2 Samuel 21-24; 1 Chronicles 21

2 Samuel 21
1-14 David Avenges the Gibeonites

• After a 3-year famine, David asks God about the famine.
• God replies it's because Saul had killed Gibeonites (a branch of the Amorites whom Israel had promised to spare), in an effort to whip them out .
• David summons the Gibeonites and asks what he can do for them.
• They don't want money -- they want 7 of Saul's descendants handed over to them for impalement.
• David complies, handing over 2 sons of Saul by his concubine Rizpah and 5 sons of Merab and Adriel, Saul's daughter and her husband.
• The Gibeonites impale them on the mountain "before the LORD" during the first days of barley harvest.
• Rizpah spreads sackcloth on a rock near the bodies and stays there to protect the bodies from the birds.
• Upon hearing of this, David takes their bones, as well as those of Saul and Jonathan (which the people of Jabesh-Gilead still have) and bury them in the tomb of Kish, Saul's father.
• "After that, God heeded supplications for the land."

15-22 Exploits of David's men
Same as 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, with these exceptions:

• Verses 15-17 are not included in the Chronicles account
• David goes to war with his servants against Philistines, and grows very weary.
• Ishbibenob, descendant of the giants, threatens to kill David, and in defense of David, Abishai kills Ishbibenob.
• David's men entreat him not to go out to battle with them anymore, because his presence endangers them, "so you do not quench the lamp of Israel."
• Differences in 18-22:
• Saph, not Sippai
• Goliath the Gittite, not Lahmi the brother of Goliath

2 Samuel 22
1-15 David's Song of Thanksgiving
Same as Psalm 18, with very minor differences. Brief outline:

• 1-4 God is my rock, fortress, deliverer
• 5-7 God as my deliverer
• 8-16 The power of God
• 17-20 My refuge, my deliverer
• 21-25 My rewarder
• 26-31 My light
• 32-43 My rock
• 44-46 My shield and sword
• 47-59 Bless and exalt God
• 50-51 My tower of salvation, my steadfast love

2 Samuel 23
1-7 Last words of David

• Oracle of David, whom God exalted, anointed, favored
• One who rules justly is like the morning light.
• God has made an everlasting covenant with me and will make me prosper
• Not so with the godless

8-39 David's Mighty Men
Same as 1 Chronicles 11:10-47, with the following differences:

• Samuel: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonites, wielded his spear against 800 whom he killed at one time. Chronicles: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni, killed 300 at one time. Both mention that this man was "chief of the Three."
• In story of Eleazar, Samuel adds that the people returned to Eleazar after the victory -- but only to strip the dead.
  
• Samuel mentions Shammah's defense in a field of lentils; Chronicles says Eleazar was in a field of barley and doesn't mention Shammah here.
  
• List of those "among the Thirty" is longer in Chronicles - both include Uriah the Hittite. Samuel mentions him last.

2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21
1-9 David's Census of Israel and Judah

• God is angry with Israel and "incites" David to count people of Israel and Judah. (Chronicles: Satan stands up against Israel and "incites" David...)
  
• He orders Joab to take a census, and Joab questions him about it, but David insists. (Chr.: "Why should [the king] bring guilt on Israel? Again, Joab has David's best interests at heart, but David refuses to listen.)
  
• It takes 9 months, 20 days, and the result is 800,000 in Israel (Chr: 1,100,000) able to draw the sword, and 500,000 in Judah (Chr: 470,000). (Chr: Levi and Benjamin not counted, "for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.") Differences in this numbers explained here.

10-17 Judgment on David's Sin

• Afterward, David realizes he shouldn't have done this, and admits his sin to God, praying for God to take away his guilt.
• God sends word by Gad the prophet that David has 3 choices:
  
• Three years of famine
• Flee three months from enemies
• Three days' pestilence on the land. It's interesting that in other cases it appears David speaks with God directly, and God answers directly. In this case -- like the case with Nathan convicting David of his sin with Bathsheba -- God uses a prophet to communicate indirectly with David. Does this have to do with David's sin in each case?
  
• David's reply, let us fall into God's hands - not human hands.
• God sends a pestilence on the land, and 70,000 people die, from Dan to Beersheba.
• When God sees the angel of destruction about to strike Jerusalem, he tells him to stop.
• David sees this angel by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (Chr: David sees him standing between earth and heaven about to strike Jerusalem) and prays (Chr: the elders are with him and they are all clothed in sackcloth) that the hand be against him and his father's house, not against the people, who have done nothing.

