Introduction and Title
The Second Book of Samuel records the highlights of David’s reign, first over the territory of Judah, and finally over the entire nation of Israel. It traces the ascension of David to the throne, his climactic sins of adultery and murder, and the shattering consequences of those sins upon his family and the nation.
See First Samuel for details on the titles of the books of Samuel. The Hebrew title for both books (originally one) is Samuel. The Greek title for Second Samuel is Basileion Beta, “Second Kingdoms.” The Latin title is Liber II Samuelis, the “Second Book of Samuel,” or simply “Second Samuel.”
Author
Second Samuel was probably compiled by one man who combined the written chronicles of Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer (1 Chr. 29:29). In addition to these written sources, the compiler evidently used another source called “the Book of Jasher” (1:18). (See comments under First Samuel.)
Date and Setting
The date of the composition for First and Second Samuel was sometime after the death of Solomon (931 B.C.) but before the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom (722 B.C.). It is likely that Samuel was composed early in the divided kingdom, perhaps around 900 B.C.
The story of David begins in First Samuel 16 and ends in First Kings 2. Second Samuel records the major events of David’s forty-year rule. His reign in Hebron begins in 1011 B.C. and ends in 1004 B.C. (5:5). His thirty-three year reign over the united Judah and Israel lasts from 1004 B.C. to 971 B.C.
Theme and Purpose
There is no real break in the narrative between First Samuel 31:13 and Second Samuel 1:1. The two books of Samuel were originally one book written to provide a divine perspective on the establishment of the united kingdom under Saul and its expansion under David. These books repeatedly illustrate the hostility between the ten northern and two southern tribes and the difficulty of keeping them united. The final split between Israel and Judah that occurred after the death of Solomon in 931 B.C. comes as no surprise in light of First and Second Samuel.
The Book of Second Samuel offers a very candid portrait of the strengths and weaknesses of David’s forty-year reign. God is no respecter of persons, and the heroes of the Bible like David are not glorified to the neglect of their sin. This balanced presentation of the life of Israel’s greatest king reveals the origin of a perpetual dynasty (7:16).
Several spiritual truths are reinforced and illustrated in the life of David. The most obvious of these is the cause and effect principle stressed in every book since Genesis: obedience (1–7) brings God’s blessings (8–10), and disobedience (11) leads to God’s judgment (12–24). The consequences of sin cannot be avoided; “sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15), in this case, many.
Keys to Second Samuel
Key Word: David
Key Verses (7:12–13; 22:21)
“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will 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” (7:12–13).
“The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me” (22:21).
Key Chapter (11)—The eleventh chapter of Second Samuel is pivotal for the entire book. This chapter records the tragic sins of David regarding Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. All of the widespread blessings on David’s family and his kingdom are quickly removed as God chastises His anointed one.
Christ in Second Samuel
As seen in the introduction to First Samuel, David is one of the most important types of Christ in the Old Testament. In spite of his sins, he remains a man after God’s own heart because of his responsive and faithful attitude toward God. He sometimes fails in his personal life, but he never flags in his relationship to the Lord. Unlike most of the kings who succeed him, he never allows idolatry to become a problem during his reign. He is a true servant of Yahweh, obedient to His Law, and an ideal king. His rule is usually characterized by justice, wisdom, integrity, courage, and compassion. Having conquered Jerusalem, he sits upon the throne of Melchizedek, the “righteous king” (cf. Gen. 14:18). David is the standard by which all subsequent kings are measured.
Of course, David’s life as recorded in chapters 1–10 is a far better portrayal of the future Messiah than is his life as it is seen in chapters 11–24. Sin mars potential. The closest way in which he foreshadows the coming King can be seen in the important covenant God makes with him (7:4–17). David wants to build a house for God; but instead, God makes a house for David. The same three promises of an eternal kingdom, throne, and seed are later given to Christ (Luke 1:32–33). There are nine different dynasties in the northern kingdom of Israel, but there is only one dynasty in Judah. The promise of a permanent dynasty is fulfilled in Christ, the “son of David” (Matt. 21:9; 22:45), who will sit upon the throne of David (see Is. 9:7; Luke 1:32).
Contribution to the Bible
First Samuel reveals how the kingdom was established and Second Samuel shows how it was consolidated. This book tells us how the nation was unified, how it obtained Jerusalem as its royal capital, how it subdued its enemies and extended its boundaries, and how it achieved economic prosperity. It records the beginning of an endless dynasty and the life of a man about whom more is known than any other individual in the Old Testament.
Survey of Second Samuel
Second Samuel continues the account of the life of David at the point where First Samuel concludes. Soon after the death of Saul, the king-elect becomes the king enthroned, first over Judah when he reigns in Hebron for seven-and-a-half years and finally over all Israel when he reigns in Jerusalem for thirty-three years. This book reviews the key events in the forty-year reign of the man who is the halfway point between Abraham and Christ. It can be surveyed in the three divisions: the triumphs of David (1–10), the transgressions of David (11), and the troubles of David (12–24).
The Triumphs of David (1–10):
Chapters 1–4 record the seven-year reign of David over the territory of Judah. Even though Saul is David’s murderous pursuer, David does not rejoice in his death because he recognizes that Saul has been divinely anointed as king. Saul’s son Ishbosheth is installed by Abner as a puppet king over the northern tribes of Israel. David’s allies led by Joab defeat Abner and Israel (see 2:17; 3:1). Abner defects and arranges to unite Israel and Judah under David, but Joab kills Abner in revenge. The powerless Ishbosheth is murdered by his own men, and David is made king of Israel (5:3). David soon captures and fortifies Jerusalem and makes it the civil and religious center of the now united kingdom. Under David’s rule the nation prospers politically, spiritually, and militarily. David brings the ark to Jerusalem and seeks to build a house for God (7). His obedience in placing the Lord at the center of his rule leads to great national blessing (8–10). “And the LORD preserved David wherever he went” (8:14).
The Transgressions of David (11):
David’s crimes of adultery and murder mark the pivotal point of the book. Because of these transgressions, David’s victories and successes are changed to the personal, family, and national troubles which are recorded throughout the rest of Second Samuel.
The Troubles of David (12–24):
The disobedience of the king produces chastisement and confusion at every level. David’s glory and fame fade, never to be the same again. Nevertheless, David confesses his guilt when confronted by Nathan the prophet and is restored by God. A sword remains in David’s house as a consequence of the sin: the baby born to David and Bathsheba dies, his son Amnon commits incest, and his son Absalom murders Amnon.
The consequences continue with Absalom’s rebellion against his father. He shrewdly “stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (15:6). David is forced to flee from Jerusalem, and Absalom sets himself up as king. David would have been ruined, but God keeps Absalom from pursuing him until David has time to regroup his forces. Absalom’s army is defeated by David’s, and Joab kills Absalom in disobedience of David’s orders to have him spared.
David seeks to amalgamate the kingdom, but conflict breaks out between the ten northern tribes of Israel and the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Israel decides to follow a man named Sheba in a revolt against David, but Judah remains faithful to him. This leads to war, and Joab defeats the rebels.
The closing chapters are actually an appendix to the book because they summarize David’s words and deeds. They show how intimately the affairs of the people as a whole are tied to the spiritual and moral condition of the king. The nation enjoys God’s blessing when David is obedient to the Lord, and suffers hardship when David disobeys God.
Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (pp. 78–81). Nashville: T. Nelson.