittite from the siege of Rabbah, but Uriah refuses to go home while the Ark and army are in tents. David sends him back with a letter to Joab ordering him placed where he will die. Uriah is killed. David marries Bathsheba. "But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."

Nathan's parable (12:1–15). Nathan tells of a rich man who takes a poor man's only ewe lamb. David is outraged, and Nathan says, "Thou art the man." The sword will never depart from David's house. David confesses, "I have sinned against the Lord" (Psalm 51 is traditionally linked to this moment), and is told he will not die.

The child and Solomon (12:15–31). The child falls ill; David fasts and pleads, but the child dies. "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." Bathsheba bears Solomon, whom the Lord loves; Nathan names him Jedidiah. Rabbah is taken.

Part 4 — Absalom's revolt (chapters 13–20)

Amnon and Tamar (13). David's eldest son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar, then drives her out. David is angry but does nothing. Two years later Absalom, Tamar's brother, has Amnon killed at a sheep-shearing feast and flees to Geshur.

Absalom returns (14). Joab uses a wise woman of Tekoa to persuade David to bring Absalom home. Two years pass before David will see him.

Stealing hearts (15:1–12). Absalom, famed for his looks and hair, waits at the city gate and wins over petitioners: "Oh that I were made judge in the land!" He "stole the hearts of the men of Israel," then proclaims himself king at Hebron. Ahithophel, David's counsellor, joins him.

David's flight (15:13–16:14). David leaves Jerusalem, crossing the Kidron and climbing the Mount of Olives weeping and barefoot. He sends the Ark back with Zadok and Abiathar and sends Hushai to undermine Ahithophel. Shimei of Saul's clan curses and stones him; David restrains Abishai: "Let him curse."

Counsel against counsel (16:15–17:29). Absalom takes David's concubines publicly, on Ahithophel's advice. Ahithophel urges an immediate strike; Hushai advises delay, and Absalom follows Hushai, "for the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel." Ahithophel hangs himself. David crosses the Jordan to Mahanaim.

Absalom's death (18). David orders, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man." In the forest of Ephraim Absalom's army is routed. Riding a mule, Absalom is caught by his head in an oak. Joab thrusts three darts into him. Hearing the news, David weeps: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee."

Return and Sheba (19–20). Joab rebukes the king for shaming his loyal troops. David returns, pardons Shimei, hears Mephibosheth, and honours old Barzillai. Judah and Israel quarrel over the king. Sheba son of Bichri cries, "We have no part in David," and leads a revolt; Joab murders his rival Amasa, besieges Abel, and a wise woman has Sheba's head thrown over the wall.

Part 5 — Appendix (chapters 21–24)

The Gibeonites and Rizpah (21:1–14). A three-year famine is linked to Saul's slaughter of the Gibeonites, in breach of Joshua's treaty. Seven of Saul's descendants are handed over and killed. Rizpah, Saul's concubine, guards their bodies on a rock from harvest until the rains. David then buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan in their family tomb.

Giants and mighty men (21:15–22; 23:8–39). David's warriors kill Philistine giants of Gath. The list of mighty men includes the Three and Benaiah. When David longs for water from the well of Bethlehem, three men break through Philistine lines to fetch it; he pours it out to the Lord rather than drink "the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives." The list ends, pointedly, with Uriah the Hittite.

David's song and last words (22:1–23:7). A psalm of deliverance (also Psalm 18): "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer." His last words picture the just ruler "as the light of the morning" and rest on God's "everlasting covenant."

The census and the threshing floor (24). David orders a census of fighting men; afterwards his conscience strikes him. Offered three judgements by the prophet Gad, he chooses to "fall now into the hand of the Lord." A plague kills seventy thousand. As the angel reaches Jerusalem, God says, "It is enough." David buys Araunah's threshing floor — "neither will I offer… of that which doth cost me nothing" — and builds an altar, and the plague stops. This site later becomes the temple mount (2 Chronicles 3:1).

Key themes, and the bridge to 1 Kings

The Davidic covenant. God's promise of an everlasting house and throne (ch 7) is the theological heart of the book and of later messianic hope.
Grace and consequence. David is forgiven, yet his sin echoes through his family in rape, murder and rebellion.
A king under God. David is great not because he is flawless but because he repents and trusts God, and refuses to grasp power by violence.
Jerusalem. The city becomes political and religious centre, home of the Ark and, at Araunah's floor, the future temple.
Loyalty and betrayal. Mephibosheth, Hushai, Ittai and Barzillai stand alongside Joab, Ahithophel and Absalom.

The book closes with David old, an altar on the threshing floor, and the succession unresolved. 1 Kings opens with the aged king's court split between his sons Adonijah and Solomon, and with Solomon on the throne building the temple on the very ground David bought.