18-25 David's Altar on the Threshing Floor

• God through Gad tells David to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah (Chr: Ornan) the Jebusite. (Chr: Ornan had seen the angel, and while his sons hid themselves, he continued to thresh wheat until he saw David coming)
  
• David goes to Araunah and offers to buy the threshing floor, and Araunah offers its use to him, plus the oxen and their yokes for wood.
• David objects: "I will not offer burnt offerings...that cost me nothing." And he buys the threshing floor and oxen for 50 shekels of silver (Chr: 600 shekels of gold). See commentary for one explanation of this discrepancy.)
  
• David builds the altar and offers burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. (Chr adds that David called upon the LORD, and he answered him with fire from heaven on the altar.)
  
• And the plague is "averted" from Israel. (Chr: God commands the angel to stop, and "the angel put his sword back into its sheath.") Great word picture here.
  

1 Chronicles 21:28 - 1 Chronicles 22:1

• The tabernacle of Moses was in Giibeon at that time, but David was afraid of the angel's sword.
• So he chooses this place (which I'm assuming means the threshing floor of Ornan) as the site for the temple. (Apparently, according to a commentary, this was near the place where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice - on Mount Moriah near Jerusalem)
  

2 Samuel 18-20

2 Samuel 18
1-18 Defeat and Death of Absalom

• David gathers a army of thousands and divides it into 3 groups under the commands of Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite.
• He offers to go with them, but they tell him to stay back, because his life is worth 10,000 of theirs.
• He instructs the commanders to "deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom," and all the people hear those instructions.
• The servants of David defeat the men of Israel - 20,000 Israelites die -- more taken by the forest than by the sword.
• Absalom rides through the forest on his mule, and his head gets caught in the branches, and he is left hanging there.
• One of Joab's men report this to him, and Joab chastises him for not killing Absalom: he would have given him 10 pieces of silver and a belt.
  
• The man replies he wouldn't do it -- not for a thousand pieces of silver -- because the king commanded them not to.
• Joab replies, "I will not waste time like this with you," and he takes 3 spears and stabs Absalom with them, and 10 of his armor-bearers also strike and kill Absalom.
• Joab calls his troops back, and they take Absalom's body, throw it in a pit and heap stones over it.
• Side note: Absalom had erected a monument to himself in the King's Valley because he had no children, and named it after himself. At the time of this writing, "Absalom's Monument" still stood. In reference to this link, one source said this monument was actually built in the first century C.E. (Common Era), or more "commonly," first century A.D.
  

19-32 David Hears of Absalom's Death

• Ahimaaz son of Zadok wants to tell the king the good news that God has delivered him from his enemies, but Joab forbids it, telling a Cushite to run to tell the king.
• But Ahimaaz insists on running after the Cushite, goes a different way and overtakes the Cushite.
• David sees first one lone runner then another and knows they are bringing news. When someone one tells him the first one is Amihaaz, the king supposes he is bringing good news.
• Ahimaaz tells him only that he has been delivered from his enemies, but doesn't really know about Absalom.
• The Cushite, however, tells him of the defeat, and "May the enemies of my lord...be like that young man."

2 Samuel 18:33 - 2 Samuel 19:8

• David goes to the "chamber over the gate," weeping - "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
• When the troops hear of his mourning, their victory celebration turns into mourning on their king's behalf.
• Joab goes to David and chastises him for caring more for his son than he does for the armies that risked their lives for him and for his people, turning their victory over David's enemy into shame.
  
• If you don't go, Joab says, you will lose all your men, and this will be worse than any other disaster you have ever known. While looking up a link about Absalom's monument, I came upon this comment in a Daily Bible reading blog by a man named Mike: "David's love for his son was admirable in one sense - but it also could be seen as selfish in another sense. David seemed to care more for his son than for the nation of Israel, and Joab called him out on this."

9-18 David Recalled to Jerusalem

• The people back home are confused by David's flight and now by Absalom's death, because it means they have no king.
• David sends a message to the priests that they should be the ones asking him to return.
• He makes Amasa his commander, and Amasa convinces the people of Judah to send for the king, and he comes back to the Jordan, where the people meet him at Gilgal.
• Shimei, who before had thrown rocks at him (2 Samuel 16:5ff), brings a thousand family members from Benjamin with him to meet David.
• Also Ziba, Saul's servant, comes with his 15 sons and 20 servants.

