SAMUEL

The book of Samuel describes the life of three of Israel’s greatest leaders, prophet Samuel, King Saul and King David. Samuel is one of the most attractive and most widely read books of the Old Testament. It is probably so popular because it gives very detailed and realistic descriptions of its leaders’ lives, both strengths and weaknesses. This makes for great drama – and memorable lessons.

It is unclear who wrote the book of Samuel, though its writing is certainly based on the historic records of the prophets Samuel, Nathan and Gad (1 Chr 29:9) and of Jehoshaphat, David and Solomon’s official historian, who records the events of the kingdom (1 Kin 4:3).
Samuel, a child born in a priestly family by an originally barren mother Hannah, is given at a young age into the care of Eli, the current high priest. In contrast to the corrupt high priestly family, Samuel grows up to be a godly leader and priest. God also calls him as a prophet to Israel and gives him the function of a judge. When the threat of the Philistines increases and Israel sees that Samuel’s sons are corrupt (unlike their father), they come before Samuel to demand a king ‘like the other nations’ (1 Sam 8:1-6). For Israel to demand a monarchy is to model themselves after other countries, rather than fulfilling their call to disciple other nations (Exo 19:4-6). It is a rejection of God and his call on them as a nation. Yet Israel insists on having a king and God grants their wish, but not without a warning as to the corruption a monarchy must necessarily bring.
Samuel then anoints Israel’s first king, Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin. He is a king after men’s hearts, tall, handsome, victorious in battle and generous in nature. Though he has significant spiritual experiences and divine confirmations on his call (1 Sam 9), he never manages to truly know or fully obey God. He is popularity driven and fickle in his commitments (1 Sam 13-15). When after a double disobedience (offering sacrifice himself and sparing Amalek) God declares that his kingship won’t last and is in fact taken from him (1 Sam 15:28), he keeps clinging to power.
Samuel goes and anoints a new king at the command of God, an eighth son in a Bethlehemite family, a shepherd boy with a close relationship with God (1 Sam 16). David is catapulted into limelight when his psalms and worship keep the king sane, and even more so when he defeats the champion of the oppressing Philistines, Goliath (1 Sam 17). Saul makes him a commander in his army, where David quickly rises to popularity and fame. This unsettles Saul, together with the understanding that David has been anointed by Samuel, and he starts seeing David as his competitor. Saul tries to bring David down, through covert traps and finally overt persecution. Saul’s godly son Jonathan, who – though David will deprive him of kingship – unlike his father accepts the will of God and becomes David’s most loyal friend and supporter (1 Sam 20, 23:17). David finds himself an outlaw and fugitive for years on end and only after Saul (and three of his sons) die in a hopeless battle, David is accepted first as the king of Judah (2 Sam 2) and seven years later as the king over all Israel (2 Sam 5).
David becomes Israel’s most godly, most beloved and most successful king. He defeats Israel’s enemies all around, conquers much land and makes Israel safe and relatively prosperous. He makes Jerusalem his capital and brings the ark of the covenant there in honor.
In his later life the seeds of choosing a monarchy start bringing up a difficult crop: even David abuses his power by committing adultery and murder (2 Sam 11). He descends into polygamy with its corollary of an out-of-control family. David doesn’t discipline his sons, leading to rape, murder, hatred, rebellion and bloodshed between his children. Yet all his life, in the midst of much fame and also personal weakness, he remains committed to God, humbly repents and acknowledges God as the source of everything good in his life. God gives him the awe-inspiring promise of an eternal kingship (2 Sam 7:16), which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

The book of Samuel describes the life of three of Israel’s greatest leaders, prophet Samuel, King Saul and King David and it covers one of the highest times of Israel as a nation. Samuel is therefore one of the most attractive and most widely read books of the Old Testament. The book’s popularity is probably due to its very detailed and realistic descriptions of its leaders’ lives, both strengths and weaknesses. This makes for great drama – and memorable lessons.

Authorship and Sources

It is unclear who wrote the book of Samuel, though its writing is certainly based on the historic records of prophets Samuel, Nathan and Gad (1 Chr 29:9) and of Jehoshaphat, David’s official historian, who records the events of the kingdom (1 Kin 4:3). The vivid detail and almost eye-witness quality of the book of Samuel points to an early date of writing, maybe shortly after David’s death. Some explanations and expressions (1 Sam 27:6, 13:18 etc.) point toward a later date for writing, or to the fact that later editors added clarifying comments to the original documents. Usually the date of writing is thought to be 931-722 BC, with some editor’s comments added later. Some think it was written as a defense for David’s kingship after the split of the kingdom in 931 BC and was meant to attract those faithful to God in the northern tribes to join Judah in the South.

The youth of Samuel

Samuel is born into a priestly family living in Rama of Ephraim. Samuel’s mother Hannah, a childless woman stuck in a polygamy, out of her misery pleads with God for a son. God grants the son, Samuel, and in gratitude she raises him as a Nazirite and gives him to God from a very young age.
Samuel grows up in the care of Eli, the current high priest. Eli, though concerned about God’s affairs, fails to discipline his corrupt sons, who abuse their priestly position for gain and adultery (1 Sam 2). In contrast to the corrupt high priestly family, Samuel grows up to be a godly person. God makes him a prophet to Israel, calling him early in life and entrusting him with a difficult first message: God’s judgment on Eli’s house (1 Sam 3). Prophets have to learn to speak unpopular and uncomfortable truth. Samuel obeys God.

The ark of the covenant among the Philistines

In yet another war against the Philistines, Israel decides to bring the ark of the covenant into the war camp. The ark that used to lead Israel is now without inquiry of God dragged into warfare, in a wilful and superstitious way (1 Sam 4). There is no focus on God’s holiness and presence, rather Israel uses the ark like a protective charm.
But God will not have it that way: He allows the ark to be captured, though that amounts to his power being doubted by both Israel and the Philistines. It seems God would have that doubt rather than Israel continuing with this religious-superstitious use of the ark and triumphing without repentance. High priest Eli’s corrupt sons die in the battle, he himself dies hearing that the ark was lost (1 Sam 4:10-22).
Yet God knows how to protect his name and how to reveal himself: God quite capably and even humorously looks after his ark. He sends a strong message to the Philistines by having their god Dagon falling down repeatedly before the ark (1 Sam 5:3-4). The ark, this trophy of war, is proving difficult to manage. God smites the Philistines with mice and boils, so much so that they soon are desperately looking for a way to get rid of it (1 Sam 5). They send it back to Israel with respectful apologies. Some Israelites rejoice and equally respectfully receive it (Beth-Shemesh), others don’t and get judged by God (1 Sam 6:19). The standard is not lower for Israel than for the Philistines.

Samuel as Judge and Prophet

Samuel over many years acts as judge, going on a yearly circuit to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah. He is a person of integrity, who lays open all his deeds and makes himself accountable to Israel (1 Sam 12:1-5). But he shows a weakness similar to Eli in making his sons judges over Israel, whereas the Law of Moses stipulates that judges must be appointed locally by the people (Deu 1:13-18, 16:18-20). Promptly it is seen that his sons are corrupt (1 Sam 8:1-3), which is a factor in Israel demanding a king. Upon a king being anointed and confirmed by the people, Samuel publicly and transparently hands over political leadership to Saul, the new king. Samuel continues faithfully in his function as prophet, priest and intercessor for Israel (1 Sam 12:23).
It is very rare in the Bible for the political and spiritual leadership to be in the same hands, and a relatively quick differentiating and division of the two can be seen both times it occurs: Moses, handing over spiritual leadership to Aaron and Samuel, handing over political leadership to Saul.

Israel’s transition from a federation of tribes to a monarchy

When the threat of the Philistines increases and Israel sees that Samuel’s sons, unlike their father, are corrupt, they come before Samuel to demand a king ‘like the other nations’ (1 Sam 8:1-6). For Israel to demand a monarchy is to model themselves after other countries, rather than fulfilling their call to be a model, a nation to disciple other nations (Exo 19:4-6). It is a direct rejection of God and his call on them as a nation (1 Sam 8:7). God warns them about what a monarchy will entail: no freshly elected leadership, less and less representative leadership, a more and more wilful kingly family, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer (1 Sam 8:10-18). Yet Israel insists on a king and God grants their wish, since he has delegated the authority to choose government to the people (Deu 1:13-14).
In a monarchy only the first king can be chosen, from then on the country is stuck with that dynasty, for good or worse. The choice of family is therefore important. God indicates Saul of the tribe of Benjamin and has Samuel anoint him (1 Sam 9).

Saul, Israel’s first king

Saul is a king after men’s hearts, tall, handsome, victorious in battle and generous in nature. Yet he has fear of man, is popularity driven and plagued with inferiority (1 Sam 15:17). Though he has significant spiritual experiences and divine confirmations on his call (1 Sam 9), he never manages to truly know or fully obey God. He is nervously religious (bringing the ark into warfare, swearing and demanding oaths, inquiring by the priest, sacrificing), but doesn’t really understand what God wants nor ever fully follows through on what God says. He tries to compromise between the people’s desire and the instruction of God, and thinks God rather harsh and rigid. When after a double disobedience God declares that his kingship won’t last and is in fact taken from him (1 Sam 15:28), he repents only shallowly and is more worried about how things look in the eyes of the people: ‘honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel’ (1 Sam 15:30). Samuel’s powerful rebuke that God wants obedience, not sacrifice or religiosity, doesn’t really hit home (1 Sam 15:22-23).

The anointing of David

After some time, and basically to the grief of Samuel who loved Saul, God commands him to anoint another man instead of Saul (1 Sam 15:34-16:1). God sends him to the family of Jesse in Bethlehem and by God’s guidance he anoints his eighth son, David, at the time doing shepherd’s duty, to be Israel’s next king (1 Sam 16:1-13).
Soon David is catapulted into the lime light. He becomes Saul’s musician, who by his psalms and worship can keep evil spirits at bay (1 Sam 16:14-20). Once when he brings food to his older brothers on the front lines who followed Saul into yet another war against the Philistines, he hears the Philistine champion, Goliath, defy God and Israel. He responds not in fear, as Israel does, but is offended at how God is dishonored. He goes against Goliath with his shepherd’s sling and fells him, resulting in a resounding victory for Israel that day (1 Sam 17). David is recruited by Saul into his army and Saul’s firstborn Jonathan, though many years his senior, is drawn to him in friendship, probably finding in David a kindred spirit (1 Sam 18:1-5, 14:1-15).

Saul and David

Soon David steadily rises in stature. God is with him and he gains favor, a good reputation and great popularity wherever he turns. Saul, though first pleased with him, becomes increasingly jealous and suspicious of David. It is unclear when exactly Saul and his son Jonathan learn that Samuel anointed David king, but this event could probably not be hidden long. Saul and Jonathan’s response to hearing about David’s anointing is as opposite as their characters.
Jonathan, though courageous, popular with Israel and in all ways a most promising son of a king (1 Sam 13-14) understands that by God rejecting his father (and his father’s house) from kingship, he himself is also rejected. He must have struggled to accept the will of God, since he himself has a multiply proven godly character and is in many ways like David. But he does accept it, relinquishes his right to the throne and manages to wholeheartedly support and champion David, though David is in a sense a competitor to Jonathan even more than to Saul.
Through all the following years Jonathan continues to be a voice of reason to his father Saul, an influence of justice and godliness in his deteriorating rule. He also becomes David’s best friend, strongest supporter and main discipler. The attitude of not grabbing power that David so beautifully displays in the two famous incidences where he spares Saul’s life (1 Sam 24, 26), war first modeled to him by Jonathan, who also did not grab power. Jonathan thus fully embraces his role of ‘getting out of the way of the true king’, only eclipsed by John the Baptist in the New Testament, who had a very similar calling to Jonathan.
Saul on the other hand clings to power. Rather than responding like his son, bowing to God’s will and championing David, working on a gradual, honorable handover of power to him, Saul decides to oppose David first by covert traps, eventually by outright violence. Saul’s character deteriorates further: jealousy, insecurity, unreasonableness, embracing of wrong ways and violence show. Saul gives himself to all of it, and though he has occasional bouts of conscience, he doesn’t really respond and let go of power. Finally he dies in a hopeless battle against the Philistines in a partial suicide, but not without drawing his three oldest sons, including Jonathan, into death with him (1 Sam 31).

David on the run

David, his life being threatened is fleeing from Saul over many years. He unwittingly finds himself collecting all the disgruntled drop outs (1 Chr 12:1-22). He slowly transforms them into a powerful army (2 Sam 23), forging unity among them and slowly gaining their trust and deep loyalty. David, in stark contrast to Saul, can carry through unpopular decisions and act by principle (1 Sam 24, 26). He disciples them by not being vindictive against Saul and by not taking justice into his own hands. Many of the heart-rending psalms written at this time bear testimony that David has to fight hard for this attitude of forgiveness and trust in God. Finally David flees Israel and lives among the Philistines in order to get a measure of safety. He leads a deceitful life there, though, always trying to keep the Philistines happy but secretly defending Israel’s interests (1 Sam 27). When one of his actions backfires and David finds all his men’s families and possessions raided, he reaches one of the lowest points in his life: his own men turn against him, ‘but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God’ (1 Sam 30:1-6). David can fall back on a personal relationship with God, a trust in God’s goodness that carries him all his life.

