2 Samuel 4
BibTchStudy Guide 32: 2 Samuel 1-10; 1 Chronicles 11-19 DAVID’ S TRIUMPHS Overview Now the Old Testament record focuses on David. With the death of Saul, David’ s fortune changed. He was no longer a fugitive, and was quickly acknowledged as king by the southern tribe of Judah, his own tribe. In the north Ish-Bosheth, a surviving son of Saul, was propped up as king by the military leader, Abner. Over the next years there were minor skirmishes between the two kingdoms. But David’ s strength showed itself, as did Ish-Bosheth’ s weakness. Then Ish-Bosheth was assassinated (and the assassins executed by an outraged David). It was seven and a half years after David had become king of Judah that he was recognized as king by all of Israel. The story of David’ s triumphs is told in two Old Testament books, as shown in the outline below. From these books we grasp something of the significance of the accomplishments of this great leader, as well as great man of faith.
David’ s Triumphs Period2 Sam.l Chron.
- King of Judah2 Sam. 1-4
- King of United Israel2 Sam. 5-101 Chron. 11-19DAVID. David’ s accomplishments as Israel’ s ruler are unmatched. He is a type of Jesus, who will rule as God’ s coming King. His personal qualities and faith provide examples for believers of every age.
Commentary David’ s rule was strong and aggressive and his accomplishments were unparalleled. Other men of history have demonstrated military and administrative capacity, but David overshadows them all by the breadth and depth of his ability. To cap it all, David is one of the great men of faith. To understand the significance of this remarkable man it is necessary to survey the accomplishments that are reported in these biblical passages, and to examine his role in Old Testament prophecy.
Events of David’ s Reign David made king2Sa_5:1-5; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3 David takes Jerusalem2Sa_5:6-9; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9 David organizes the mighty men1 Chron. 11:10-12:40 David defeats the Philistines2Sa_5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17 David brings the ark to Jerusalem2Sa_6:1-12; 1 Chronicles 13:1-14; 1 Chronicles 15:1-15 David offers praise2Sa_6:12-23; 1 Chron. 15:6-16:36 David receives a covenant promise2Sa_7:1-16; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15 David wins more victories2Sa_8:1-14; 1 Chronicles 18:1-13 David organizes his government2Sa_8:15-18; 1 Chronicles 18:14-17 David honors Mephibosheth2Sa_9:1-13 David defeats the Ammonites2Sa_10:1-19; 1 Chronicles 19:1-19 David’ s Accomplishments Military achievements. Establishing the kingdom first of all required defeating Israel’ s enemies and setting up a perimeter of safety. As archeological digs have shown, up to David’ s time Israel was restricted to the hilly areas of Palestine; the rich plains were in the hands of the ancient Canaanite peoples. Then, in a series of battles (2 Samuel 5:1-25; 2 Samuel 8:1-18; and 2 Samuel 10:1-19), David destroyed the power of the Philistines, Israel’ s principal enemy since the days of Samson. David’ s neutralization of the Philistines was complete; they never again posed any threat to God’ s people. In a further series of battles, David brought Moab and Edom under his control. The kingdom of Israel proper then extended from north of the Sea of Galilee south to Beersheba and encompassed both sides of the Jordan River. David’ s conquests set up a number of vassal states, which insulated Israel from distant potential enemies. These states also made available the natural resources of iron and coal which Israel needed to maintain military strength, and the conquered peoples provided the skills in metalworking which were not known in Israel. No longer would iron, the Philistines’ ancient “ secret weapon,” be unavailable to the Hebrews! Summarizing the position David had attained for Israel, Leon Wood (A Survey of Israel’ s History, Zondervan) notes of all the territory which acknowledged Israelite sovereignty, “ This was the area which God had promised to Abraham for his posterity centuries before (Genesis 15:18). It did not rival the vast territories of Egypt, Assyria, or Babylonia in their empire days. But in David’ s time, Israel became one of the larger land areas then held, and David was no doubt the strongest ruler of the contemporary world.” Government organization. David quickly took steps to maintain all military and political gains. He instituted a creative military plan, under which 24,000 men were always under arms. The personnel roster rotated every month, according to 1 Chronicles 27:1-15, indicating that at least 288,000 trained men were ready for immediate service if needed. Yet David’ s structure enabled most of his army to devote most of their