19-23 David's Mercy to Shimei

• Shimei confesses his sin and begs for David's mercy.
• Abishai wants to punish Shimei with death.
• But the king wants no more killing, and promises Shimei he will not be punished.

24-30 David and Mephibosheth Meet

• Mephibosheth has not come to meet the king (I wondered where he was when it mentioned Ziba), because he has not prepared himself physically to meet the king, having not bathed, shaven, nor washed his clothes since the king left.
• Apparently, Ziba's story that Mephibosheth stayed behind in support of Absalom was false. He had asked Ziba to saddle a donkey for him to go with the king, but Ziba hadn't, and because of his handicap, he couldn't come.
• David offers to divide the land he promised to Ziba with Mephibosheth, but Mephibosheth says it is enough that the king has returned safely. And this is why I hadn't remembered Mephibosheth's disloyalty (see notes on 2 Samuel 16:1-4) -- there was none!
  

31-43 David's Kindness to Barzillai

• David wants to reward Barzillai -- 80 years old and very wealthy -- by taking him to Jerusalem and taking care of him. This is why Barzillai sounded familiar (2 Samuel 17:27). I must have liked this story when I read it before. It's so refreshing to read of selflessness midst all the battles and fighting in these chapters.
  
• Barzillai declines because of his age. He wouldn't enjoy the amenities of palace life, preferring his own home, and suggests David take a man named Chimham instead, which David agrees to do.
• So the king kisses and blesses Barzillai and goes on to Gilgal, with Chimham. All the people of Judah and half the people of Israel bring him on his way to Jersualem.
• The people of Israel accuse those of Judah of trying to steal their king -- after all, they have 10 shares in David to only 2 for Judah. It appears this infighting begins a long time before Solomon's death.

2 Samuel 20
1-26 The Rebellion of Sheba

• Sheba, son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, draws some away from David, proclaiming with a trumpet, "Everyone to your tents, O Israel!"
• All Israel follows Bichri, but those of Judah follow David back to Jerusalem.
• David imprisons the 10 concubines he left behind (and who slept with Absalom) in a house under guard, where they live like widows for the rest of their lives.
• The king orders Amasa, the army commander he appointed to take Joab's place, to gather Judah together within 3 days, but he doesn't show up.
• David tells Abishai to go after Sheba before he gains even more power, so Joab's men go after him, with the Cherethites, Pelethites, and warriors.
• At Gibeon, Joab meets up with Amasa and grabs his beard as if he's going to kiss him, but stabs him instead -- disemboweling him with one blow.
• One of Joab's men stands by Amasa's body lying in the road and tells those who are for David to follow Joab, but the people hesitate at the sight of the body lying in a pool of blood.
• So the man carries Amasa's body into a field and covers it up so the people follow Joab in pursuit of Sheba.
• They pursue Sheba to the city of Abel, besiege it and are preparing to batter the walls and destroy the city, when a "wise woman" from the city calls to Joab to negotiate with him.
• She tells him she is one of those in the city who seeks peace, and please not to destroy those like her because of one man.
• Joab: All I want is Sheba.
• So the woman confers with citizens of the city, and they deliver Sheba's head to Joab, and Joab returns to Jerusalem.
  
• David's officers listed (a couple of changes from his officials in 2 Samuel 8:15-18)
  
• Commander of the armies - Joab. He is such an interesting character -- violent and fiercely loyal to David, despite David's failure to judge wisely the character of those who are disloyal, e.g. Absalom and Amasa
  
• Commander of Cherethites and Pelethites - Benaiah
  
• In charge of forced labor - Adoram
  
• Recorder - Johoshaphat son of Ahilud
  
• Secretary - Sheva
• Priests - Zadok and Abiathar
• Also David's priest - Ira the Jairite
  

2 Samuel 15-17

2 Samuel 15
1-12 Absalom Usurps the Throne

• Absalom gets a chariot and horses and 50 men to run ahead of him.
• Then he begins appearing beside the road in the early morning to waylay those coming for judgment from the king, expressing his desire to make the judgments and showing each one affection.
• "So Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel." He must have had tremendous resentment toward David for his reluctance to see him or to forgive him when he returned to Jerusalem. Either that, or he sees something lacking in David that he thinks he can provide.
• After 4 years Absalom asks David if he can go to Hebron to offer sacrifices, when he actually plans to be crowned king there, with a group of conspirators he has gathered and by inviting 200 unsuspecting guests from Jerusalem. He also sends for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor. Absalom shows a lot of patience here, taking 4 years to build his support and also gaining David's trust.
  

