Sermon and Worship Resources

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2 Samuel 3:6-21

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Murders of Abner and Ish-Bosheth: 3:6–11 Although Ish-Bosheth was titular head of the northern tribes and Abner seemingly made no attempt to change that, real power centered around Abner. The fate of the country lay in his hands, and verse 6 implies that he took action to ensure that this remained the case. It is not surprising that Ish-Bosheth, who seems to have left all the decision making t...

2. Absalom Kills Amnon

2 Samuel 13:23-39

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom: 13:1–11 The story of Amnon’s abuse of Tamar, when he treats her solely as the object of his desires with no rights or value of her own, follows directly from the story of David’s abuse of his power. Amnon followed his father’s example. For a parent there is no private morality. Behavior and attitudes have repercussions within the family, and the repercussions of David’s ...

3. Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 14:1-33

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Absalom – In Geshur and Jerusalem: 14:1 Although his reason for wanting Absalom back in Israel is obscure, Joab plays the key role in the account of Absalom’s return. Again, the writers’ awareness of people, their characters, and their motivations is remarkable. Both Joab and Absalom are portrayed with a great deal of insight. It is possible that Joab had tried before to obtain a pardon for Absalo...

4. Absalom's Conspiracy

2 Samuel 15:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

5. Absalom’s Death

2 Samuel 18:1-18

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Absalom’s Defeat: 18:1–5 David’s forces may have been more limited than he had been used to in recent times, but he and Joab were skilled in making the most of limited resources and in fighting battles where they were outnumbered. The description of his army’s structure leaves the impression that these are well-organized professional forces, as opposed to Absalom’s perhaps more haphazard arrangeme...

6. Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

1 Samuel 29:1-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag: 29:1 The Philistine forces collected at Aphek, north of all the main Philistine towns but still well south of Gilboa, Shunem (28:4), and Jezreel before they regrouped to travel north to face Saul. The impression given is that Saul had already gathered his army around the spring, probably Harod (see Judg. 7:1), at the foot of Mount Gilboa. Saul’s terror when he se...

7. Amnon and Tamar

2 Samuel 13:1-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

8. David Again Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 26:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Saul’s Second Escape: 26:1–3 The Ziphites, who nearly enabled Saul to find David once before, may have looked for a second chance. However, the wording in verse 1 is the same as that used on the previous occasion (23:19), which seems strange, even given the fact that David was likely to use the same hiding places on a number of occasions. Some scholars have concluded from this, from the similarity...

9. David Among the Philistines

1 Samuel 27:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Philistine Campaign: 27:1 David’s lack of trust in Saul’s profession of sorrow and promise to cease harming David is made explicit. David assumes that Saul will try again and may eventually succeed in destroying him; he may envisage this destruction coming not through any military prowess on Saul’s part but by David or his men being unable to resist another temptation to act against Saul. The ...

10. David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David and Bathsheba: The mopping-up operation to complete the siege of the Syrian capital Rabbah is described in 11:1, but the completion is not recorded until 12:26–31. In between is the story of David’s involvement in adultery, betrayal, and murder. 11:1 The writers make it clear that David’s presence in Jerusalem at this time was unusual. The fighting season has begun, but at the time when king...

11. David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:1-58

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David’s Growing Fame: This chapter, a single, coherent narrative, supplies an alternative introduction to David. Until he is anointed by the people of Judah (2 Sam. 2) there is no further reference to David’s anointing. Nor does this chapter indicate that David might be widely known by the people. 17:1–58 The situation is familiar: two battle lines drawn up on nearby hills, with the intervening va...

12. David and Jonathan

1 Samuel 20:1-42

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Jonathan Is Faithful to His Covenant with David: 20:1–4 David seeks out Jonathan to clarify the situation before he decides on the next step. Jonathan is unaware of Saul’s latest attack on David. This need not be seen as indicating a source that was unacquainted with the accounts of the previous attacks. Jonathan’s uncomplicated nature means that he wanted to believe Saul’s assurances about his at...

13. David and Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David Meets Mephibosheth: 9:1–13 The story of David’s first encounter with Mephibosheth is told without editorial comment. It can be read as a charming picture of life at court, emphasizing David’s kindness and sense of responsibility. However, it can also be read as a further example of David’s political opportunism, using Saul’s family to bolster his own position within the country. There has be...

14. David and Ziba

2 Samuel 16:1-4

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Absalom’s Rebellion Begins: Within these chapters there is an interest in the concept of loyalty: loyalty moving from David to Absalom; the loyalty of Ittai, Zadok, and Abiathar to David; Ahithophel’s disloyalty and Hushai’s apparent disloyalty; Shimei’s loyalty to Saul and the ambiguity of Ziba’s position. Behind this is the conviction that although human loyalties may be unpredictable and unreli...

15. David Anointed King over Judah

2 Samuel 2:1-7

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David’s Rise to Power Begins: Chronicles, which is primarily concerned with the history of the house of David, gives little detail about the reign of Saul. First Chronicles 10 records Saul’s death in the same form as 1 Samuel 31 but with the addition of a negative summary of Saul’s reign. Chapter 11 of 1 Chronicles then moves to the meeting of the whole nation with David at Hebron that is describe...

16. David at Adullam and Mizpah

1 Samuel 22:1-5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David’s Flight – The Priests at Nob: 21:1–9 Having accepted that Saul’s enmity was fixed and that exile was the only option, David sought initial supplies from the priest at Nob. Ahimelech’s wariness on David’s arrival may have reflected an awareness of Saul’s antipathy toward David and a fear of getting involved in a power dispute. However, it is equally possible that Ahimelech’s expression of ig...

17. David at Gath

1 Samuel 21:10-15

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

18. David at Nob

1 Samuel 21:1-9

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

19. David Becomes King Over Israel

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Confirmation and Consolidation: 5:1–5 This section provides an editorial summary of what may have been protracted and at times tense negotiations. The delay between Ish-Bosheth’s death and David’s enthronement over Israel is not known. It was seven years and six months before the capital was moved to Jerusalem, and verse 5 could imply that the two events were simultaneous. However, although it is ...

20. David Builds an Altar

2 Samuel 24:18-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Census and Its Aftermath: This is not an easy passage for a number of reasons. The equivalent passage in 1 Chronicles 21 has a number of differences, not the least being the inspiration of David’s action, presented as the Lord in 2 Samuel and as Satan in 1 Chronicles. In the context of 2 Samuel, in particular the appendix, this passage has a parallel in 21:1–14, where Saul’s sin brought traged...

21. David Conquers Jerusalem

2 Samuel 5:6-16

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

22. David Counts the Fighting Men

2 Samuel 24:1-17

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

23. David Defeats the Ammonites

2 Samuel 10:1-19

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Ammonites Are Defeated: The relationship between Israel and Ammon around this time is unclear. In 8:12 the Ammonites are one of the peoples subdued by David, but the relationship between David and the Ammonite king Nahash had been good. Chapter 8, which gives a brief summary of all the campaigns and battles that helped David to consolidate and extend his power, perhaps was written after the ev...

24. David Defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:17-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

25. David Destroys the Amalekites

1 Samuel 30:1-31

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Victory and Defeat: 30:1–5 Although a small group could have traveled more quickly, it took David’s army of about six hundred men three days to travel the fifty or so miles back to Ziklag. They almost certainly would have been away for at least a week, leaving plenty of time for the Amalekites to take advantage of their absence. David’s previous activities against groups including the Amalekites (...

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