David, king over Judah and Israel

David never demands the kingship. The elders of Judah come and seek him out to be their king (2 Sam 1:1-7). He starts reigning over them at Hebron. In the meantime Abner, Israel’s powerful army commander and Saul’s uncle, has made a remaining son of Saul, Ish-bosheth, king. After seven years of parallel kingships, Abner defects to David. Abner is assassinated, as is Ish-bosheth, so the elders of Israel come to David to ask him to rule over their tribes as well (2 Sam 5:1-5). God’s promise to David is fulfilled and he reigns over all Israel by the will of the people (Deu 1:13-14). Because David never grabbed power but rather waited for God’s timing and a peaceful consensus, there is ‘joy in Israel’ (1 Ch 12:38-40) when he starts reigning. After much dishonor and hardship David is the honored and loved King of both Judah and Israel.

Symbols of unity

David conquers Jerusalem and makes it his capital. Jerusalem is centrally located and hadn’t belong to any tribe so far (none had successfully conquered it), so it is a wise choice for a capital as is brings unity, rather than an exaltation of the tribe of Judah.
David also brings the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. His first attempt fails, because he wants to bring back the ark by a military expedition. David, upset, goes back to the law and on second attempt is successful, where he has the priests taking their law-ordained function (2 Sam 6).
David, always depending on God, wins two decisive battles against the Philistines (2 Sam 5:17-25). He battles with nations all around, bringing Israel to a never before reached size and prominence.
His gratefulness and devotion to God is visible in his plan to build a temple for the ark of the covenant. As his own personal safety and luxury increases, he wants to see God honored also: ‘I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent’ (2 Sam 7:2).
God reciprocates with an overwhelming promise: ‘I will make you a house’, promising David an eternal kingship, sons of his body on the throne forever (2 Sam 7:11-17).
Though God says the temple’s construction will be his son Solomon’s job, the affirmation of God’s favor on David and his house is stunning. David responds humbly and gratefully ‘Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?’ (2 Sam 7:18).

David’s weaknesses start showing

But the weaknesses of leaders, compounded by the political system of the monarchy, start showing even in David’s life (and far worse in his son’s and grandson’s life):
David marries more and more women, seven are mentioned by name, another nine wives’ sons are mentioned. Later, when fleeing before Absalon, David easily leaves behind another ten concubines. God forbids excessive numbers of wives for kings (Deu 17:17), partially to prevent personal indulgence, partially because of the high number of children. These children don’t grow up in a healthy family life and are no longer discipled by their father, but rather by their mothers only, who have to fend for their interests in a growing harem. Not surprisingly we find David quite uninvolved in the lives of his sons.
Polygamy has neither satisfied David nor improved his view of women, so when he sees a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, he commits adultery with her. She is the wife of Uriah, one of his thirty mighty men and closest fellow-warriors. Worse, David treats this as a ‘one-off’, he has no commitment to Bathsheba. Only when she ends up pregnant does he attend to her again. He tries to cover up for the pregnancy by bringing back her husband, but as Uriah’s integrity prevents him from seeing his wife, David resorts to arranging for him to be killed in battle (2 Sam 11). This sore abuse of power and offense to God is sharply rebuked by the prophet Nathan (2 Sam 12). David responds by wholehearted repentance (Psa 51). The child dies but David has another four sons with Bathsheba, the youngest of which is Solomon, whom God indicates as the next king.
Maybe due to his own moral failure, David finds it hard to deal with the weaknesses of his sons. The few stories we have about David’s sons do not shed good light on David as a father, model and discipler of his own sons. His firstborn Amnon is consumed by lust and rapes (and later rejects) his half-sister Tamar (2 Sam 13:1-22). His third son Absalon (of the same mother as Tamar) is consumed by hatred and kills his half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13:23-38). Absalon flees, but later, when brought back to Jerusalem, he stealthily plots to overthrow his own father in a violent uprising that leads to a civil war and much loss of life (2 Sam 15-18). Also David’s fourth son Adonijah attempts to usurp kingship from Solomon, though he doesn’t succeed (1 Kin 1). These tensions, conflicts and crimes are indirect results of David’s polygamy and his weakness as a father and discipler. Once the crimes are committed, David consistently fails to address, judge or remedy any of it. David probably feels he has no moral authority to address them due to his own failure in the Bathsheba-Uriah story, but by doing so sows further seeds of destruction.
David also fails to reign in his army commander Joab for two assassinations, the one of Amasa and the other of Abner. Joab is both David’s most loyal supporter over the years (2 Sam 18-19) and the person who challenges him most.

The location of the future temple

At the end of 2 Samuel there are two difficult stories. On the one hand David deals with a famine that turns out to be God’s judgment on Saul’s killing of many Gibeonites, breaking the covenant of Joshua centuries earlier (Jos 9). David approaches the Gibeonites as to how to remedy the injustice committed against them. They ask for a restrained judgment, the death of seven people of Saul’s family, to atone for the slaughter committed against them. David implements their demand and the famine is lifted (2 Sam 21:1-14).
The second story describes David’s presumption and probably pride in calling for a military census of Israel. God punishes him for it with a pestilence sweeping Israel. The executing angel is stayed at the threshing floor of a Jebusite called Araunah, just a bit uphill from Jerusalem. David buys the very place where the judgment was stayed from Araunah, puts up an altar there at the command of God and brings sacrifices (2 Sam 24). This threshing floor later becomes the site of the temple Solomon will build.

The book’s popularity

• This is one of the most attractive and most read books in the Old Testament … besides Psalms, and a few others
• Even if people know very little about the Old Testament, they know the stories of David
• Why this popularity?
  • Samuel gives us most details of a person or leader’s life > we can understand & identify
  • Samuel gives us very honest, realistic, approachable descriptions of characters
  • Samuel gives us great stories, drama, conflict, …
• This is an important, high time for Israel … David is one of the most charismatic figures in the Old Testament

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Who wrote Samuel?

• author not mentioned, also not really known, because of the later date of writing
• records of events on which this book bases are probably much earlier, contemporary to the events
• 2 Sam 8:16, 20:24   Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud is officially recording during David’s reign
• 1 Kin 4:3                   Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud is also recorder during Solomon’s reign
• 1 Chr 29:29-30        mentions Chronicles of Samuel, of prophet Nathan and prophet Gad … and probably many more
• 2 Sam 1:18              David’s lament written in the Book of Jashar (‘honest’ or ‘upright one’), also in Jo 10:13
• Samuel bases on contemporary records of Samuel, Nathan, Gad, but it may have been written and edited much later … and was re-edited probably during the Babylonian exile or later by Ezra.

To whom written

• current and future Israel (or really: Judah) … giving them their most glorious 100 years of history
• probably to the kings, leaders, elders of subsequent generations … holding up the example of King David
• to the Northern Kingdom Israel (931-722 BC) … to show them the legitimacy of David, maybe to call them to join the South

When written

• after David, since his whole life is described
• 1 Sam 27:6       strongly suggests that ‘Samuel’ was written when the kingdom was split and at least a few kings have reigned. The split was in 931 BC > therefore 900 BC or later.
• 2 Sam 13:18    “daughters of kings used to wear dresses like this.” This also suggests a later date, which made the explanation necessary. Or else it was a later editorial comment.
• 1 Sam 11:8      difference is made between men of Israel and men of Judah
• 1 Sam 17:52, 18:16, 2 Sam 5:5, 11:11, 12:8, 19:42-43, 24:1, 24:9 … all point to a divided Israel > so after 931 BC.
• Defense of David as true king of Israel would only be of importance till 722 BC, then Israel is gone.
• Records used that are contemporary to Samuel, Saul, David, written 931-722 BC, re-edited much later.

From where written

• no information. Probably from Jerusalem or wherever there was access to the historical records.

Significance for Israel

• covering history from Judges to the establishing of the Monarchy (and its first two kings), covering from around 1070 to 971 BC, so roughly 100 years
• history of the early monarchy, one of the highest times in Israel: a united nation, successful against enemies, godly, respected, showing the blessing on obedience and repentance (as well as the curse on disobedience).
• defending or proving the legitimacy of David and David’s dynasty on the throne of Israel
• deep insight into the will and ways of God with one of the godliest leaders everybody loves
• following up on the tabernacle and ark > and thus giving background for Israel’s capital

Main Characters

• Samuel the important leader of a crucial time of transition for Israel. Samuel is a priest, a prophet and a judge, a combination that is uncommon and only occurs in times of crisis. Later Samuel gives his political function over to Saul and remains a spiritual leader till his death. Samuel is of great authority and integrity. He is an all-important anointer and discipler of the first two kings of Israel.
• Saul 1st king, anointed with much encouraging supernatural evidence, but straying in insecurity and wanting to please men, which gradually builds us disobedience and ungodliness, later deception and a reign based on violence, betrayal and blind loyalty. Religiosity instead of a constant fellowship with God. Rejected by God for rebellion (won’t obey) and stubbornness (won’t repent).
• Jonathan Saul’s godly son in blatant contrast to his father, pursues godliness, friendship, love, loyalty, respecting and accepting God’s choice of David, not grabbing for power, not allowing jealousy or resentments but sets himself to be faithful to both his father and David
• David characterized by a soft, repentant, willing heart towards God, handling both hardship and success with humility, embracing the ways God chooses for him, accepting discipline, being teachable. Realization of the undeservedness of his kingship and strong in thanksgiving and in honoring God. Waiting for God’s way and God’s time patiently, not grabbing power.

Geographical Situation / Surrounding nations

• Philistines are the number one foe. Descriptions of peoples see Historical Background to Joshua.
• new are Hadadezer of Zobah (Aram), Hadadezer of Damascus (Aram), Toi of Hamath, Toi of Maacah … all North of Israel

Political Situation

• Israel is a loose free-will confederation of self-governed tribes. At times of national crisis God raised up Judge-deliverers, but the quality of leader available has deteriorated over time. Samson, the last one, did more of personal vendettas for love affairs than a united war against the Philistines.
• Israel has no central government, no capital city, no administrative system and no standing army
• The Philistines dominate Israel in the Southwest and have put garrisons in some of the cities (1 Sam 13:3).
• The Ammonites (King Nahash) are humiliating Israel in the Transjordan by gouging out eyes (1 Sam 10:27b)
• Israel doesn’t have smiths nor iron age weapons > it is still in the bronze age (1 Sam 13:19)
• Samuel’s sons are corrupt, creating a sense of hopelessness, desperation and a loss of trust in the judge system

Spiritual Situation / Spiritual Life

• Israel has not driven out the other nations, but rather intermarried with them and compromised spiritually
• The stories given in Samuel are selected carefully to show the setting, also the moral state of Israel:
• Eli was the High Priest and Judge (1 Sam 4:18). Eli’s sons are very ungodly (1 Sam 2:12ff, 1 Sam 2:22)
• Israel is worshiping idols (1 Sam 7:3, Jdg 17-18) and very syncretistic (Jdg 17-18) … but repenting and improving, though insisting on a king.
• Prophets and words of prophets are rare, visions are not widespread (1 Sam 3:1) in the beginning, but that changes
• Samuel and Saul both cut down on idolatry and witchcraft (1 Sam 7:4, 1 Sam 28:3)
• David’s godly example would have had a elevating and discipling effect on the nation.

