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2 Samuel 1-2

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2 Samuel 1-2; Ps 22


 

At the end of 1 Samuel the author alternated the reader’s attention between David’s situation among the Philistines and Amalekites, and Saul trying to endure an attack from the Philistines. After the death of Saul, the author of 2 Samuel was free to give undivided attention to David. He first described David’s reaction to Saul’s defeat and death, and then the advent of David’s dynasty in Judah. These chapters thus present the mercy and royalty of David; here was a king who had been disciplined and trained by the LORD to shepherd His people Israel—but who would have to endure more difficulty before his rule could be confirmed over a united people (cf. Ps 22).

 

At the beginning of 2 Samuel the author provided intimate details regarding David’s response to the death of Saul (ch 1). David was informed of Saul’s death through a young man who portrayed himself as an innocent Amalekite. He claimed that he had come upon the wounded Saul, and mercifully took the king’s life (vv. 2-10). David and his men reacted with mourning, weeping, and fasting, “for Saul, his son Jonathan, the LORD’s people, and the house of Israel” (v. 12). Yet David’s tender heart for God’s people was not void of concern over one who had so conspicuously claimed to have killed Israel’s king; David asked, “How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” (v. 14). David commanded his servant to kill the boastful young man—whose goal was most likely to secure a place of prominence for himself among David’s men. Several lines of David’s lament are noteworthy:

  1. David was concerned that news of Saul’s death be kept ‘in-house,’ “or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will gloat” (v. 20)
  2. “Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful…were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions” (v. 23)
  3. “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother. You were such a friend to me” (v. 24)
 

At the beginning of 2 Samuel 2, the author pointed out that when David was informed of Saul’s death, he was yet in the land of the Philistines (v. 1). Most likely refreshed in the thought that he was free to return home without fear of Saul, David inquired of the LORD where he should settle among the towns of Judah (vv. 1-2). David and his men were directed to dwell in Hebron, about thirty miles south of the previous ‘spiritual’ capital of Shiloh, and there the men of Judah—influenced perhaps by David’s generosity after he recovered the plunder the Amalekites had taken from Ziklag (cf. 1 Sm 30. 26-31)—anointed David king over the house of Judah (v. 4). David’s first act as king of Judah was to send a message of peace to the northern tribes of Israel, now ruled by Saul’s son Ish-bosheth in the centralized city of Jabesh-gilead (vv. 5-7); the remainder of the chapter records the prologue of civil war that would result in the wake of Saul’s death and David’s reign over Judah:

  1. Under the leadership of Abner, Saul’s troops marched out to the pool of Gibeon, and David’s men, under the leadership of Joab “marched out and meet them…the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool” (v. 13)
  2. A barbaric contest resulted in equal deaths amongst the men of Abner and Joab (vv. 14-16)
  3. A fierce battle ensued, with David’s men defeating Abner’s (vv. 17-28). While many were killed that day, Abner’s murder of Joab’s brother, the speedy Asahel, would prove most noteworthy (vv. 21-24; 32). Abner, weary and counting his loses—even though the Benjamites had joined their northern brothers—called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize this will only end in bitterness?” (v. 27)
  4. Taking Abner’s words as a surrender, Joab retorted, “As God lives…if you had not spoken up, the troops wouldn’t have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning” (v. 27)
  5. In the end, both leaders took their men and headed to their homelands, having set the stage for civil war (vv. 28-31)
 

In the storyline of Scripture the Gospel writers saw in Ps 22 several statements that looked beyond David’s reign begun in 2 Sam 2. While David had been anointed king of Judah, his days on the throne would be marked by difficulty—described in terms that were themselves descriptive of the crucifixion of Jesus, as evidenced by a comparison of Ps 22 and Mt 27:

  1. Even on the throne, at times David felt so distraught before his opponents that he said, “They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing” (v. 18), while Matthew notes that “After crucifying Him they divided His clothes by casting lots” (v. 35)
  2. David wrote, “Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads” (v. 7), and Matthew recorded of Jesus’ final hours: “Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads” (v. 39)
  3. David heard his mockers chide: “He relies on the LORD; let Him rescue him; let the LORD deliver him since He takes pleasure in him” (v. 8), and Matthew recorded that the chief priests, scribes and elders who witnessed the crucifixion mocked: “He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now—if He wants Him!” (v. 43)
  4. Though he was king of Israel, David lamented: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Ps 22.1)—which Jesus quoted in Aramaic, from the cross (cf. Mt 27.46)
 
 

*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com