13-31 David Flees from Jerusalem

• David receives a message that "the hearts of the Israelites have gone after Absalom."
• In an uncharacteristic show of weakness, David flees the city with all his household, including the Cherethites, Pelethites, and 600 Gittites from Gath (who go in front of the king) -- but leaving behind 10 concubines to look after the house. Or maybe it's not a show of weakness. David did a lot of fleeing before he became king, too.
  
• The king tries to persuade Ittai the Gittite to remain in Jerusalem with his family, because he is a newcomer to Jerusalem, but Ittai insists on following David with his family.
• The "whole country wept aloud" as his people passed by, across the Wadi Kidron and into the wildnerness.
• Priests Abiathar and Zadok and the Levites bring the ark, but David tells Zadok to return with the ark to the city, with his son Ahamaaz and Zadok and his son Jonathan: If the LORD wants me to return to Jerusalem, he will bring me back. David has inquired of God before when he needs to make a decision. Why doesn't he do so now?
• David goes up to the Mount of Olives, weeping, head covered and barefoot, and all the people with him do the same.
• He's told that Ahithophel is among the conspirators, and cries to God: "O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

32 - 37 Hushai as David's Spy

• Hushai the Archite (David's friend) meets David at the summit (of Mount Olives), coat torn and dirt on his head. I'm supposing this is from grief on David's behalf.
• David tells him he would be of better use to him as a spy in Jerusalem, passing messages to David through Abiathar and Zadok and their sons.
• Hushai gets to Jerusalem just as Absalom is coming in.

2 Samuel 16
1-4 Ziba Brings Supplies to David

• Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth (Jonathan's crippled son), brings donkeys laden with bread, raisins, summer fruits, and wine to David for his household.
• When David inquires of Mephibosheth's whereabouts, Ziba tells him he has stayed in Jerusalem in hopes of receiving back his grandfather's kingdom. I didn't remember this betrayal of Mephibosheth. Apparently he has no respect for David, either, looking at his residence in David's house as a right, and not a result of David's kindness.
  
• David gives Ziba everything he had previously granted to Mephibosheth.

5-14 Shimei Curses David

• When David comes to Bahurim, Shimei, a member of Saul's family, comes out and throws stones at David and his company and accuses him of murdering Saul, stealing his kingdom, and deserving Absalom's usurpation because David's a "man of blood."
• Abishai wants to go over and take off Shimei's head, but David forbids him, because after all, "My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite!" Maybe the LORD will bless me for Shimei's cursing me.
• They go on, with Shimei throwing stones and cursing as they go.
• They continue to the Jordan River, where worn out, they refresh themselves.

15 - 2 Samuel 17:4 The Counsel of Ahithophel

• Hushai comes to Absalom, swearing his allegiance to him, for it is the will of the people, and as he served Absalom's father, so he will serve Absalom.
• Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do, and Ahithophel advises him to erect a tent on the roof of the house, and sleep with the concubines David has left behind, in view of all Israel. Another of God's prophecies fulfilled (2 Samuel 12:11-12), though he said it would be a neighbor of David's. David would never have suspected this "neighbor" would be one of his sons.
• In those days everyone respected the counsel of Ahithophel, looking at it as if he consulted an oracle of God.
• Ahithophel offers to take 12,000 men and pursue David, killing only David, and bringing back the people with him, "as a bride comes home to her husband."
• The advice "pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel."

2 Samuel 17:5-14 The Counsel of Hushai

• Absalom requests Hushai's advice, and he disagrees with Ahithophel, reminding Absalom that David is a mighty warrior, surrounded by mighty warriors, and an army of 12,000 will not be enough. At the first defeat, the Israelite warriors will get scared and run.
  
• Hushai tells Absalom he must go in person to meet David, with all the armies of Israel with him, gathered "from Dan to Beersheba." Is this the first time this phrase is used?
• When "we" come upon him, we will either overcome him, or if he withdraws into a city, we will drag that city into a valley so that not even a pebble will be left.
• Absalom prefers Hushai's counsel, because the "LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel." David had prayed for God to "turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." David apparently knew that Ahithophel would give Absalom good advice.