time to civilian pursuits. The core of David’ s military organization was 600 key commanders, his gibborim or “ mighty men.” Over these he had, in turn, a smaller general staff. David’ s genius for organization showed itself in religious and civil areas as well. While we are not told of their duties, David apparently set a governor over each of the 12 tribal areas and also established a cabinet for the central government. Members’ duties included supervision of his treasury, various agricultural departments, etc. (cf. 1 Chronicles 27:25-31). Centralization. Since the days of Joshua, the people of Israel had thought more in terms of tribal than national identity. This was the reason for David’ s ready acceptance by Judah, his own tribe, and the slower acceptance of the others. As king over the whole nation, David acted quickly to centralize the government. A key step was to choose a suitable site for the capital. David grasped both the religious and political significance of affirming Israel’ s identity as a single nation. The city David selected was occupied at that time by Jebusites. It was so strongly fortified that its inhabitants boasted that the lame and the blind could defend it against David (2 Samuel 5:6). But David’ s army took the city by storm, overcoming those “ lame and blind” defenders. The city of Jerusalem was located on the border between Judah and the northern tribes. Selecting it was wise politically. David did not abandon his own tribe, nor did his choice suggest to the northern tribes a favoritism toward Judah. Jerusalem then became David’ s capital. When David finally moved the ark of the covenant to that city, Jerusalem became the center of Israel’ s religious life as well. Through David, God selected a city fore told in the Law. Jerusalem was “ the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put His name there for His dwelling” (Deuteronomy 12:5). From that time on, Israel was to offer sacrifice only at Jerusalem and to appear there before the Lord at the time of the three special religious festivals. The political and religious unification of the people around a central location, and establishment of a recognized central government, were two of David’ s greatest accomplishments. They involved a reorientation of the tribal lifestyle and thinking of the people. Structuring worship. David’ s genius for organization also showed itself in his impact on Israel’ s religious life. Zadok and Abiathar served as chief priests and were members of David’ s cabinet. The priests and the Levites under them were organized into 24 shifts, each called to serve a brief time at the Jerusalem sanctuary (1 Chronicles 24:1-19). Thus priests and Levites typically served two weeks a year. The rest of the time they lived at their homes. David also was served by prophets, notably Gad and Nathan, who had a special ministry in instructing (and reproving!) the king. David took a special interest in organizing the singers and musicians who served the tabernacle, and would later serve in Solomon’ s temple (1 Chronicles 25:1-31). Many of the psalms which David wrote were used in public worship. His personal commitment was reflected in the fresh interest of Israel in the service of God during the years of David’ s reign. David’ s reign was marked by many internal troubles. David was not always in a position to enforce his will on those with whom he shared power. At other times David’ s own actions brought disasters. But David’ s genius, committed to the service of God and enriched by God’ s Spirit, shaped Israel into a people who, for a brief time, knew glory. Throughout David’ s long life, God’ s people stood on the pinnacle of long-promised power. In the transition that David effected, Israel moved:
- from government by judges to an established monarchy.
- from anarchy to a strong central government.
- from a loose confederation of tribes to a unified nation.
- from poverty and Bronze Age technology to an iron economy and to wealth.
- from being a subject people to being conquerors.
- from decentralized to centralized worship. This transformation was God’ s work through David, and stands today as an example of what we can expect to see when Jesus comes again. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Outline in a minilecture the accomplishments of David as king. Be sure to list on the chalkboard the six accomplishments listed above. Then brainstorm. If David does represent in Israel what Jesus will be for all humankind when He returns, what kind of changes can we expect to see on earth? What aspects of global life will Jesus change? If He makes changes on the pattern of David’ s ministry in Israel, what changes can we expect? Let your group work together to portray the kingdom Jesus will establish then.
