2 Samuel

What makes 2 Samuel special?

Some of the best stories about people in the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) are in 1 and 2 Samuel. In 2 Samuel the story of David, begun in the second half of 1 Samuel, is continued. It tells of David's triumphs and failures and shows how important one person's relationship with God can be in shaping the course of his life and the life of the nation he rules.

Why was 2 Samuel written?

The second half of one book that was split into two, 2 Samuel continues the story of Israel's first kings. 1 Samuel ended with the death of King Saul. 2 Samuel picks up with David's reign, from about 1010 to 970 b.c. The first dramatic section tells how David became king of Judah, then king of all Israel, in a series of military victories and with an extraordinary promise from God. But troubles followed his triumphs, and David's life unraveled when he sinned with Bathsheba, arranged a murder, and watched his family come apart.

What's the story behind the scene?

Instead of writing only about David's strengths, the author also needed to show David's weaknesses. Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings contain lessons for Israel that were brought together some time late in the seventh century b.c. They repeatedly describe what happens when individuals or groups of people don't live up to their agreements with God. Israel had agreed to be faithful to the Lord (see Deut 7.12). Their peace and prosperity depended on it, but Israel failed again and again. The authors of these books struggled to understand who was to blame for the division of Israel, its defeat by two powerful kingdoms in the east, and its eventual exile into Babylonia.

Key to understanding 2 Samuel is the agreement God made with David (7.16). God promised David that one of his descendants would always be king. This promise led the people of Israel to expect a messiah, or “chosen one.” See the mini-article called “Messiah (Chosen One),” PSA 89.1. Later, when the line of kings descended from David came to an end with the capture of Jerusalem (2 Kgs 25.7), people wondered how God would continue to keep the promise he made to David. In later generations, several of Israel's prophets would speak of a new king descended from David (Jer 33.15; Dan 9.25). In New Testament times Jesus' early apostles understood Jesus to be this new king (Matt 1.1; Acts 2.30; Rom 1.3-4).

How is 2 Samuel constructed?

2 Samuel can be divided into two major sections—one for David's triumphs and one for his troubles. Added to these is a third section of other stories about David.