Literary Category

• mostly prose > literal interpretation
• several poetry passages > figurative interpretation
  • 1 Sam 2             Hannah’s song
  • 1 Sam 15           Samuel’s rebuke
  • 2 Sam 1             David’s lamentation over Saul & Jonathan
  • 2 Sam 3             David’s lamentation over Abner
  • 2 Sam 22-23     a psalm of David and his last words

Structure

• historical narrative, pretty much chronological, biographical

Composition

• Principality on David
• Interchange in 1 Sam 1-3 Eli and sons <=> Samuel
• Big contrasts Eli <=> Samuel, Saul <=> David, Saul <=> Jonathan

Main Ideas

• transition from Judges > monarchy … against the will of God … yet God works with their choices, redeeming
• Saul’s reign (disobedience, stubbornness, instability) > David (obedience, repentance, eternal kingdom)
• David’s exemplary life: obedience, humility, repentance, desire for God > true king > his family is chosen
• history of the tabernacle, ark, capital

Main Reasons

• to show the God-ordainedness of David & David’s family > so that Israel (N) come back under Davidic leadership
• to disciple kings, leaders, nation by David’s godly example in obedience, trust in God, humility, true use of power
• to challenge Israel and Judah to obey the covenant: obedience, repentance > blessing, disobedience > destruction
• so that Israel knows it’s golden time > is discipled by it

PRIEST-JUDGE-PROPHET SAMUEL

• 1 Sam 1:1           Samuel’s family lives in Rama in Ephraim (not a Levitical city), though they are of the tribe of Levi, of the clan of Kohath (1 Chr 6:28). Aaron not mentioned (?). The father’s name is Elkanah, the mother’s name is Hannah
• 1 Sam 1:1-11      a look inside a polygamy: “Elkanah … had two wives, the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hanna had no children. … but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her … Hannah wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” … She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made this vow: “O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery off your servant”
• A godly woman in a polygamy, with a godly husband who loves her and treats her fairly, and still it is misery. Elkanah for all his godliness cannot prevent Peninnah from provoking and irritating Hannah.
  Elkanah’s “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” would be be helpful, if they were a monogamous couple who shared together the burden of childlessness. But with him dandling a child of his on his knee, to say this – though well meant – is cruel. Hannah is isolated and alone in bearing childlessness. This is the Bible’s most ‘happy’ polygamy!
• 1 Sam 1:19-28   In her desperation Hannah turns to God, vowing that the child will be a Nazirite from birth and given to God, is she is given a son. She is rebuked by the Priest Eli, who mistakes her for drunk. She fends off that accusation. Eli gives her the assurance that her prayer has been answered. Hannah puts her trust in God, makes a vow and fully follows through with it. We often come to God out of misery, only in further relationship with him learn to care for God’s claims. God is not too proud to accept us in this way.
• 1 Sam 2:1-10     Hannah’s song of gratefulness has depth and teeth, it also foreshadows major themes in the book: God saves. God gives victory. God humbles the proud and exalts the humble. God defeats the mighty and raises up the weak. He humbles the rich and exalts the poor. These are major themes that will run through Samuel: God choosing, God, exalting. God changing fortunes. Humility and trust are blessed, pride and self-reliance is abased.
• She also predicts a king: ‘The Lord … will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed”, which is fulfilled in David and ultimately in Jesus.

PRIEST-JUDGE ELI

The ark of God among the Philistines

• 1 Sam 4     Israel is wilful, religious, superstition in the way it uses the ark. None of this is God ordained by God (no record of inquiry). The ark and the cloud used to lead Israel, now they drag it where they want for their own purposes. In a sense there is respect for the ark, but in a wrong way, not focusing on God’s holiness and presence, but using as a powerful charm.
• God will not have it that way: He allows the ark to be lost, just as later he will let the temple be destroyed twice because it has become a false security (586 BC, Jer 7 and 70 AD).
• God would rather have the ark be lost, his reputation tainted, his power doubted (among Israel and the Philistines), the Philistines triumphing … than Israel continuing with this religious-superstitious use and triumphing without repentance
• Application? Careful with drawing false consequences from unanswered prayer. Don’t say God has no power, God is not faithful, God is not caring … rather: what other reasons for God not to answer this? What do I need to see? Who else is making decisions?
• 1 Sam 5-6  The events round the ark among the Philistines is a great story. God is looking after the ark capably and without Israel’s help. He sends a strong message to the Philistines by having their god Dagon falling down repeatedly before the ark (1 Sam 5:3-4). The trophy of war is proving difficult. God smites the Philistines with mice and boils, so much so that they soon look for a respectful and apologetic way to get rid of the ark. They send it back. Some Israelites rejoice and respectfully receive it (Beth-Shemesh), others don’t and get judged by God (1 Sam 6:19). The standard is not lower for Israel than for Philistines.

SAMUEL’S DIFFERENT ROLES

Samuel as Priest

• 1 Sam 1:28    Samuel is a Nazirite from birth, dedicated wholly to God by his mother. God confirms this calling and Samuel is faithful to it all his live.
• 1 Sam 2:11    He becomes the apprentice of Eli, the High priest. He is discipled by Eli (positive) and by his sons (negative).
• 1 Sam 2:15    Samuel wears the linen ephod
• 1 Sam 3:3      He lives in the tabernacle (really inside??)
• 1 Sam 7:9      He performs sacrifices and keeps doing that all his life
• 1 Sam 7:8-9, 1 Sam 12:19, 1 Sam 12:23, 1 Sam 15:11 Samuel shown as Intercessor
• Jer 15:5         calls Samuel and Moses are the ‘ultimate intercessors’
• 1 Sam 15:35, 16:1 Samuel grieves over Saul, is gracious, hopes for him to mend

Samuel as Prophet

• 1 Sam 3:10-14  receives and speaks prophecy on Eli and his house
• 1 Sam 3:2-18    He is called by God
• 1 Sam 3:19-4:1 God raises up as a prophet to Israel, God doesn’t let his word fall to the ground
• 1 Sam 9:6          His worlds come true
• 1 Sam 10:1        He is lead by God to anoint Saul as the first king
• 1 Sam 16:12     He is lead by God to anoint David as the first king
• 1 Sam 19:20     He leads other prophets

Samuel as Judge

• 1 Sam 7:15-17  Samuel judged all his life
• 1 Sam 8:1-3      He makes his sons judges … against the law. The only incidence in Samuel’s life where we see him sin.
• 1 Sam 12:1-5   He has great integrity, doesn’t abuse power, has not once been corrupt
• 1 Sam 7:7-14   He delivers Israel from an imminent Philistine threat in true God style: here he also acts as a military deliverer, though he doesn’t take up arms directly.
• 1 Sam 7:2-4     He leads a revival
• The combination of priest, prophet and judge is uncommon, usually separated, especially spiritual & political leadership. After him the functions split again. A bit like Moses, who partially splits it in his lifetime > making Aaron priest.
• Why this combination? A time of disintegration and great need and great transition … like Moses?
• Or is this simply a judge-function as described for priests in the case of appeals in Deu 18 (?)

Samuel as a Father

• 1 Sam 2:12-17   Eli hears about his sons’ evil, rebukes them, but takes no real action, does not remove them from priestly function
• 1 Sam 2:29        God interprets this to mean: Eli has honored his sons more than God. He judges it by a ‘curse’ of short life on the family, starting with the two sons (Hophni and Phinehas).

Repeated Theme: Lack of discipline on sons

• 1 Sam 2             Eli doesn’t disciple or judge his sons with disastrous consequences
• 1 Sam 8:1-3      Samuel doesn’t discipline or judge his sons with disastrous consequences: Israel wants a king
• 2 Sam 13ff       David doesn’t discipline or judge his sons with disastrous consequences: instability, civil war

1 SAMUEL 8                             TRANSITION TO MONARCHY

Three reasons the people wanted a king

• 1 Sam 8:1-3, 5   Corrupt sons of Samuel … current internal threat … calling for a strong man
• 1 Sam 8:5          To be like other nations
• 1 Sam 8:20        Kings to fight the battles … current Philistine threat … calling for a strong man

Process

• 1 Sam 8:5, 8:19-20 wanting a king, wanting to be like the other nations .. who disciples who? Failure to live up to the calling of Exo 19:4-6.
• 1 Sam 8:7           to want a king is to reject God from being king over them, putting in intermediaries, anti climax
• Deu 17:14-20     prophecy-provision, an advance-law for this case
• 1 Sam 8:9ff        troubles with the king predicted
  • 8:11 – 12   Sons for army
  • 8:13 – 14   Daughters for palace
  • 8:14           Best of the fields
  • 8:14 – 15   Money – tax
  • 8:16           Best animals and servants
  • 8:17           You! the people will become his slaves.
• 2 Sam 7              to want a king means to want a monarchy > for good or worse stuck with one family
• 1 Sam 8:19        No, but we want a king … I want my choice but not its consequences … can’t be had. Grow up!
• 1 Sam 8:7          God has given authority to choose government to the people, so now he respects the will of the people, even if it is folly
• 1 Sam 12           in Samuel’s farewell address he states it again: God doesn’t want a kingship … do not forget!

Chosenness or Foreknowledge

• Gen 17:6               Promise to Abraham > “Kings shall come from you”
• Gen 49:8-12         Kingship will come from the Tribe of Judah
• Deu 17:14-15       Law provision for a future monarchy
• 1 Sam 13:13         If Saul was faithful, he would have been given the same promise as David in 2 Sam 7
• 1 Sam 15:10, 23  God regretting making Saul king, God rejecting Saul from being king.
• Saul was God’s chosen and anointed King but God in his “foreknowledge” knowing that Saul would make wrong choices which would eventually lead to his downfall, has appointed and prophetically proclaimed a permanent royal line which would be centered upon the tribe of Judah

Danger of ‘twisting God’s arm’, ‘pushing something through’, ‘demanding of God’ … you may get it, but it may not be as good for you and work as well on your behalf as you thought.

ISRAEL’S FIRST KING – SAUL

• Exact dates of the life of King Saul are difficult, as the text has gaps in 1 Sam 13:1 … something and two years
• Acts 13:21 states that Saul reigned 40 years … plus minus accession & death year makes 42 y?
• Usually given 1050-1011 BC (around 40 year reign) or 1043-1011 BC (32 year reign)