The Everlasting Kingdom David has prophetic as well as historic significance. When the kingdom of Israel had been firmly established, David yearned to build a suitable temple for the Lord. But David was not permitted to build that house. Instead, God spoke to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) and promised to build David a house! That promise of a Davidic dynasty is understood in the Old Testament to have the force of a covenant: an unbreakable promise or commitment made by God. David was promised that after his death, a descendant of his would be established as ruler of a kingdom to be set up in God’ s name. God said, “ I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). David’ s line was promised the perpetual right to Israel’ s throne. Even though David’ s immediate descendant Solomon sinned in such terrible ways that he deserved to be set aside, the kings of Judah were always from the Davidic line. Because of David’ s faith, God did not treat his descendants as He had treated Saul’ s. Sin would be punished, but David’ s line would never be completely cut off. God’ s promise to David is recognized in the Old Testament and the New Testament as an amplification of the ancient Abrahamic Covenant. The Davidic Covenant explains the means through which the earlier promises to Abraham will be fulfilled! As Psalms 89:3-4 expresses it: You said, “ I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant, ‘ I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’” And again this great prophetic psalm affirms the certainty of God’ s promise. I will not violate My covenant or alter what My lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by My holiness — and I will not lie to David — that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before Me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky. Psalms 89:34-37From this point on, for the Hebrew people and for the later prophets, David stood as the symbol and the ancestor of a coming King, destined to set up a lasting kingdom through which the whole world would be related to God (see especially Jeremiah 33:22, Jeremiah 33:25-26). God’ s formal promise was confirmed over and over again in such passages as Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Jeremiah 30:8-9; Jeremiah 33:14-17, Jeremiah 33:20-21; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Daniel 7:13-14; Hosea 3:4-5; Amos 9:11; and Zechariah 14:9. We cannot understand the Old Testament or the hope with which godly Jews looked forward to the coming Messiah if we do not realize that they looked for a literal kingdom on earth, to be established and ruled over for an endless age by David’ s greater Son. No wonder then that New Testament writers took such pains to demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth is David’ s descendant, and thus genealogically qualified to mount his throne. We can also understand the confusion which arose when Jesus did not repeat David’ s military and political performance. Rather than throwing off the yoke of Rome as David had thrown off that of the Philistines, Jesus bowed His head and let Himself be led away and crucified. He who could have called on angel armies to release Him chose instead the shameful death of the cross. Even after Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples could not understand what had happened. They are recorded in Acts to have asked, “ Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Certainly God’ s rule of the universe and over the ages is recognized in both Old and New Testaments. But these men were concerned about that form of the overarching rule of God known not as the “ kingdom” but as “ the kingdom promised to Israel.” As Jews they were curious about the destiny of their own nation. Christ’ s answer contains no rebuke. The promises God has made will be fulfilled. So Jesus simply said, “ It is not for you to know the times or dates” (Acts 1:7). In Jesus, men of faith had correctly seen David’ s descendant who will one day establish an endless kingdom on earth. But they had not seen the centuries which lay between Jesus’ first coming, with His suffering as man’ s Saviour, and His still-future second coming as Israel’ s — and the earth’ s — King. It is important that you and I see Jesus as coming King. Right now He is our Saviour, and our Lord as well. But the day is coming when Jesus will be Lord of all! The careening course of modern history, rushing as it seems to toward disasters over which men have no control, points up our need to reaffirm the fact that history does have a goal. This very earth, the setting of man’ s first sin, will once again know the masterful touch of God’ s own hand. “ I will proclaim the decree of the Lord,” the psalmist says of that future day. He said to Me, “ You are My Son, today I have become Your Father. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth Your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; You will dash them to pieces like pottery.” Psalms 2:7-9The Old Testament picture of David, acting in his own might to establish Israel’ s glorious kingdom, is but a dim foreshadowing of David’ s Son, Jesus Christ, who will come again to act in even greater power and will establish a worldwide kingdom whose glory knows no end.
