Old Testament
2 Samuel
24 chapters
Start reading: 2 Samuel 1About this book
Second Samuel follows David's reign, from his grief over Saul and Jonathan to his last years. After a civil war, David is crowned over all Israel, takes Jerusalem and brings the ark of the covenant there. The high point is God's promise that David's house and throne will endure, a promise Jews and Christians have both treasured, and which Christians see fulfilled in Jesus. David's triumphs are followed by his worst failure, when he takes Bathsheba and arranges her husband's death. The prophet Nathan confronts him, David repents, and yet the consequences ripple through his family: violence, the rebellion of his son Absalom and a kingdom shaken. The book closes with songs of praise and a census that brings judgment and mercy. It is an honest portrait of a great king who was also a flawed man, resting wholly on God's grace.
- Author
- Unknown; the books of Samuel were likely compiled from earlier records, with tradition mentioning Nathan and Gad.
- Date
- Events span roughly 1010 to 970 BC; scholars differ on when the book took its final form.
- Audience
- Israel, reflecting on the origins and failures of its kingship and on God's promise to David.
Themes
God's covenant with DavidSin, repentance and consequencesMercy and justiceKingship under GodGrief and lament
Outline
- 1:1–5:5From lament to kingship over Israel
- 5:6–8:18Jerusalem, the ark and God's promise
- 9:1–9:13David's kindness to Mephibosheth
- 10:1–12:31Bathsheba, Nathan and repentance
- 13:1–20:26Family violence and Absalom's rebellion
- 21:1–24:25Songs, warriors and the census
Key verses
Chapters of 2 Samuel
- 12 Samuel 1An Amalekite messenger brings David news of the defeat at Gilboa and, expecting a reward, claims he killed the wounded Saul at the king's own request, offering Saul's crown and armband.
- 22 Samuel 2After asking the Lord, David goes up to Hebron, where the men of Judah anoint him king.
- 32 Samuel 3The war between the houses of Saul and David drags on, with David growing stronger.
- 42 Samuel 4With Abner dead, Ishbosheth loses heart and Israel is alarmed.
- 52 Samuel 5All the tribes of Israel come to Hebron, recognize David as their shepherd and king, and make a covenant with him.
- 62 Samuel 6David gathers thirty thousand men to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem, carrying it on a new cart.
- 72 Samuel 7Settled in his palace, David tells the prophet Nathan he wants to build a house for the Lord.
- 82 Samuel 8This chapter summarizes David's military victories and administration.
- 92 Samuel 9Remembering his covenant with Jonathan, David asks whether anyone is left of Saul's house to whom he can show kindness.
- 102 Samuel 10When the Ammonite king dies, David sends envoys to comfort his son Hanun.
- 112 Samuel 11In spring, when kings go to war, David stays in Jerusalem.
- 122 Samuel 12The Lord sends Nathan to David with a parable about a rich man who takes a poor man's only lamb.
- 132 Samuel 13David's son Amnon, obsessed with his half-sister Tamar, follows his cousin Jonadab's advice, feigns illness, and rapes her, then hates her and throws her out.
- 142 Samuel 14Joab, seeing that David longs for Absalom, sends a wise woman from Tekoa to tell the king a story about a widow whose surviving son is threatened with death for killing his brother.
- 152 Samuel 15Absalom begins to steal the hearts of Israel, riding in a chariot with fifty runners and greeting people at the city gate, promising that if he were judge everyone would get justice.
- 162 Samuel 16As David flees, Ziba brings supplies and claims Mephibosheth is hoping to regain the kingdom, so David hands Mephibosheth's property to Ziba.
- 172 Samuel 17Ahithophel advises Absalom to attack David at once with twelve thousand men while he is weary, striking only the king.
- 182 Samuel 18David organizes his forces in three divisions and, though his men keep him from going out to the battle, orders the commanders to deal gently with Absalom for his sake.
- 192 Samuel 19Joab rebukes David for mourning while his loyal army feels ashamed, warning that men will desert him if he does not encourage them.
- 202 Samuel 20Sheba, a troublemaker from Benjamin, sounds a trumpet and leads Israel away from David, declaring no share in David's house.
- 212 Samuel 21A three-year famine strikes, and David asks the Lord, who says it is because Saul broke an ancient oath by killing Gibeonites.
- 222 Samuel 22When the Lord rescues David from all his enemies and from Saul, David sings a song of praise, which closely parallels Psalm 18.
- 232 Samuel 23The chapter opens with David's last words, in which he describes the just ruler who fears God as like morning light after rain, and he treasures God's everlasting covenant with his house.
- 242 Samuel 24The Lord's anger burns against Israel, and David orders Joab to count the fighting men.