15-29 Hushai Warns David to Escape

• Hushai tells Zadok and Abiathar of the plans and tells them to advise David to cross over the Jordan.
• They would relay messages to David by telling them to a servant girl, who would tell Jonathan and Ahimaaz, who were outside the city.
• But a boy saw them and told Absalom, so Jonathan and Ahimaaz go to Bahurim to a man's house with a well, and the man's wife hides them in the well by stretching a covering over the well and spreading grain on it.
• When Absalom's servants come, she tells them they have crossed over the brook.
• Jonathan and Ahimaaz are able to warn David, and his whole company crosses the river by night.
• In the meantime, when Ahithophel sees Absalom is not following his advice, he goes to his home, sets his house in order, and hangs himself. He is wise enough, apparently, to see the consequences of Absalom's decision and doesn't want to be taken by David.
• When Absalom crosses the Jordan, David is in Mahanaim.
• In place of Joab, Absalom has set over his army Amasa, the son of Ithra the Ishmaelite, who is married to Joab's aunt (making him Joab's first cousin).
  
• Absalom and his army encamp in Gilead.
• Shobi (son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites), Machir (son of Ammiel from Lo-debar) and Barzillai (Gileadite from Rogelim) provide sufficient food and supplies for David and his company: beds, basis, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, etc., etc., etc. Why is the name "Barzillai" familiar?
  

2 Samuel 11-14

2 Samuel 11
1-13 David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba

• Having stayed in Jerusalem while Joab went to battle at Rabbah (because that's what soldiers do in the spring), David is walking around on his roof and sees Bathsheba bathing.
• When he asks, he's told she is the wife of Uriah the Hittite (listed in 1 Chronicles 11:41 as one of David's warriors).
• Nevertheless, he sends for her and sleeps with her and she goes home.
• When she discover she's pregnant, she sends the message to David.
• To cover up his sin, David brings Uriah home from the battle, tells him to go home and "wash his feet," but although Uriah leaves David's presence, in respect for his fellow soldiers, he doesn't go home.
• When David asks him why not, he replies, "As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing."
• David tries again: Invites him to dinner and makes him drunk. Still, Uriah does not go home to his wife.

14-27 David Has Uriah Killed

• If David cannot cover up his adultery, he will make Bathsheba a widow, so he sends a letter to Joab -- in the hands of Uriah! -- to send Uriah to the front so he will die.
• Joab obeys (without question?), and Uriah -- and other servants of David -- are killed when they approach close to the city. Reminds me of English movies I have seen. When it involves royalty, the king's subjects turn a blind eye to indiscretions. Maybe that's true of high government officials in the U.S., too.
  
• Joab sends a messenger back with the news of the defeat, and instructs him that if David asks why they approached the city so closely, remembering how Abimelech died from the woman throwing a millstone on his head, to tell him that Uriah the Hittite is dead, too.
• The messenger explains the battle to David, and David sends back the message to Joab: That's the nature of war -- some must die. Does David suffer over this decision, or does his desperation overcome any pity he might have?
  
• Bathsheba goes into a period of mourning for her husband. When it is over, David takes her as wife, and she bears him a son.

2 Samuel 12
1-14 Nathan Condemns David

• Displeased with David, God sends his prophet Nathan to him with the story of a rich man who steals a poor man's pet lamb to feed company.
• David becomes very angry and tells Nathan this man deserves to die for his lack of pity.
• Nathan to David: You are the man!
  
• God to David through Nathan - This is how I have blessed you:
  
• I anointed you king over Israel
• I rescued you from Saul's hand
• I gave you your master's house, his wives, and the house of Israel and Judah, and would have done more if that wasn't enough.
• And what have you done? You've killed Uriah with the sword of the Ammonites and taken his wife.
• So this is your punishment:
• The sword will never depart from your house
  
• I will raise up trouble in your house
• I will take your wives and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the "sight of the sun."
• You committed your sin secretly, but this disgrace will be open
  
• David immediately realizes his sin and confesses to Nathan
• Nathan: you will not die, but the child will.

15-25 Bathsheba's Child Dies; Solomon Is Born

• The LORD "struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David..." Interesting that although Uriah is dead and David has married her, the scripture refers to her as Uriah's wife. And what must Bathsheba feel through all this? She's forced -- through her duty to the king, supposedly (unless she knew David would see her bathing) -- to sleep with the king, lose her husband, and now her child.
  