Character Study Saul

• 1 Sam 9:1          Tribe of Benjamin, father Kish. See Family Tree … conflicting version in 1 Chr 8:29ff
• 1 Sam 9:1          Father Kish is wealthy
• 1 Sam 9:2          Saul is a handsome young man, none in Israel more handsome than he, stands head and shoulders above everyone else
• 1 Sam 9:3-4       Kish’s donkeys had strayed > sends son Saul with boy to recover them > Ephraim, Shalisha, Shaalim > Benjamin > Zuph … can’t find them … journey three days (1 Sam 9:20)
• 1 Sam 9:5          Saul wants to return, reasonably interfering that by now his father will be more worried about them than the donkeys
• 1 Sam 9:6          His boy knows about seer Samuel, knows he is in this town > suggests to go see him > Saul agrees
• 1 Sam 9:15-16  God instructed Samuel the day before that Saul would come > anoint him ruler … “He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the suffering of my people, because their outcry has come to me” … an introduction very much for other judge-deliverers
• 1 Sam 9:17-26   Samuel invites him … 20 “on whom is all Israel’s desire fixed, if not on you and on all your ancestral house?” 21 Saul answered, “I am only a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin”. Why then have you spoken to me in this way?… Is this just polite humble talk? Or inferiority? Gideon said the same, maybe there more justified? … his father Kish is wealthy.
• 1 Sam 9:17-27    heady business … the seer waiting for you, singling you out, inviting you, giving you the honor-treatment at the sacrifice and feast … people accommodating you … Samuel making known to you the word of God at the crack of dawn.
• 1 Sam 10:1         Samuel anoints Saul, kisses him, “The LORD has anointed you ruler over his people Israel. You shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their enemies all around” … receives calling, honor, friendship, love of Samuel
• 1 Sam 10:1-8     signs to confirm calling: two men at Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah > donkeys found, father worried … at oak of Tabor meeting with 3 men going to Bethel, carrying three kids, three loaves of bread, a skin of wine > will greet you, give you 2 loaves of bread > accept … at Gibeath-elohim you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the shrine with harp, tambourine, flute and lyre > they in prophetic frenzy > spirit of the LORD will possess you, prophetic frenzy > be turned into a different person.
• When these three signs > “do whatever you see fit to do, for God is with you. And then you shall go down to Gilgal ahead of me; then I will come down to you go present bunt offerings and offer sacrifices of well-being. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.”
• Very specific instructions, unbelievably specific signs, all coming to pass … massive confirmation, faith-building spiritual experiences: the Spirit of God at work > a changed heart
• 1 Sam 10:9-13     signs come to pass … Saul prophesied with the prophets … When all who knew him before saw … proverb … Saul doesn’t seem to have been ‘that type’ at all, this becomes an issue of ridicule, surprise, irony or jokes … a degree of opposition, but not seriously, others probably impressed
• 1 Sam 10:14-16   Saul’s uncle Abner asks what Samuel said … Saul doesn’t share about the kingship prophecy-provision … wise enough to not brag / blurt out … but maybe also doubting still.
• 1 Sam 10:17-24   Samuel summons Israel to Mizpah … Samuel casts lot between tribes > Benjamin … Benjamin’s families
  > Matrites … within Matrites > Saul
• 1 Sam 10:21-23   Saul sees it coming > hides near baggage …fear, realization hits …but also fulfilment! It’s happening!
• 1 Sam 10:24         Saul found and brought out … head taller than all … affirmed by Samuel and people
• 1 Sam 10:25         Samuel told and writes “the rights and duties of kingship … laid up before the LORD.”
• 1 Sam 10:26         Saul goes home to Gibeah, with him warriors whose hearts God had touched … God gives him early supporters / workers / somebody he can practice leadership on / somebody he can put to work when the challenge comes
• 1 Sam 10:27        But some worthless fellows said: “How can this man save us? The despised him and bought him no present. But he held his peace … Saul is not vindictive, maybe he shares their concerns and feels the same … maybe he wants to win them over, is looking for a way … later he will be more vindictive
• 1 Sam 10:27        Nahash, king of the Ammonites had bee oppressing the Gadites and Reubenites … gouge out right eye of every men … 7000 fled and hid in Jabesh-gilead
• 1 Sam 11:1-11     Nahash starts besieging Jabesh-Gilead … they suggest treaty … Nahash agrees on condition of gouging out everyone’s rigth eye … ask for 7 days … send messengers to Israel > meet Saul coming from ploughing, them weeping
• 1 Sam 11:6-7       Spirit of God comes upon Saul in power > anger greatly kindled > cuts yoke and oxen in pieces > sends them to Israel asking for men … “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” … God gives him the initial help, surge, momentum … he really feels for people, is concerned, shares their feeling of shame
• 1 Sam 11:8          dread of the LORD falls on people > respond > muster at Bezek of 300’000 … send messengers to Jabesh-Gilead > attack & defeat Ammon decisively … God granting him ‘fear of Israel, obedience and a massive, great victory in the eyes of everybody.
• 1 Sam 11:12-15   Israel to Samuel: we will slaughter those who opposed / despised Saul … Saul: “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has brought deliverance to Israel” … He again is not vindictive, rather generous, giving God the honor
• 1 Sam 11:14-15  Samuel calls people to Gilgal to renew the kingship > made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal … sacrifices, rejoiced greatly … This is Saul’s breakthrough, his climax, his vindication, his happiest time: He has won them over, he has been proven by God, everybody agrees and wants him > so popularity, confirmation, joy
• 1 Sam 12             Samuel’s farewell address: if you and your king obey, good … if not, not
• 1 Sam 13:1          something and two years … Acts 13:21 says Saul reigned for 40 years … 1050-1011 BC
• 1 Sam 13:2-4      2000 men with Saul at Michmash near Bethel, 1000 men with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin > routs garrison
• 1 Sam 13:5-8      Philistines with 30’000 chariots / 6’000 horsemen / troops like sand on seashore > Michmash. Israelites hide themselves, some Israelites cross over to Gad, troops with Saul in Gilgal, awaiting Samuel for 7 days. After 7 days, no Samuel, troops slipping away … This is the first real test of his leadership and character: overwhelming challenge of Philistine army, stuck waiting, momentum dwindling, people leaving in fear … believing in ritual more than obedience / religiosity over fear of God … according to the law, fearful troops need to be released anyway (and are probably not that great a loss).
• 1 Sam 13:9-10     Offers burnt offerings / well-being offerings … just when finished Samuel comes
• 1 Sam 13:11-12   Saul: ‘I forced myself and offered the burnt offerings … a true explanation, but not really a repentance
• 1 Sam 13:13-14   You have done foolishly, not kept command of the LORD .. The LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart … loss of dynasty, though not kingship .. at the very sight of earlier triumph and victory: Gilgal … again no real crying out to God, repenting, seeking to avert this
• 1 Sam 13:15         Saul Gilgal > Gibeah of Benjamin
• 1 Sam 13:19-23   Philistines suppress smith trade in Israel > no weapon production. Bought iron things (plowshare, mattocks, axes, sickles) and paid dearly to sharpen them by Philistines. > only Saul & Jonathan have weapons, all others don’t have swords (only bronze?)
• 1 Sam 14:1-23     Jonathan & armor-bearer’s stint
• 1 Sam 14:18-19   when confusion is going on, Saul asks priest to inquire of God … then doesn’t inquire but joins battle
• 1 Sam 14:24         Saul committed rash act: laid oath / curse on troops to not eat till evening / his victory … nervous religiosity, grand designs that are actually not helpful, requiring obedience that makes everybody feel bad … tendency to the extreme / showy … warning here to us
• 1 Sam 14:25-30   Jonathan eats, doesn’t agree with father’s oath … didn’t swear it either, really.
• 1 Sam 14:31-35    troops desperate > eating meat with blood … result of a stupid action
• 1 Sam 14:36-46    priest consulted for no reason, God gave victory, just pursue! … no answer, presumes sin, inquires of God, Jonathan taken. Saul & Jonathan agree to death, troops intercede … another religious venture turned weird, again the tendency to the extreme  but then no real follow-through, rather all left hanging.
• 1 Sam 14:47-52    Summary: war against Moab, Ammon, Edom, kings of Zobah, Philistines, Amalek … all successfully. Philistine wars continue all through his days
• 1 Sam 15:1-9         Samuel instructs Amalekite war … destroy all men & animals … 15:6 Saul warns & saves Kenites … defeats Amalek … but spares King Agag, best of herds & flocks & things
• 1 Sam 15:10-12    God regrets that he made Saul king because he has turned back from following me / not carried out commands … Samuel angry, cries … Saul makes monument to himself in Carmel … meeting Samuel at Gilgal … Again Gilgal! The site of his biggest triumph & joy … the sight of his foolish sacrifice & loss of dynasty … there should be a memory of how the approval of God feels, and how obedience is valued by God
• 1 Sam 15:13-16    Saul: I have carried out the command of God … Samel: bleating … Saul: for sacrifice … the people spared the sheep … Samuel: Stop! … taking no responsibility, blaming the people
• 1 Sam 5:17-19     “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? … why took spoil?”
• Samuel is pinpointing Saul’s problem: inferiority. Out of inferiority comes his popularity seeking, fear of men, compromising fear of God, no follow-through, no real freedom, religiosity, grand stuff
• But also: God did so much to set up Saul for kingship & prepare him
  • a crystal clear, spectacular calling with strong, repeated, even miraculous confirmation
  • a clear task given to reign and save Israel from enemies
  • filled with the Spirit, receiving spiritual experiences, he is turned into another man, a changed heart
  • none like him, all the outward trappings
  • great & growing initial popularity
  • great victory & vindication & confirmation of his kingship
  • little testing compared to David
  • the favor and love and friendship of Samuel (1 Sam 16:1)
• Application? … inferiority as universal feeling, real, but needs to be overcome, can’t claim it forever as an excuse either … actively replace lies by truth … agree with God … pursue his calling … be obedient
• Again the real issue lies in what we do … not what we say or think we’ll do
• 1 Sam 15:20-21  Saul: “I did obey … brought the best for sacrifice”. He is not accepting of responsibility, still no giving of importance to God’s word, no confession, no conviction, no realization, no real fear of God
• 1 Sam 15:22-23  Surely to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is no less a sin than divination, and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry, because you have rejected the world of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king … the crucial passage. Not religiosity or grand design, but actual obedience … by now his attitude is not just ‘didn’t get it’ but ‘don’t want to bother’ (rebellion) … not ‘sorry, I missed it’ but ‘God is being difficult’ … clearly no real fear of God.
• How can somebody who is ‘this religious’ have no ‘fear of God’? … Similar to Moses: Israel ‘fears God’ and backs away but are nowhere near an actual positive fear of God … by the anticlimax of Numbers they still don’t get it and think Moses is their problem.
• Don’t think others ‘your problem’, only you are ‘your problem’. … don’t blame God, it you think he is asking too much you need a major attitude adjustment and revelation
• 1 Sam 15:24        “I have sinned / transgressed the commandment because I feared the people and obeyed their voice” … so far so good if you really take responsibility. All is a bit late, only to confess once the consequences start setting in.
• 1 Sam 15:25-31  “Pardon my sin, return with me, so that I may worship the LORD” … Samuel refuses … “You have rejected the word of God … robe torn … Saul: I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God … shallow repentance, no real understanding of the offense to God, concerned with how things look in the eyes of men … worshiping God as a needed ritual for the loyalty of the people … Samuel needed, but for his function … it’s not my God, it’s your God, with his unreasonable and too big claims …

Saul and David

• 1 Sam 16:2           Samuel sure of being killed by Saul, whom he loves and has remorse over but recognizes the path of Saul’s character. He will descend further to hold on to power, cold violence, injustice, using people, collecting the worst people around him.
• 1 Sam 16:14         Spirit of God departs, evil spirit of God torments Saul … find David to play the lyre … Saul has rejected God’s word and will actively … God no longer with him … this alone would not be demonic oppression, but he keeps feeding all the wrong things in himself … If he was humble he would learn from David. Maybe David’s role is God trying to reach out to Saul’s heart?
• 1 Sam 16:21        Saul loves David greatly, makes him his armor-bearer … comfort, ease, friendship, trust … this is Saul’s character when there is favorable circumstances, no test or challenge to himself, no perceived threat … the problem is that the moment he will think David a competition, this will invert dramatically
• 1 Sam 17:1-11    Saul at a loss as to what to do about Goliath
• 1 Sam 17:36-37  David: concerned about God’s honor, confident of God’s help as against wild animals > Saul lets him fight … David is courageous, trust in God, simplicity, no inferiority
• 1 Sam 17:38-39  Saul gives David his armor > it doesn’t fit him > he rejects it … he is willing / open to consider, but not bound by ‘what the king will think’
• 1 Sam 18:5          Saul makes him commander over the army, all approve
• 1 Sam 18:6-9       David more praised by people for his exploits. Saul is very angry. Really Saul could rejoice, a good man accomplishing much for Israel and his government, but Saul goes into comparison, competition and envy.
• 1 Sam 18:10-11  Saul tormented by evil spirit spears David twice …
• 1 Sam 18:12        Saul starts fearing David, because the Lord was with him … removes David > army > successful, loved
  … whatever he’ll do, he can’t get rid of what David is … he could just dismiss him … it’s using – holding
  on to – rejecting
• 1 Sam 18:17-30   Saul tries to trap David by Michal: bride price of 100 Philistine foreskins. Michal being in love pleases Saul. He makes his first cool headed murderous plans: deceptive, using people, relying on smartness.
• 1 Sam 18:28         Realization: son-in-law, loved by Michal and all > still more afraid > enemy from this time forward … now near irreversibly on the murder and insanity track.
• 1 Sam 19:1-7       Saul tells Jonathan about killing David > Jonathan warns him, intercedes for David > readmitted
• 1 Sam 19:8-17     David victorious over Philistines > spearing David again > command to kill him > David escapes with Michal’s help > Michal is deceptive
• 1 Sam 19:18-24   David flees to Samuel in Ramah > lives with him > Saul sends assassinators 3x > prophetic frenzy > Saul himself > prophetic frenzy … great spiritual experiences but no inward change … Maybe God reaching out to his heart yet still? … reminder of calling, or God’s will, of how good it was …
• 1 Sam 20              David suggests to Jonathan to test out Saul’s mind by a set up. Saul indeed insults and spears Jonathan. David flees upon being informed.
• 1 Sam 22              Saul slaughters Highpriest Ahimelech and priests at Nob by Doeg the Edomite … > son Abiathar flees. Saul is actively embracing ruin, no attempt at fairness, eaten up by self-pity, rejecting Jonathan’s sane voice
• 1 Sam 23             Saul hunts David
• 1 Sam 24             David spares Saul’s life in the cave … Saul weeps … You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good whereas I have repaid you evil … I know that you shall surely be king … swear to me to not cut off descendants … moments of sanity and honesty, later chosen against again, I’d rather feel injured than shameful … I’d rather feel abused than having to change something
• 1 Sam 26            David spares Saul’s life again … Blessed be you, my son David! … you will succeed
• 1 Sam 28            Saul consults a medium > brings up ‘dead Samuel’
• 1 Sam 31            Saul killed in a un-blessed and hopeless battle against Philistines

Saul’s weaknesses

• 1 Sam 10:22       Shyness,  not being able to face things. He is backing away, not contributing to conversations, feel people are talking about you
• 1 Sam 13:11, 15:15  Not able to admit faults or being wrong “I forced myself” “the people spared the best sheep” When corrected feel destroyed, not accept correction, not open up to others. Being able to admonish one another is part of the life of the believer
• 1 Sam 13:11, 15:24   Fear of man and circumstances
• The opinion of others is so important if you do not live with understanding God’s opinion of you.
• 1 Sam 13:13, 15:14, 13:12  Saul’s disobedience, him taking the easy option.
• No courage to face the challenges. Feels we will fail anyway. No follow-through.
• 1 Sam 13:11         Insecurity in his leadership position. When someone comes along who is more spiritual or better this threatens us. We can take control of people in a bad way. Leaders need to know God has appointed them.
• 1 Sam 13:11        Unable to encourage others. We need to be people who are able to look beyond your selves and give out encouragement, not do taken up with our problems that we can not give.
• 1 Sam 13:11        Lacking in authority. We need to live in the authority that is ours because of what God has done.
• 1 Sam 13:11, 14:2  No trust in God, no victory, no courage. Feeling that God will let us down and fail us. Self pity can come in and we lack the rising up for victory. Do not let fear rule. Fear is not a good advisor… Just do it!
• 1 Sam 15:21 – 22  Pressure to compromise. No courage to stand against the crowd. No security to disagree. Being constantly influenced and guided by perceived popularity. Changing and fluctuating
• 1 Sam 14:24           Unreasonable requests
• We can lay legalism on people when we want to impress our leadership on them. We feel good when we keep them and they do not. This creates conflict of conscience of people > very difficult situations
• 1 Sam 18:6-8          Threatened by better people. We need to have a goal as a leader to mentor those around us to be better than us. This is the real test.
• Actively choosing comparison, competition, envy, rivalry, evil designs.
• Holding on to power rather than God’s will, defending empire by increasing injustice, violence, abusive people
• Actively embracing lies, self-deception, screwed perception, slander.
• Loss of all accountability, fairness, sanity, justice, lawfulness.
• 1 Sam 18:10           Seek to destroy those better than us We can do this by backbiting , criticism, power games.