Notes on the Text These chapters of the Old Testament are especially significant. They report a historical turning point. And they record a theological turning point. The kingdom David established is a foreview of a greater kingdom to be established by David’ s greater Son. Yet even among these towering passages there are incidents that remind us of God’ s great compassion and love. The ark is brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1-15). When David tried to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem, it was carried on an ox cart rather than by Levites, as the Law instructed. The cart, jolting along the rough track, tipped and seemed about to fall. A man named Uzzah who was guiding the cart reached out to steady it — and was struck dead! This event angered as well as puzzled David. It did not appear to fit with God’ s character, and a suddenly fearful David left the ark at the household of Obed-Edom. But God blessed the household of Obed-Edom, and David’ s fears were relieved. David must also have studied the Scriptures or inquired of a prophet, for when David next tried to bring the ark to Jerusalem the Bible speaks of “ those who were carrying the ark” (2 Samuel 6:13). This time the ark arrived with a joyous David leading the company of dancing, shouting, praising worshipers. What an important lesson David and all Israel were taught. You and I can revel in the love and compassion of our God. But we must always treat Him with respect! He who loves us is also the Holy One of Israel, and our love for Him should be tempered with a deep awe of who He is. David and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-13). When David was established as king, he set about investigating to see if any of Saul’ s family was still alive. It was common for ancient rulers to initiate such a search: most wanted to kill members of the previous ruling family who might one day challenge their reigns! But David had a different purpose in mind. David wanted to find any family members still alive so he could show them “ kindness for Jonathan’ s sake” (Psalms 2:1). The search turned up Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan, who had been crippled in infancy. David not only made this lame grandson of Saul a member of his household, but also deeded to him Saul’ s extensive estate! Suddenly Mephibosheth’ s position was transformed from that of a helpless and poor cripple to a wealthy and powerful man who enjoyed access to the king and ate at his table. What a picture of your state and mine! We, the children of one who made himself an enemy of God, crippling all his descendants, are suddenly taken from our helpless estate and brought into the very household of the Lord. We are made rich in Jesus, and through Him have direct access to the King of kings. How great and how wonderful is this kindness, not only of David, but of the God whom he in this instance represents! LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Can we help boys and girls be like David and actively search for ways to be kind to others and show love? Here is a simple activity you can use to help develop the sensitivity of boys and girls. On several paper plates draw faces to represent the following feelings: sadness (perhaps with tears flowing), loneliness (a straight mouth, eyes closed), worry (wrinkled brow, mouth turned down), and other emotions that might suggest a person needs help. Show each face in turn. Ask the children to describe how the person represented feels. Talk about what kind of things might make someone feel that way. Talk too about how we might help a person who feels sad, lonely, or worried. Encourage the boys and girls to talk about their own experiences with these feelings. After you’ ve talked, let your class members role play. A child can choose one of the faces, and sit or walk in such a way that the emotion is also shown. For instance, a sad person might slump, or walk slowly. A lonely person might sit with shoulders humped and hands in pocket, etc. Then let a volunteer talk to the person to find out what’ s wrong and see if he or she can help. Remind your boys and girls that we can often see when another person needs our help by how he or she looks and acts. Encourage them to be like David, always looking for ways to help others and to search for ways to be helpers.
Teaching Guide Prepare God used all of David’ s talents and abilities, so that even planning the government was a spiritual exercise. How is God using your abilities in your own work?
Explore Give a minilecture, surveying the accomplishments of David.
Expand
- Look at the verses mentioned in the text that give insights into the kingdom of Jesus, David’ s greater Son:
Jeremiah 23:5-6Jer_33:22, Jeremiah 33:25-26 Jeremiah 30:8-9Jer_33:14-17, Jeremiah 33:20-21 Ezekiel 37:24-25Dan_7:13-14 Hosea 3:4-5Amo_9:11 Zechariah 14:3-9Then brainstorm some of the implications of Jesus’ return, using the approach outlined in the “ link-to-life” above. 2. Or, look with your group at the following psalms, which are prophetic portraits of the character and events associated with Jesus’ coming as messianic King:
Psalms 45:1-17:a love song addressed to the King. Psalms 46:1-11:a portrait of the Tribulation time during which all will be brought under the King’ s authority. Psalms 47:1-9:a work picture of the joy earth will know under Christ’ s rule. Psalms 48:1-14:praise to God who has finally fulfilled all His promises. Apply Read 2 Samuel 6:1-15 aloud. Let each group member imagine he or she was present as God struck down Uzzah, and saw David’ s reaction. How would he or she explain the event and David’ s response? How would he or she feel? After sharing, challenge each person to remember that awareness of God’ s deep love for individuals must not be allowed to distract us from our awareness of who God is — and the awesome majesty of His plans not only for us but for Planet Earth.