• David fasts and lies on the ground all night, despite the pleading of the elders to get up and eat.
• When the child dies on the 7th day, his servants are afraid to tell him because of what his reaction might be.
• When David sees them whispering together, he perceives the child is dead, and instead of grieving even more, he gets up, washes, changes his clothes and worships, and asks for food.
• When his servants ask him about this puzzling reaction to his child's death, he explains that in humbling himself he was trying to change God's mind, but now that the child is dead, all he can do is try to go to the child. David obviously believes in an afterlife.
  
• David consoles Bathsheba, and she again conceives and bears Solomon.
  
• "The LORD loved him, and sent a message by Nathan, so he named him "Jedidiah," which means "because of the LORD."

26-31 The Ammonites Crushed - Same as 1 Chronicles 20:1-3

2 Samuel 13
1-22 Amnon and Tamar (another personal story not told in 1 Chronicles)

• David's firstborn son Amnon (by Ahinoam, 2 Samuel 3:2) falls in love with Tamar, who is beautiful, a virgin, and the sister of another son, Absalom (by Maacah, 2 Samuel 3:3)
• Amnon is so obsessed with her it affects his appearance, so Jonadab, a "very crafty" friend of his, tells him how to satisfy his desire.
• Amnon pretends to be sick and requests that David send Tamar to him to fix him some bread.
• She does so, and while she's there, against her protests that it's shameful and her assurance that if he asks, David will give her to him, he rapes her.
• After he rapes her, she is disgusting in his sight and he sends her away, even locking the door against her.
  
• Tearing the robe that indicates she is a virgin and putting ashes on her head, she goes to Absalom's house to hide herself.
• David hears of it but does not punish Amnon "because he loved him, for he was his firstborn."
• Absalom says nothing, but he hates Amnon for what he has done. And so begins God's prophecy of trouble in David's house for his sin against Uriah.
  

23-39 Absalom Avenges the Violation of His Sister

• Absalom invites all the king's sons to a feast at Baal-hazor, near Ephraim, where he has sheep shearers.
• He invites David and his servants, but David declines, saying it will be too much of a burden.
• Absalom then insists that Amnon and the other sons go with him.
• While there, Absalom instruct his servants to wait for Amnon to get drunk and then to kill him, and not to be afraid to do it.
• They do, and all the king's sons flee on their mules.
• David hears that Absalom has killed all his sons, but Jonadab assures him it is only Amnon, Absalom's revenge for raping Tamar.
• Soon afterward, the other sons arrive, and they all mourn, as do the servants as well.
• Absalom flees to Talmai, king of Geshur (his grandfather, according to 2 Samuel 3:3), and stays there 3 years.
• Now consoled over the death of Amnon, David "yearns" for Absalom.

2 Samuel 14
1-24 Absalom's Return to Jerusalem

• Perceiving David's thoughts, Joab sends for a "wise woman" from Tekoa, and tells her to go to the king, pretending to be a woman in mourning.
  
• She goes to David for help, telling a story of how one of her sons killed the other, and now the rest of the family wants to kill the murdering son, but that would leave her husband with no heir and would "quench my one remaining ember."
• He promises her that no one will harm her remaining son.
• The woman then speaks up and tells David if it is true for her son, it should be true for Absalom.
• David asks her if Joab had anything to do with her coming, and she admits he did.
• David tells Joab he can bring Absalom back to his house in Jerusalem, but that he is not allowed to be in the presence of the king.

25-33 David Forgives Absalom

• Absalom is extremely handsome, without a blemish, and with hair so thick that when he cuts it once a year it weighs 200 shekels (between 3-6 pounds, depending on what the shekel weighed at the time).
• Absalom has 3 sons and a daughter, whom he names Tamar.
• He sends for Joab 2 times, but Joab doesn't come. So Absalom tells his servants to set fire to Joab's nearby field.
• Joab reacts to that act and comes to Absalom, who complains that it's the only way he could get Joab to come to him; and he might as well be back in Geshur, to please get him an audience with his father.
• He does, and Absalom goes to David, prostrates himself before David, and the king kisses him.
  

1 Chronicles 17-20; 2 Samuel 10

1 Chronicles 17
1-15 Same as 2 Samuel 7:1-17

• A line I didn't notice when reading 2 Samuel 7: God to David through Nathan: "I took you from...following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel."
• This would be a great title for an article either about David or maybe even God's guidance, using David as an example: "From following sheep to leading people" or something similar.

16-27 David's Prayer (Same as 2 Samuel 7:18-29)

• Addition in this version: "You regard me as someone of high rank, O LORD God." (Another good title, along the lines of how God loves us, no matter what we think of ourselves.)