Why did Saul fail?

• David had a deep and personal relationship with God, a deep devotional life, he is obedient from the heart, a man after God’s heart (Act 13:22), with a deep devotional life,
• Saul has spiritual experiences, powerful ones at that (far more than anything that is mentioned in David’s case), but not a deep, personal relationship with God.
• Saul lacked true repentance, when David was a man who knew how to repent (1 Sam 13:11, 15:20,30)
• It seems to that Saul had a problem with not rising up and being the man God had made him. It’s like he had an inferiority complex or a low self image (1 Sam 10:22, 15:17, 9:21).
• We cannot make inferiority an excuse, Gideon felt inferior, so did Moses. Our confidence should be in God, not ourselves. Saul did not rise up and live in the fullness of what God had done for him and wanted him to do.
• We need to see ourselves as God sees us … even more: to see God as He really is.
• We will compare Saul to David, but before that we should not overlook another figure, that is in a sense “in Saul’s shoes” but not “of his spirit” … Jonathan.

ISRAEL’S GODLY ALMOST-KING JONATHAN

Jonathan as warrior

• Even if his father is difficult, Jonathan is a very promising son of a King.
• 1 Sam 13:3        Jonathan is in charge of part of the army of his father from early days … Jonathan proceeds to defeat a Philistine garrison at Geba with only a thousand men > provokes further war with the Philistines
• 1 Sam 14:6       “Now a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass of Michmash. … In the pass, by which Jonathan tried to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on one side and a rocky crag on the other … Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will act for us; for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” Maybe Jonathan feels the responsibility / weight to ‘turn this thing around because he is the only one with proper weapons … whatever, he shows courage, is initiative, and very much rises to the occasion … He is not overly impressed with Israel’s disadvantage
• 1 Sam 14:7        His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that your mind inclines you to. I am with you; as your mind is, so is mine.” … he has the complete loyalty and trust of his armor-bearer.
• 1 Sam 14:8        Then Jonathan said, “Now we will cross over to those men and will show ourselves to them. … not exactly strategic(!), no trust in smartness here, more a robust confidence in God.
• 1 Sam 14:9-10   If they say to us, “Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, “Come up to us’, then we will go up; for the LORD has given them into our hand. That will be the sign for us.” … a rather interesting ‘sign’ or ‘set up’, but carried by initiative, courage
• 1 Sam 14:11      So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” … a picture of Israel!
• 1 Sam 14:12      The men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer, saying, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer; “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.” … hand of Israel, not ‘my hand’
• 1 Sam 14:13-15  Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer following after him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer, coming after him, killed them. In that first slaughter Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men within an area about half a furrow long in an acre of land. There was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people, the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic.
• God gives victory against the odds to Jonathan, fighting up-hill with no surprise momentum … God confirms this crazy action by a earthquake and a panic … This incidence sets of a battle that is a great victory for Israel … Jonathan is a successful warrior, courageous and initiative, clearly a leader in his own right.
• 1 Sam 14:24-35   Story of Saul’s rash oath … “27 But Jonathan had not hear his father charge the troops with the oath” …he didn’t swear it, so he is not bound by it, also he didn’t know it.
• 1 Sam 14:29          My father has troubled the land; … how much better if today the troops had eaten freely of the spoil taken form the enemies; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great … not disloyal but also not blindly loyal, Jonathan has own judgment / own opinion / can evaluate … no opportunist yeah sayer, no insecure loyalist.
• 1 Sam 14:31-35    Troops so famished they eat meat with blood
• 1 Sam 14:36-46    Saul want to pursue the Philistines further. Priests insists on inquiry. God doesn’t answer. Is this Urim and Thumim? How can this be? … Saul assumes this is due to sin, he is ready to mete out a death penalty to the offender. The lot indicates Jonathan.
• 1 Sam 14:43-46    Jonathan freely admits the story. Saul thinks he needs to execute Jonathan. Jonathan is willing. The troops intercede … Jonathan accomplished this great victory! > ransom him. … again a very nervous religious action of Saul that leads to nothing. The same fearful back and forth
  All through this complicated story Jonathan exhibits a refreshing mixture of genuine fear of God and lots of common sense. There is a naturalness, a consistency, a confidence about every thing he does and
• God confirms him with success.
• This is in stark contrast to Saul who displays fear, inconsistency, a back and forth, insecurity and irrational religiosity, right down to wanting to kill Jonathan.

Jonathan & David

• 1 Sam 17        David and Goliath … there are striking similarities between Jonathan’s approach to the Philistine-threat and David’s approach to the Goliath threat … both trust God, are fearless, concerned with God’s honor
• 1 Sam 18        Jonathan sees in David somebody of a similar spirit, and they become friends immediately Jonathan displays an un-concernedness with status or age … He, as the senior one in all areas and definitely some 10 years older, initiates a covenant with this youngster David, takes the step of commitment and humility first and generously gives David his own robe, armor, sword, bow and girdle, which probably were not only valuable, but signs of trust, of investment, of authority and status also. Remember, swords were very rare still.
• 1 Sam 18:1, 18:3, 20:17  Jonathan is described 3x as “loving David like his own soul”.
• 1 Sam 18 ff      Over time this friendship stands the test of unselfishness as David becomes increasingly important in King Saul’s court … David is the one who manages to appease Saul by playing the harp and singing. David also emerges as the successful and extremely popular leader of the army … a role Saul and Jonathan had before.
  Jonathan disqualified
• 1 Sam 13          Saul is loosing the dynasty promise
• 1 Sam 15          Saul is rejected from kingship
• Due to Saul’s fear of man and repeated disobedience, his son Jonathan is sidelined as the next king … Jonathan is rejected through no fault of his own, as a matter of fact, there is nothing in all the verses about him that disqualifies him in any way.
• This is a tragic situation for him: Rejected from kingship because of his father, he has every right to be resentful, angry … and scheming.
• There is no mention whether Jonathan knew that Samuel had anointed David as future king of Israel from the beginning of their friendship … But Jonathan definitely knew that God – by rejecting Saul from kingship – also rejected Saul’s house, which meant Jonathan himself as firstborn and heir to the throne.
• In what ever way, Jonathan realizes that David was meant to become the next king of Israel. He not only accepts this as of God but sacrificially protects, supports and affirms David in his calling
• It seems that Jonathan (as powerful leader / godly character) is a promising future king himself … yet he is willing to leave his place to somebody else, – why? – simply because it was the will of God.
• This reveals unconditional obedience to God, a peace about himself, a peace about the ways God chose for him, a deep contentment and trust in God, selfless love, strong loyalty, a heart to encourage and release others, a willingness to step back and most of all: a breathtaking purity of motives.
• Jonathan does – and does it wholeheartedly – what Saul never manages: to accept the choice of God, to let go of power and to champion the new anointed.

Jonathan as a mediator

• 1 Sam 18           Saul’s envy and enmity towards David escalate in commands to kill him … this creates a sticky situation for Jonathan as well … all through the evolving conflicts he manages to remain faithful, loyal and honest both to Saul and his opponent David at the same time.
• 1 Sam 19:1-7    Saul entrusts his killing plans to Jonathan > Jonathan warns David and seeks open communication with his father in order to bring peace … Jonathan will have none of a conspiracy, he is courageous to act against his father’s will, if it be righteous … Jonathan believes the best about his father, believes him open to reason … he goes for open and respectful communication and succeeds > David allowed back into Saul’s presence.
• 1 Sam 19:8-19   Saul’s jealousy escalates over David’s successful war against the Philistines … spears David … Michal helps him flee by deception … unlike Jonathan
• 1 Sam 20            After the prophetic frenzy incidence in Ramah, David seeks out Jonathan to understand how serious the threat is … Jonathan does not believe the charge against Saul – he is believing the best about all people – but is also willing to test his father to find out. He is wise and committed to truth.
  They create a test situation > David’s absence at a feast …Saul betrays his intention to kill David
• 1 Sam 20:30-34  “Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan. He said to him, “you son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame …? For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you not your kingdom shall be established … he shall surely die.” Then Jonathan answered his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” But Saul threw his spear at him to strike him; … Jonathan rose in fierce anger … for he was grieved for David, and because his father had disgraced David.”
• Jonathan’s response of grief and anger does not revolve around Saul’s insults against his own person but around Saul’s disgracing of David.
• This demonstrates Jonathan’s un-concernedness with himself, with his career or with his honor.
• Saul blames David for preventing Jonathan’s kingship, that is strictly untrue, it is Saul’s disobedience which lead to the disqualifying for Jonathan, not David’s presence
• Jonathan remains reasonable and keeps expecting reason of his father: he argues justice, when Saul is in power-play.
• Jonathan’s integrity and loyalty to two opposing parties costs him much conflicts, effort, insults, shame and of course: the throne.
• 1 Sam 20:42        Jonathan and David renew their covenant of friendship and, – realizing that there is inevitable conflict between the two families -, extend it to their descendants.

Jonathan’s end

• 1 Sam 23:15-18  When Saul hunts for David and can never find him, Jonathan finds David in his hiding place all right.
• He encourages David in God’s purposes for him, and also in his calling as future king of Israel.
• They re-confirm their covenant of peace yet once more, again extending it to their descendants.
• This meeting is the last time they see each other. Jonathan continues faithfully at Saul’s court.
• Jonathan hasn’t just ‘set his cards on the new horse’, conspiring against his father.
• Jonathan remains Saul’s most faithful co-warrior all through his kingship, joining him in all battles, though never in the raids against David.
• When the increasingly crazed Saul collects ruthless yeah-sayers around him (like the Edomite Doeg), Jonathan remains a godly influence at the court.
• I think it is fair to say that the only reason Saul’s kingship lasts as long as it does, is because Jonathan is still a faithful voice of reason and sanity to Saul.
• 1 Sam 31      And finally Jonathan joins his father Saul in an obviously hopeless and unblessed battle against the Philistines and is killed together with his father and brothers.
• 2 Sam 1        David desperately laments him … “23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely. In life and in death they were not divided” … the is David acknowledging Jonathan’s loyalty to his difficult father, who – mind you – cost him his kingship. “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan, greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women”, not a reference to homosexuality, as is supposed in the modern West, but importantly: deep friendship is more valuable than sexual relations.
• 2 Sam 9:11  David carefully fulfills his every oath to Jonathan by protecting his descendants, providing for them and treating them like own children

Summary

• Because of his fathers disobedience God changes his mind concerning who and whose descendants will sit on the throne … this leaves Jonathan in a frustrating and delicate situation: he finds himself caught between two men, two kings, two callings and two heart attitudes.
• There is no evidence that Jonathan ever reproached his father for messing up a possible calling as king for himself. Nor is there evidence of Jonathan resenting God for choosing David above himself.
• Jonathan gets to play the most difficult role in this conflict: not being responsible for his fathers choices, not being chosen by God for kingship, not being able to change his fate and not having time to reap the fruit of his sacrificial friendship.
• Yet he submits willingly under God’s choice and accepts the change in calling for himself. He understands God’s purposes for David.
• He understands his own “getting out of the way” -calling and lives it to the fullest: Jonathan becomes the strongest supporter, the dearest friend and the most loyal follower of his own competitor.

