Big Idea: Sin sometimes has devastating consequences: God’s justice must be satisfied.
Understanding the Text
The Structure and Function of 2 Samuel 21-24: These final chapters of 2 Samuel are an epilogue. They are arranged in a mirror structure, in which the elements in the second half of the literary unit thematically correspond to those of the first half, but in reverse order, creating a mirror effect:1
A Saul’s sin and its atonement: David as royal judge (21:1–14)
B The mighty deeds of David’s men (21:15–22)
C David’s song of thanksgiving (22:1–51)
C΄ David’s final words (23:1–7)
B΄ The mighty deeds of David’s men (23:8–39)
A΄ David’s sin and its atonement: David as royal priest (24:1–25)
The structure of the epilogue corresponds to the course of David’s career as it unfolds in 1–2 Samuel. Sect…