Bible study course
An advanced, collegiate, eight-lesson academic study of the Book of 2 Samuel, examining the accession, zenith, and domestic trials of King David, David heartbreaking lament in The Song of the Bow honoring Saul and Jonathan, his inaugural coronation at Hebron over Judah, the protracted civil war with Abner, the unified coronation at age thirty over all Israel, the daring conquest of the Jebusite stronghold of Zion (the City of David), the decisive rout of the Philistines at Baal-perazim, the transfer of the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim, the fatal error at Perez-uzzah, the joyful liturgical entry into Jerusalem and Michal contempt, the foundational unconditional Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7 establishing an eternal house, seed, and throne, David humble prayer of thanksgiving, the administration of justice and righteousness, the active practice of covenant chesed restoring crippled Mephibosheth to the royal banquet table, the regional war with the Ammonite-Syrian coalition, David catastrophic fall with Bathsheba, Uriah covenant righteousness, the murder of Uriah, Nathan prophetic parable and devastating indictment ("You are the man!"), the fourfold domestic curse, the rape of Tamar, Absalom fratricide and exile in Geshur, the parable of the wise woman of Tekoa, Absalom populist sedition and national insurrection, David barefoot flight over the Mount of Olives, Shimei curses, Ahithophel counsel and suicide, the decisive battle in the forest of Ephraim, Absalom death in the oak, David legendary paternal lament, Joab political rebuke, the Gibeonite famine and Rizpah heroic vigil, David royal psalm of thanksgiving (2 Samuel 22), his Last Words, the sin of the census, Gad prophetic presentation of divine discipline, and David purchase of the threshing floor of Araunah on Mount Moriah refusing to offer burnt offerings that cost him nothing.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 1:1 to 4:12, inaugurating the reign of David. The study analyzes the arrival of the Amalekite reporting Saul death, David execution of the self-proclaimed regicide, David heartbroken poetic elegy The Song of the Bow (Kashet) in the Book of Jashar, David inquiry of Yahweh and move to Hebron where the men of Judah anoint him king, David gracious commendation of the men of Jabesh-gilead, Abner installation of Ish-bosheth as rival king over northern Israel at Mahanaim, the deadly combat of twelve champions at the pool of Gibeon, Asahel relentless pursuit and death by Abner spear butt, the protracted civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner defection following a dispute over Saul concubine Rizpah, Joab vengeful murder of Abner at the gates of Hebron, David public grief walking behind Abner funeral bier, and the assassination of Ish-bosheth by Baanah and Rechab met with swift royal justice.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 5:1 to 6:23, exploring the unified coronation of David, the conquest of Jerusalem, and the liturgical enthronement of the Ark of the Covenant. The lesson examines all the tribes assembling at Hebron to crown David at age thirty, citing his shepherd mandate, the daring capture of the Jebusite fortress of Zion through the water shaft, the establishment of the City of David, Hiram king of Tyre sending cedar and craftsmen, the decisive rout of the Philistines at Baal-perazim and the sound of marching in the balsam trees, the disastrous attempt to transport the Ark of God on a new cart resulting in Uzzah death at Perez-uzzah, the three months of blessing at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, the triumphant liturgical entry of the Ark into Jerusalem with sacrifices and David joyful dance in a linen ephod, and Michal contempt leading to her lifelong barrenness.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 7:1 to 8:18, presenting the theological crown of the Books of Samuel: the unconditional Davidic Covenant. The lesson analyzes David desire to build a cedar temple for the Ark of God, Nathan initial approval and subsequent nocturnal oracle, God astonishing reversal promising to build David a house (dynasty) rather than David building God a house, the unconditional promise of an eternal seed, an eternal throne, and an eternal kingdom, the father-son covenant relationship with divine chastisement without removing steadfast love (chesed), David humble prayer of praise in the tabernacle ("Who am I, O Lord Yahweh?"), and the summary of David foreign military campaigns in 2 Samuel 8 establishing justice and righteousness throughout the realm.