Jonathan as discipler – the beauty of a less spectacular calling

• Jonathan, being older and David’s faithful friend (maybe trainer) in Saul’s court, has a most powerful influence on him
• Jonathan befriends, disciples, challenges, teaches, encourages and affirms David.
• Jonathan supports, protects and saves him during the difficult years.
• 1 Sam 24, 26 … David displays much respect for Saul, not touching him as God’s anointed king, refusing to take the promised kingship for himself by force, remaining loyal to his persecutor and trusting God to fulfill his promises
• This we all know, but what we don’t realize is the following: This very attitude was prior modeled to David in a very impressive way by Jonathan himself, who also respected Saul, who also refused to take kingship and trusted God’s choices.
• Jonathan disciples David – Israel’s most godly, most influential and most loved king, the king every following king is measured by, the king whose house God promises to establish for ever, which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

Application

• Jonathan’s life is probably not much inspiration to a “I will get what I want” -theology.
• But to a Christian who is struggling with God’s ways, who is frustrated at his circumstances or who is trying to trust God with his future I think Jonathan has a lot to give.
• Jonathan has a very captivating, deeply attractive and Christ-like character. He models God’s heart to us, a God who is willing to sacrifice all – his son, his honor, his peace – to see us saved, growing and fulfilled; a God who is a faithful and dear friend; a God who is committed to see us reach our destiny; a God who shows us his way of doing things and reaching goals in integrity.
• Jonathan is a great example to strive after and also a sore challenge to our selfish motives, our narrow view of other people and our unwillingness to let go.
• He is also a strong reminder that the major battle is one of developing character, not one of developing a ministry or having a positions
• Jonathan also teaches us to accept the place we do have, to do what is possible in our situation, to rise up to the challenge.
• He challenges us to be obedient to God, to be at peace with ourselves, to be natural and realistic and to live out of close relationship with God, rather than out of hectic religiosity.
• Jonathan’s story is one of shattered hopes, in a sense, yet it is also a beautiful proof how God creates beauty out of ashes, how God comes through powerfully with his purposes even against our understanding, how God is honored in what to us looks like frustration, how God multiplies and uses what to us is so unspectacular and how God shines in our lives if we stick to his way. Jonathan’s most stunning purity of motives can only show because the circumstances are challenging, demanding him to be selfless.
• Jonathan in the Old Testament John the Baptist … living his ‘getting out of the way of the real king’ calling to the fullest.
• Here he is, dead before the good times start. Yet he is still teaching, challenging and captivating us 3000 y later…

ISRAEL’S SECOND KING DAVID

David’s Calling

• 1 Sam 16:11-13   8th son on Jesse, sheep keeper, slinger, killing attacking animals (bear)
• 1 Sam 16:11        no importance in the eyes of his father and family … only upon Samuel’s specific inquiry do they mention David. Some think David was a son of a concubine, or even illegitemate, therefore he is not called in by Jesse.
• Psa 27:10           If father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
• 1 Sam 17             errand runner for father … hears Goliath … inquires about rewards … offended for God … courageous
• 1 Sam 17:28       his own brothers despising him … with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your hear for you have come down just to see the battle … harsh words, undeserved, he is only doing his father’s bidding with the sheep and the errand running. Probably caused by resentment over his anointing over the older brothers.
• 1 Sam 17:29      not fully honest to his brothers … it was only a question … he doesn’t entrust himself to them
• 1 Sam 17:31-40   Saul hearing David’s words, inviting him into his tent, putting armor on him. David wisely declines. This shows just how desperate Saul must have been.
• 1 Sam 17:41-54   David goes back to be the God-trusting shepherd-boy with lion and bear rescue experience. He fells Goliath with a shot into the temple and decapitates him. Israel gains courage and wins an important battle. David is confident of God, upset at God’s dishonor and courageous, relying on a inside grown relationship with God.

David’s Career taking off

• 1 Sam 16:18-19   Recommendation to Saul that gets him the music job: skilled in music, warrior, prudent in speech, good presence … agreeable behavior & personality
• 1 Sam 16:21         loved by Saul … made his armor-bearer
• 1 Sam 18:1           loved by Jonathan … covenant of friendship
• 1 Sam 18:7           loved by Israel … as victorious army commander
• 1 Sam 18:20        loved by Michal … Saul pleased > schemes
• 1 Sam 18:30        successful in battle … growing fame … success often spoils character / tests character
• 1 Sam 19:8-10    playing music for increasingly mad & dangerous Saul. David is not easily deserting, only leaves when no choice

David on the run

• 1 Sam 19:18      flees to Samuel after being speared twice … protected by prophetic frenzy … a God intervention 🙂
• 1 Sam 20          Jonathan’s covenant … Saul’s motivation tested … flees
• 1 Sam 21          Flees to Nob … to Gath or the Philistines … when recognized he is afraid .. plays madman, see Psalm 34.
• 1 Sam 22          collecting rebels & outcasts
• 1 Sam 22:6-10  others caught & killed in the tension … 85 priests and Nob’s population by Doeg … Abiathar survives, joins David … David feels responsible for death of his family
• 1 Sam 23           Keilah … twice iniquity … betrayal pre-emptied … Ziph … Philistine call draws Saul away … Saul should be fighting Philistines, not hunting for David!
• 1 Sam 24           cave > forgiveness, respect shown to Saul …no taking of power …will not make ‘God’s calling’ happen
• 1 Sam 25           Nabal and Abigail, she prevents David to put on himself blood guilt … integrity of his group witnessed to by Nabal’s men … David is using his raiding band the right way: protecting people’s property, giving safety
• 1 Sam 26          Again > forgiveness and respect shown to Saul (sword story) developing character, accepting God’s ways, being faithful, being forgiving / not resentful / not revengeful … trusting God / not taking thins in own hands … not ‘helping God along’
• 1 Sam 27         David at Gath … raids on the Geshurites, Girzites, Amalekites … deceit … tired of running … doing what he should do as king, quietly & unofficially keeping Israel’s borders safe and pushing back enemies
• 1 Sam 29         almost joining the Philistine army against Israel … what would he have done if they let him fight?
• 1 Sam 30         Ziklag raided, David is almost stoned by his own people. David “strengthens himself in the LORD”. By God’s grace he recovers everything. This is the lowest point in David’s life: all lost, own people turning against him. Here his inner strength, his habit of seeking God, his ability to be and stand alone really plays the crucial role.
• 1 Sam 30:26   booty to Judean leaders … political move? Restitution to services rendered earlier? Generosity and sharing? King-work in fairness?
• 2 Sam 1           hears about & laments Saul and Jonathan from his heart

Comparison Saul <=> David

Calling and anointing

• Kingship revealed to Samuel        1 Sam 9:16            Kingship revealed to Samuel                1 Sam 16:12
• Anointed by Samuel                       1 Sam 10:1            Anointed by Samuel                               1 Sam 16:12
• God’s spirit came upon him          1 Sam 11:16          God’s spirit came upon him                  1 Sam 16:13
• 1st goal: deliverance Philistines  1 Sam 9:16             1st goal: deliverance Philistines          1 Sam 17:50-53
• needed God to change his heart  1 Sam 10:9            chosen by God because of his heart   1 Sam 16:7
• confirming supernatural signs     1 Sam 9                  no confirming supernatural signs
• prophetic frenzy, spiritual event   1 Sam 9                  no prophetic frenzy, no spiritual eventually

Reputation

• initially popular                  1 Sam 11:12, 15                 initially popular 1 Sam 18:7
• held in honor                      1 Sam 11:12, 31:11-13      held in honor 1 Sam 22:14, 2 Sam 3:36
• not everybody happy        1 Sam 10:27, 22:1-2           not everybody happy 2 Sam 15, 2 Sam 20:1-2

Ability in battle & leadership

• valiant warrior & able deliverer 1 Sam 11:5-11, 14:47-48 valiant warrior & able deliverer 1 Sam 16:18, 2 Sam 8:1-14
• sought & chose strong men 1 Sam 14:52                  welcomed all, received the loyal 1 Sam, 22:1-2, 2 Sam 23
• unwilling to relinquish power 1 Sam 18:12-16           willing to relinquish power 2 Sam 15:25-26
• violence, injustice to keep power 1 Sam 16:1, …       doesn’t choose violence 1 Sam 24, 1 Sam 26
• heeded unwise advice 1 Sam 15:24, 26:1-2, 19         rejected unwise advice 1 Sam 24:6-7, 26:8-9
• made righteous reforms 1 Sam 28:3                           made righteous reforms 1 Sam 30:24-25
• Lord left him & sent evil spirit 1 Sam 16:14                Lord was with him 2 Sam 5:10

Relationship with God

• didn’t know, required signs 1 Sam 10:2-8                    got opportunity to prove the God he knew 1 Sam 17:37
• religious use of holy things 1 Sam 14                          true fear of God
• de facto disregard for holy things 1 Sam 13:8-13, 22:16-17 deep regard for holy things 1 Sam 24:10, 2 Sam 6:13
• incomplete obedience to God 1 Sam 15:9                   complete obedience to God 2 Sam 5:25
• depended on Samuel to know God’s favor, will, ways knew God’s favour, will, ways personally 1 Sam 15:25, 28:11-19
• no personal hearing from God 1 Sam 28:6                  often heard directly from God
• God regretted making him king 1 Sam 15:11, 35        God > eternal covenant with his house 2 Sam 7:1
• Refrained by God’s providence, not repentant             Refrained by God’s providence, thankful for it 1 Sam 19:18, 25:39
• no record of intimacy with God,  1 Sam 15:24-30       honor motive     regularly sought and heard from God Psalms, … only
• had no inner strength, resources, habits 1 Sam 28:5  had inner strength, resources, habits 1 Sam 30:6

Character

• extremely handsome 1 Sam 9:1-2                                  handsome 1 Sam 16:12
• initial humidity, based on timidity? 1 Sam 9:21            continuous humility, even in times of victory and popularity 1 Sam 18:23
• insecure, timid, inferiority 1 Sam 10:22, 15:17              secure, confident 1 Sam 17:32-37, 17:48
• initially forgiving, generous 1 Sam 11:13                       continually forgiving 1 Sam 24:21-22, 2 Sam 16:5-11
• later personally vindictive 1 Sam 26:13-19 —
• justified himself when challenged 1 Sam 13:11-12     willingly confessed & repented of sin 2 Sam 12:13, 24:10, 1 Sam 15:15, 15:20-21
• impulsive, rash words 1 Sam 14:24                                prudent in speech 1 Sam 16:18, 24:8-15
• fear of man 1 Sam 15:24                                                  fear of God, godly perspective 1 Sam 17:26
• governed by fear 1 Sam 15:24                                         governed by God, though felt fear, 1 Sam 15:24, 10:22, 17:11, 18:12, 18:28-29, 28:5, 28:20 1 Sam 17:31-37, 17:45-47, 30:6
• disloyal 1 Sam 18:21                                                         sacrificially loyal 1 Sam 22:3-4, 24:6
• demands unrighteous loyalty 1 Sam 22:17-18             rewards loyalty, against his interests 2 Sam 2:5-6
• un-trusting, suspicious 1 Sam 22:6-8, 18:9                    trusting 1 Sam 20:1-8, 26:22
• mourned for himself, self-pity 1 Sam 28:20-23             mourned for others 2 Sam 1:11-12, 3:31-35, 12:16-23
• disregarded covenants 2 Sam 21:1                                respect for covenants 2 Sam 21:6, 7:4-29, 9:1
• breaks his words and oaths 1 Sam 19:6                        keeps his word / oaths as above

Growing army in the wilderness

• 2 Sam 23:8-39    David collects the ‘thirty mighty men’, slowly but surely. Abishai, Asahel are his cousins, Elhanan is of Bethlehem, some are Judah, but some are of Benjamin, Manasseh, other areas of Israel, one is an Ammonite, Uriah is a Hittite.
• 1 Sam 22:2          David received all. It really seems to have been a meritocracy, with anyone, even Saul-relatives and foreigners being equally given a chance to excel, to honor, to leadership.
• 1 Chr 12:1-22      records Israelites joining him in the wilderness days … some are Benjaminites from Gibeah, Saul’s kindred even … Gadites, experienced warriors, equal to a hundred and the greatest equal to a thousand … more Benjamintes, Judaites … some Manasssites desert to David even when he is highly compromised and on the Philistine side!
• 1 Chr 12:16-18    shows difficulty of people joining … who is a traitor? Who is for real? … David accepts them and leaves it up to God to punish them should they be traitors, he even makes them commanders in the army … Amasai’s words: “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you and peace to the one who helps you! For God is the one who helps you.”
• 2 Sam 15:18       When David flees from Absalon he has some loyal regiment of 600 Gittites (Philistines from Gath who kept following him) and Cherethites (1 Sam 30:14 / Zeph 2:5 identifies them as sea coast dwellers, not far from Ziklag, Gaza, Ekron, Ashdod) and Pelethites. Cherethites and Pelethites were David’s most loyal troups, leaving with him at Absalon’s rebellion, pursuing Sheba, supporting Solomon’s ascension to the throne. … This shows that David had even foreign regiments, who followed him for no other reason than who he was … what rewards could he promise? He wasn’t even sure he would become king. And even if, they would remain foreigners, who became unfaithful to their own nation. He attracted such people even from the difficult and deceptive time at Ziklag!

David, king over Judah

• 2 Sam 2:1           not presuming to be king still … carefully inquiring of God about next move … go to Judah, to Hebron
• 2 Sam 2:4          elders of Judah anoint him king … Hebron
• 2 Sam 2:4          gratefulness (not vengeance!) to Jabesh-Gilead’s honoring deed in recovering the corpses of Saul and sons once he has power, he doesn’t abuse it … no pay-back, no revenge, no resentment, no witch-hunts
• 2 Sam 2:8-11    Abner sets up the youngest son of Saul, Ish-bosheth, as king of Israel, with himself as the de facto ruler
• 2 Sam 2:12-32  Abner and Joab agree to a ‘tournament’ in Gibeon, that turns into a war … Abner defeated, Asahel killed Abner and Joab are natural competition, Abner’s killing of Asahel (though prevention attempted) further sets up the two against each other.
• 2 Sam 3:1          long war between house of Saul and house of David … if Jonathan had been alive, this wouldn’t have happened, his absence is felt here. This makes the transition here less beautiful. A modern literary parallel of Jonathan is Faramir in “The Lord of the Rings”.
• 2 Sam 3:6          Abner is really the strong man, though he pulls the strings behind Ish-bosheth … he is the strong figure that still resists Israel accepting David as king.
• 2 Sam 3:7          Ish-bosheth calls Abner to accountability over sleeping with Rizpah, concubine of Saul besides Ahinoam (Ish-bosheth’s mother) … justified, possibly a power-game, maybe just an attraction thing
• 2 Sam 3:8-11    Abner is very angry, quits his loyalty to Ish-bosheth. “For just what the LORD has sworn to David, that will I accomplish for him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah” … this shows he knows the will of God but has so far not obeyed it. What brings about the change? Is he tired of Ish-bosheth? Sees him never becoming a strong king? Does he think if he does this for David he’ll be grateful and not speak into Abner’s private matters? God’s hand? Age? … tired of his own having to run it all? Does he think this will earn him the army commander position over all Israel, a career move so to speak?
• 2 Sam 3:12-16  Abner suggests a covenant to David, promises to bring all Israel over to him. David agrees on the condition of bringing Michal. This is the only time David does something smelling of vindictiveness, saving pride or being insulted. The fruit of it is not good, he rips apart a loving monogamy, Michal is now one among many in a growing polygamy, she resents the change most likely, probably sees him little. Later she despises him for dancing, remains childless.
• 2 Sam 3:17-21  Abner convinces Israel and Benjamin, 20 men come to David, he dismisses them in peace.
• 2 Sam 3:22-30  Joab murders Abner (peace time murder to revenge war time killing) … for Asahel, for competition.
• 2 Sam 3:33-39  David laments over Abner, fasts, calls him a great man in Israel … people understand, pleased …
• 2 Sam 3:38       Today I am powerless, even though anointed king these men, the sons of eruiah,, are too violent for me … difficult relationship between civil government and military, David feels powerless to remove Joab.
• 2 Sam 4            two Benjaminites murder Ish-bosheth … bring head to David … David judges them for ‘killed a righteous man in his bed’ > has them executed.
• 2 Sam 5:1-5     Waiting at Hebron for 7 ½ years … why? … not accelerating, not blackmailing. With Abner & Ish-bosheth gone, Israel’s elders come to anoint him king
• 1 Chr 12:23-37 But also: the troops themselves join … of Judah 6800, of Simeon 7100, of house of Aaron 3700, Zadok and 22 commanders, of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul 3000, of Ephraim 20’800, of W Manasseh 18000 who expressedly named to come and make David king. Of Issachar, those who had understanding of thetimes, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs. Of Zebulun 50000, of Naphtali a 1000 commanders and 37000 troops, of Dan 28’000, of asher 40’000, of Reubenites and Gadits and East Manasseh 120’000 … total is around 335’000 warriors.
• 1 Chr 12:38-40 All these came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king …3d eating and drinking, for their kindred had provided for them … food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen, abundant provisions – meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raising, wine, oil, oxen, sheep … for there was joy in Israel principle of consensus government, freely delegated authority … do not grab power! do not self-augment power! .. joy resulting in generosity, liberality

Symbols of Unity – Jerusalem & Tabernacle 2 Samuel 6

Jerusalem conquered and made capital

• 1 Sam 5:6-10      Jerusalem, still in Jebusite hands (though Joshua defeated it once), little enclave, dividing the N and S ideal for centrality, for the fact it’s not Judah, it’s on the border of Benjamin (Saul) and Judah (David), it’s neutral ground, it’s a good new start for the united kingdom … good, sensitive move, symbol of identity

Philistine attacks repulsed

• 1 Sam 5:17-25    Philistines attack, hearing David as king over combined empire … David inquires of God (twice for two attacks, not presuming) … great victory now of the combined army … confirmation, victory, unity

Ark brought to Jerusalem

• 1 Sam 6:1-11        David pitches a tent for the Ark in Jerusalem, wants to bring the ark up from Kirjath-Jearim (House of Abinadab, sons Uzzah & Ahio).
• David does it as big, Israel-wide military enterprise with 30’000 men (1 Chr 13:1), ark put on a chart, everybody rejoices and dances.
• When the chart shakes, Uzzah reaches out to steady the Ark but is struck down by God.
• David is first angry, then afraid of the LORD. “How can the ark of the LORD come into my care?” … David is unwilling to take the ark. The ark is brought to house of Obed-edom the Gittite, stays there 3 months.
• Why is David angry? – probably because of the publicness, shame of it, maybe a feeling of being cheated by God, he feels in the right, doing the right thing, caring, having a right to God’s blessing …afraid – as conviction, an understanding of the holiness of God sets in. Why did God do that? like Nadab & Abihu to prevent slide? To show he is not bribable like Saul, who thinks sacrifice over obedience … favorites can’t break the law either … How about Uzzah? I don’t think this means he is not in heaven.
• 1 Sam 6:12-23    David hears Obed-edom is blessed … again assembling all Israel (1 Chr 15:3) … this would take courage, after the earlier failure, David doesn’t downscale, nor exclude, he understands this needs to be all Israel (his explanation shows he is sure what the reason was). This time priests, sanctified.
• Reason are given for earlier failure: “we did not give it proper care” … this time: They do as Moses had commanded (1 Chr 15:11-15) withsingers, musicians, gatekeepers all in action.
• David puts importance on the law, the old system, the Levites & priests, he organizes them, provides presumably, honors them … sacrificing after 6 steps.
• Then shouting and dancing, including David … David is totally, personally, emotionally involved, abandoned, couldn’t care less what people think, I think he enjoys this thoroughly, it’s public but it’s also personal to him. We always think we need to be dignified and on top of it, never be in a compromising situation, never criticizable, never make a fool of yourself … how tiring, how limiting! … people blessed & fed & dismissed … this is really a high point of David’s reign and of Israel’s history
• 1 Sam 6:20-23     Michal’s disdain & comment … David’s humility, confidence in his calling, willing to be a fool.

God’s everlasting covenant 2 Samuel 7

• 2 Sam 7:1-3       David thinking to build a house for the ark … “I am living in a house of cedar, but God stays in a tent.”
• 2 Sam 7:4-17     Nathan, after giving him general green light is give a word by God that night: God has given him calling, kingdom, victory, honor, peace for the land – all already fulfilled … but moreover: “God will make you a house” and your offspring after you. “I will establish his kingdom … he shall build a house for my name … I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever … I will be a father to him, he shall be a son to me … when he sins > I will punish him, but I will not take my steadfast love from him as I took it from Saul … Your house and kingdom shall be made sure forever before me, your throne established forever.”
• David, David’s son, David’s family promised an eternal kingdom, a promise broken in 586 BC yet fulfilled on a higher level in Jesus: Jesus is the son of David who will reign forever. This is the promise the Jews in Jesus’ time hold on to … and partially miss.
• 2 Sam 7:18-29  David … into tabernacle … sitting, overwhelmed … “who am I, o LORD … that you have brought me thus far?” … David overwhelmed, humble, grateful, but also has the faith, the audacity to ‘take it’!

Kingdom expanded 2 Samuel 8, 10

Comparison of maps

• David greatly enlarges the empire 1011-971 BC
• Nearer to the original ‘Promised Land’ … yet still unconquered areas (E border: Sea >Philistines, Tyre, N border Lebo-Hamath).
• Maximum size Israel ever has in history
• Held by Solomon in peace 971-931 BC
• Afterwards breaks away piece by piece 931 BC ff

Oaths fulfilled 2 Samuel 9

• David fulfills his oath to Jonathan, making his lame son Mephibosheth like one of his sons … covenant faithfulness from the heart

Family Trouble – Bathsheba – adultery & murder 2 Samuel 11-12

• How can somebody with as close a relationship with God as David commit adultery? Why does his conscience not speak up? How does he set himself up for this? …
• Application? What do we need to be careful with? Because we are not immune either
• 2 Sam 11:1          David not going out with the army … “an idle mind is a devil’s workshop”, being busy with what God told us to be busy with is a good protection, keeps our mind on the right things. To not be busy with his will does introduce a host of other mechanisms … Visible also in youth’s lives: the ones busy with God, learning, applying themselves in youth ministries are more likely to make it past their teenage years in good shape
• 2 Sam 11:2          relaxed, off guard … may people testify to this, while in normal work, normal good helpful habits (good habits: help you in funky times) you are fine … but off times, in between times, travel, airports, hotels > temptation can surface … especially in transition times things like regular quiet times is a life-saver
• 2 Sam 11:3          wife of one of his elite 30, Uriah the Hittite … he really knew him, probably with him since the wilderness years, speaks of callousness of mind, was this a joking flirt before? a longer attraction? Or just a stupid co-incedence, Satan hitting at the right moment? … watch things like envy, resentment, continual thoughts in your heart … they can help set you up for failure in the wrong moment
• 2 Sam 11:4         she agrees, or doesn’t resist enough … of course he is the king, he is in a stronger position, I think David was impressive, she may have been quite overwhelmed … maybe with a person like David any ‘girl’ was in love? … again mind-hygiene on her side also would have helped. If she had once strongly put up resistance, said something like Tamar says to Amnon, it may have broken the moment, made David’s conscience kick start, or like when Abigail speaks to him in 1 Sam 25 … but Bathsheba doesn’t.
• David definitely has more guilt than her, but still: she most likely could have prevented this, if only she had resisted … need to react, need to resist, need to go beyond the female accommodation syndrome: make everybody happy. Also teach this to children: if they don’t like something, let them say no. Don’t force children to accept touch if they don’t want … Don’t put nor accept the female cultural pressure … Example: Research showing that rape has a good chance to be prevented, if really resisted.
• 2 Sam 11:4         washing after period, within 7 days > most often an infertile time. I think David realized this, maybe even calculated, that this adultery would have no consequences.
• 2 Sam 3:1-5        7 wives are given with name at that time
• 2 Sam 5:13-14    other wives & concubines (11+) … > the problem is not lack of companionship nor lack of sexual opportunity, if he wants it … then why has is to be Bathsheba? … and infatuation? Spur of the moment lust? … probably, but more deeply also: the increasing polygamy is affecting David’s view of women … focusing on lust / sexual relations far above friendship-companionship family life … he increasingly looses family life, and with is a high view of a spouse. Wise spouses like Abigail probably saw this, but couldn’t prevent it …
• 2 Sam 11:5           they commit adultery … she is pregnant … sends word. The affair didn’t continue, it was a ‘one off’ … but now the problem surfaces, her husband is gone, people at that time also knew how to count
• 2 Sam 11:6-13     David tries to arrange for Uriah to be home > he treats Bathsheba not as serious, but as an escapade he now is trying to cover up elegantly, he has no real commitment to her … Bathsheba also gets this message, one of rejection, but she has not much choice than to go with the arrangement … maybe she meant to tell him, but he doesn’t go home.
  In contrast to David and Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite (not even Israel, yet understands the law) shows great integrity > won’t go home to comfort when the army is not … alcohol is not doing the trick either. Uriah has the integrity David is lacking.
• 2 Sam 11:14-25   David then arranges for his murder in Saul-style … he is annoyed, resentful of his integrity, conscience suppressed, even has the audacity / coldness to have the message carried by Uriah … which also shows how much he considers Uriah trustworthy
• 2 Sam 11:26        news of Uriah’s death … does she know? She must suspect … sleeping with her husband’s murderer? how does this newest thing affect her view of David? … they have 1 dead and 4 living sons together
• Prov 31               King Solomon accredits his mother with teaching him wisdom … this is Bathsheba. David went for quality
• 2 Sam 12:14      you shall not die, the child will die … not really a common thing … Eze 18 each shall die for own sin … yet God does not wipe away consequences after the repentance … same with us: consequences of our sin are not removed, but God’s shows a path of redemption onward
• 2 Sam 12:10-11  prophecy of the sword on the family … is this a curse? Or inevitable consequence? Or both?
  David now can’t stand against Joab murdering
• David now won’t stand against Amnon’s rape of his sister Tamar
• David now can’t or won’t stand against Absalon
• Deu 7:3            do not marry foreigners
• Deu 17:17         king should not have too many wives. This introduces the pattern of many wives & more children … that will fell Solomon completely