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 9:1 to 10:19, illustrating the active practice of covenant steadfast love (chesed) alongside international holy war. The lesson examines David inquiry regarding surviving members of the house of Saul for Jonathan sake, the discovery of Mephibosheth (Merib-baal) crippled in both feet residing in obscurity at Lo-debar, David generous restoration of all ancestral lands and lifelong seat at the royal dining table, Mephibosheth humble confession of unworthiness ("What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?"), the diplomatic insult by Hanun king of Ammon humiliating David comforters by shaving half their beards and cutting off their garments, the Ammonite hiring of Syrian mercenaries, Joab and Abishai strategic two-front counter-offensive ("Be strong... and may Yahweh do what seems good to him"), and the crushing defeat of the Syrian-Ammonite alliance at Helam.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 11:1 to 12:31, examining the catastrophic moral collapse of King David and its divine judgment. The study analyzes the ominous opening setting where kings go to battle but David remains in Jerusalem, his rooftop gazing upon Bathsheba bathing, the abuse of royal power in committing adultery, the pregnancy, David desperate machinations to cover his sin, Uriah the Hittite unyielding covenant righteousness refusing to sleep in his home, David letter ordering Uriah execution by the sword of the Ammonites, the chilling verdict ("the thing that David had done displeased Yahweh"), Nathan devastating parable of the poor man single ewe lamb, the prophetic indictment ("You are the man!"), the fourfold judgment upon David house, David brokenhearted repentance, the death of the child, the birth of Solomon (Jedidiah), and the capture of Rabbah.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 13:1 to 14:33, tracing the catastrophic fulfillment of Nathan prophecy that the sword would never depart from David house. The lesson examines the toxic infatuation of David eldest son Amnon with his half-sister Tamar, the cynical manipulation of Jonadab, Amnon brutal sexual assault and subsequent virulent hatred of Tamar, Tamar public mourning with ashes and torn royal robe, David passive rage failing to administer justice, Absalom two years of silent brooding vengeance, the ambush and murder of Amnon at the sheep-shearing festival at Baal-hazor, the flight of Absalom to Geshur for three years, Joab deployment of the wise woman of Tekoa with a fabricated parable to appeal to David heart, and Absalom alienated return to Jerusalem concluding with his forced reconciliation with the king.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 15:1 to 18:33, examining the national insurrection led by Absalom and the traumatic flight of King David. The lesson analyzes Absalom populist sedition stealing the hearts of Israel at the city gates, the treasonous rebellion launched at Hebron, the defection of Ahithophel the king premier counselor, David barefoot weeping flight over the Mount of Olives, David tactical infiltration dispatching Hushai the Archite and Zadok with the Ark, the curses and stone-pelting of Shimei at Bahurim met with David spiritual restraint, Absalom public cohabitation with David concubines on the palace roof fulfilling Nathan prophecy, Hushai brilliant subversion of Ahithophel blitzkrieg counsel leading to Ahithophel suicide, the decisive battle in the forest of Ephraim, Absalom hair entangling in the terebinth tree, Joab brutal execution of the trapped prince with three javelins, and David inconsolable, legendary lament over his son.
An academic study of 2 Samuel 19:1 to 24:25, completing the canonical narrative of 2 Samuel. The study analyzes Joab stern confrontation of David paralyzing grief, David restoration to the throne, his royal clemency toward Shimei and Mephibosheth, the honoring of elderly Barzillai the Gileadite, the northern insurrection of Sheba son of Bichri and his decapitation at Abel of Beth-maacah, the three-year famine for Saul slaughter of the Gibeonites and Rizpah courageous vigil over the corpses of her sons, the slaying of four Philistine giants by David Mighty Men, David monumental royal psalm of thanksgiving (2 Samuel 22 / Psalm 18), the Last Words of David (2 Samuel 23), the theological census of Israel, Gad prophetic presentation of three judgments, David holy choice ("Let us fall into the hand of Yahweh, for his mercy is great"), the stopping of the plague at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and David refusal to offer burnt offerings that cost him nothing, consecrating the future site of Solomon Temple.