Family Trouble – Amnon & Tamar – a rape unpunished 2 Samuel 13

• 2 Sam 13:2        Amnon tormended by lust
• 2 Sam 13:4-6    Amnon advised by family crook Jonadab (a nephew of David) … careful with people giving you counsel to indulge your lower passions … respect people who model and challenge you to holiness
• 2 Sam 13:35      Jonadab later smartly tells David about Absalon’s murder of Amnon. David knows it all, but he co-caused and definitely didn’t prevent. Jonadab is cold mind, calculating, smart, self-congratulating … careful!
• 2 Sam 13:11-13  Tamar is wise, she tells him to do this right, to request of David, to marry her properly “as to you: scoundrel … as to me: where could I take my shame?”
• 2 Sam 13:15       Amnon right after loathes her … this may sound surprising, but is a well known phenomenon in psychology … you cannot respect what you can use / manipulate … men who rape women afterwards call them ‘slut’, men who use prostitutes are the hardest in disdaining ‘women like this’.
• 2 Sam 13:16      Tamar’s wisdom again: “the wrong in sending me away is greater than the wrong in forcing me.”
• 2 Sam 13:21      David is very angry but inactive, he doesn’t address, doesn’t inquire, doesn’t punish, doesn’t discipline, doesn’t require restitution … nothing. Probably David with his Bathsheba story doesn’t feel he has the authority to address this … yet he should. Or he should ‘have it done’ by somebody else.
• 2 Sam 13:20     Absalon: “Be quiet for now, my sister, he is your brother, do not take this to heart” … that is bad advice twice … she should talk, and not taking it to heart is impossible … she remains in Absalon’s house, a desolate woman … realistic description, rape is a long lasting misery and shame, a gnawing anger, a festering wound
• 2 Sam 13:22     Absalon responds in cold hatred … again no seeking to address, no attempt at bringing about judgment, no good pathway … just shutting it down, cold hatred, and the planning of a murder … Absalon was pro-bably mostly discipled by his Geshurite mother Maacah … he has no relationship with God, or at least no pull in the right direction in anything in his heart, he does what is understandable, but totally undiscipled … again the effects of polygamy: such a godly father (really!) and sons with little true discipleship at all

Family Trouble – Absalon – hatered > rebellion 2 Samuel 14-15

• 2 Sam 13:37      Absalon has Amnon murdered at a feast he organizes, then flees to Geshur, his mother being the Geshurite king’s daughter … this leaves behind Tamar, further isolated than everybody
• 2 Sam 14:1-24  Joab understands David misses Absalom, confronts the king and gets permission to have Absalon brought … yet David will not see him … again no addressing, no confession, no forgiveness, no restitution, a punishment would re-open the doors … a hanging, festering wound … as with children: better punishment then exclusion
• 2 Sam 14:25-33 2 years he is back in Jerusalem … Absalon gets angry … calls Joab, he refuses to come … burns Joab’s field to make him pay attention … Joab brings Absalon before David …
• 2 Sam 14:33     David accepts & kisses Absalon … but still no justice, no righteousness in this, other than that time passes … he is re-accepted by David, but Absalon’s hatred is not appeased at all, his respect for his father is as low as before … we don’t like discipline, but how much more peaceful and satisfying is dis-cipline in comparison to this: festering wounds, unclear relations …> courage to address, to discipline
• 2 Sam 15:1-6    Absalon steals the hearts of Israel … slowly, planfully, coldly over 4 years … David must have known, how can he not know? … but he does nothing, he let’s it slither … maybe he feels guilty for the total Absalon story, maybe he is too busy, unwilling ‘to go there’, or unsure whether God might want to remove him for his sin, or whether he refuses to see it, or whether he underestimates it …
• 2 Sam 15:7-12   Absalon declares himself king in Hebron … supported by Counselor Ahitophel
• 2 Sam 15:13-36 David flees, living behind 10 concubines … some wives, easily spared … requests loyalists priest Abiathar & Zadok and Counselor Hushai to stay behind and send him information / support him there.

David rebelled against 2 Samuel 16-20

• 2 Sam 16          On the way out of Jerusalem barefoot some old vendettas come up: Shimei the Benjaminite cursing him & throwing stones at him … David will not allow anybody to kill Shimei … humility, a bit self-pity, but con-sistent non-violence / non-vindictiveness … in rejection Saul turned possessive, vindictive, violent … David is none of the above.
• 2 Sam 17          Ahitophel versus Hushai … immediate pursuit vs assembing a larger army … Absalon chooses Hushai over Ahitophel …
• 2 Sam 17:23    who procedes to commit suicide. Why? He set his card on the new king, who turn out to not trust him, and he just irrevokably offended his former king
• 2 Sam 18         David’s army overcomes Absalon’s army in the forests of Ephraim … Joab kills Absalon hanging in the tree (against David’s request)
• 2 Sam 19:5-7  David cries over Absalon … shames the soldiers who risked their lives for him … Joab warns David sorely … you love those who hate you and hate those who love you … if not thank people > not one man will stay with you … a sore, sore rebuke, but needed. Only Joab or the prophets have courage to speak so directly! … Joab has his faults, but he truly is loyal to David, and he has courage to warn him … and Joab has good judgment
• 2 Sam 19:8      David obeys Joab … and he’d better, Joab is right.
• 2 Sam 19:9ff   Way back to Jerusalem … Barzillai rewarded … Shimei comes eating humble pie … Mephibosheth cleared
• 2 Sam 19:9-12, 41-43 Israel plans to bring David back, David tells Judah to not fall behind. There arises a conflict between Judah and Israel about who will bring David back. David replaces Joab with Amasa (a relative, son of an Ishmaelite and Nahash, sister of David whom Absalon had put in charge of the army 2 Sam 17:25). Joab will prevent this with yet another murder.
• 2 Sam 20        Benjaminite Sheba’s rebellion, calls off Israel from David … “we have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse!” … Joab & Cherethites & Pelethites & Gittites pursue Sheba and have him killed by the city of Abel … This sentence will be quoted again in 1 Kin 12:16, when Israel falls apart permanently after the death of Solomon … Unity is always a vulnerable thing, even here, with a king as good as David > don’t be surprised, be watchful / careful, prevent by proper addressing of issues early.

David’s strength vs weakness

• forgiving, not vindictive, not easily offended             <=> letting slip, injustice to victim, undefined rs, festering wounds
• emotional, loving, passionate                                       <=> emotion over principle, screwing in area of passion
• does not seek power, usurp, abuse power                  <=> abandons justice, does not fulfill role of government to judge

Military & Government’s relationship

• 1 Sam 25                   David’s 600 men are not just a raiding band, they have discipline … Nabal’s shepherds: not one animal disappeared
• 2 Sam 3:27, 20:10  killing in and out of battle is a completely different thing. Joab’s murder of Abner and Amasa troubles David. David takes care to distance himself but he doesn’t feel he can go against Joab
• 2 Sam 3:39              David: sons of Zeruiah are too violent for me … difficulty to hold military under the law, accountable, even David finds this sticky business. The relationship between civil government and military is a delicate issue even in stable nations. Example: reducing power to the governemnt after 9-11.
• 2 Sam 12                  David’s hands are bound by the Bathsheba adultery and even more so by the Uriah murder story
• 2 Sam 19:7-8           Joab is loyal to David and rebukes David rightly and importantly … stays loyal to David throughout the Absalon rebellion, though he has links with Absalon
• 2 Sam 20:23           David reinstates Joab as commander of the army … feels he has no choice? Doesn’t know Amasa murder? Has to reward a loyalist? Rewards love of Joab? … is seems to be the first, as evidenced by:
• 1 Kin 2:5-6              David instructs Solomon to take care of the ‘Joab problem’ … you will know what to do, Solomon’s hands are less bound than David’s
• 1 Kin 2:28-35         Solomon on a provocation executes Joab for supporting Adonijah rebellion and also for killing Abner and Amasa … ‘two men more righteous than yourself’.

Famine > avenging the Gibeonites 2 Samuel 21

• 2 Sam 21:1-2         Saul has put Gibeonites to death (not all, but seemingly a concerted effort) … David gets a famine for it David takes misfortune / law-curse as a reason to inquire of God, not blind conclusions but reason to ask … issue of injustice. How do you atone for a ‘genocide’ of a special group?
• 2 Sam 21:3            David asks them.
• 2 Sam 21:4-6        They say this can’t be atoned for simply by paying gold or silver. They also say that to kill random Israelites for this is no justice either … they are honest, realistic, serious, but fair. Therefore they ask for 7 persons from Saul’s family to be executed as an atonement … this may sound gruesome, but it is actually very reasonable compared to the original injustice of a genocide … it is a much reduced ‘punishment’, but it is suggested by the Gibeonites, considered an acceptable substitute
• They will do this “before the LORD” and “on the mountain of the LORD “(where the tabernacle used to be, presumably, also 7 is a God-number … again not hot-headed vindictive, but a needed act to restore justice, to remove the curse
• David agrees without an argument … Why? Because he doesn’t care about Saul’s family? Because it happens to be a personal vindication also? Or simply because he sees they could have asked for much more but are being reasonable.
• 2 Sam 21:7-9        David takes 5 sons of Merab (Saul’s grandsons) and 2 sons of concubine Rizpa (Saul’s sons) … it makes sense that he takes sons first (2), and then grandsons (5), but he doesn’t take them from Jonathan, nor Ishbi or Malchisua, rather all from Merab … David is keeping his oath to Jonathan. But is this also some vindictiveness for the promised earlier almost-marriage? 1 Sam 18:17-19
• Impaled would fall under Deu 23:22-23, command to take down body before nightfall … here not done, because of the special nature of the death?
• 2 Sam 21:10-14    Rizpah protects the bodies of the 7 impaled men …that is a courageous, if not desperate thing to do for a woman, alone out there with 7 dead bodies …
  From the beginning of the harvest till the rain fell on them from heaven … barley harvest mid march to mid april, latter rains can be mid march till mid may … but since famine was the issue, there was no rain … so till God gave rain as an answer? Is that why David leaves the bodies up? Or no awareness?
  David hears what she is doing, and then brings up the bones of Saul and sons from Jabesh Gilead, collects the dead bodies from Gibeon, and buries them in a family tombe in zela, the tomb of father Kish.
• 2 Sam 21:14         After that God heeded supplications for the land … God seems to approve the whole transaction. Only when the dead bodies are honored again? Or only when some time has passed to make the statement?
• David’s song of thanksgiving 2 Sam 22 = Psa 18. Praise and thankfulness as a mark of David’s life, a key to his continued faithfulness and his lasting impact on worshipers.

David’s last words / David’s 30 mighty men 2 Samuel 21

• 2 Sam 23:1-7      David, the man whom God exalted, the favorite of God … God’s word says that one who rules justly, in the fear of God is like the light of morning, the sun rising, gleaming.
• David understood the law, the forever if then statement, so he is chosen, exalted, favorite. But he needs to match it: obedience, just governement Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all thing and secure.
• David again zeroing in on the amazing promise God made in thankfulness, this is it, this is the ultimate grace and honor, still amazed, still overwhelmed, but taking it. “Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?” … all is given But the godless are like thorns thrown away, consumed … the inevitable flip side of the law.
• 2 Sam 23:8-39   David collects the ‘thirty mighty men’ – slowly but surely – in the wilderness. Among them Abishai, Asahel are his cousins, Elhanan is of Bethlehem, some are Judah, but some are of Benjamin, Manasseh, other areas of Israel, one is an Ammonite, Uriah is a Hittite … David received all (1 Sam 22:2) … it really seems to have been a meritocracy, with anyone, even Saul-relatives and foreigners being equally given a chance to excel, a chance for honor, for leadership.

David’s Census > Temple location 2 Samuel 24

• 2 Sam 24:1           God inciting / Arauna’s threshing floor
• 1 Chr 21:1             Satan inciting / Ornan’s threshing floor … is this a conflict?
• 2 Chr 22:1            chosen for location for temple
• 1 Chr 27:23-24   census was a military affair, only those above 20y counted
• 2 Sam 24:1          God is angry, inciting David, then punishing him?? Why do 70’000 people have to die for David’s sin?

What exactly is the problem with a census?

• Num 1, Num 26     were God ordained or God approved censuses
• Num 34, Joshua    land allotted according to population of the tribes
• 2 Sam 24:3                Joab really counsels against it
• Presumably the attitude of David in ordering it is the problem: Pride? Control? Joy in power? Domination? Reliance on numb