1 Chronicles 18
1-17 David's Kingdom Established and Extended; His Administrators

• 1-13 same as 2 Samuel 8:1-14
  
• Added: Solomon later used the bronze David took from Hadadezer to make the bronze sea, pillars and vessel (in the temple, I'm supposing).
  
• It's King Tou, not Toi, and his son's name is Hadoram instead of Joram.
• In 2 Samuel, it says David killed 18,000 Edomites. In Chronicles it says it's Abishai that did, subjecting the Edomites to David.
• 14-17 same as 2 Samuel 8:15-18. Here, in the NRSV, it calls David's sons "chief officials," not "priests," as it did in 2 Samuel.

2 Samuel 10: 1-19 Israel Defeats Ammonites and Arameans
1 Chronicles 19:1-19 (The Same)

• Nahash king of the Ammonites dies, and his son Hanun succeeds him.
• David sends envoys to express his condolences, because of kindness Nahash showed him in the past. Another reference we have to Nahash is in 1 Samuel 11, when in a war between Ammon and Saul, Nahash gouged out the eyes of Saul's men. There is speculation that when David was fleeing from Saul, Nahash gave him refuge, since in Saul they had a common enemy.
• Ammonite officials are suspicious of David's messengers, and to humiliate them, they shave them, cut their garments in half, and send them away. When David hears of it, he tells the men to stay at Jericho until their beards have grown back.
• Knowing David's displeasure, Hanun and the Ammonites decide to attack David before he can attack them, spending 1000 talents of silver to hire 32,000 chariots from Mesopotamia - Arameans - and the king of Maacah and his army.
• David sends out Joab and his army to meet them.
• When Joab sees they are surrounded, he assigns his brother Abishai over select men from the army to face off with the Ammonites while he faces the Arameans.
• Joab to Abishai, in part: "Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what seems good to him." As far as I can recall, this is the only time I've heard any Israelite commander declaring his dependence upon God.
  
• When Joab advances, the Ammonites flee; when the Arameans see the Ammonites flee, they run, too.
• Then the Arameans regroup -- this time with reinforcements and the help of Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer's army (See 2 Samuel 8).
• David's army kills 700 chariot teams and 40,000 horsemen and mortally wounds Shobach.
• When the kings around who had been servants of Hadadezer see what has happened, they make peace with Israel and become subject to them.
• "So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites any more."

1 Chronicles 20
1-3 Siege and Capture of Rabbah

• "In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle," Joab goes out and besieges Rabbah of the Ammonites. This is such a curious phrase, as if they're planting a crop or something. It indicates what a culture of war there was then -- perhaps not so different today. Is it just in the nature of nations to fight each other? It seems so in the Middle East, for sure. Maybe that's how it always was and always will be.
  
• David remained at Jerusalem. This is where 2 Samuel 11 comes in -- David's sin with Bathsheba. 1 Chronicles doesn't go into that; its purpose seems to be to officially record victories and defeats of war, not the personal lives of leaders.
  
• David captures the crown of Milcom (the Ammonites' king?) and wears it, brings other booty of Rabbah to Jerusalem and puts its city's residents to work in construction - saws, iron picks, iron axes, or brickwork. This doesn't make much sense in 1 Chronicles, because didn't David stay in Jerusalem? But 2 Samuel 12:26-31 explains that Joab requests David to come and "finish off the city," as it were, and take the booty, so that the taking of the city will be David's doing and not attributed to Joab. For all his violent ways, Joab was loyal to David.
  

4-8 Exploits against the Philistines
In separate battles with Philistines who are "descendants of the giants":

• Sibbecai the Hushathite kills Sippai
• Elhanan son of Jair kills Lahmi, brother of Goliath
• Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, kills a man of Gath who has 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes one each foot
  

2 Samuel 7-9

2 Samuel 7
1-17 David and God's House

• David observes to the prophet Nathan that while he lives in a house of cedar, God's house is still a tent.
• God comes to Nathan and tells him to pass this word on to David:
• I have not lived in a permanent house since I brought the people out of Egypt.
• I have never asked for a house of cedar.
• I took you from being a shepherd to being a prince, defeated your enemies, and will make for you a great name.
• I will appoint a place for my people where enemies will not disturb them.
• I will make you a house.
• I will establish a kingdom for you through your son, and he will build a house for my name.
• He will be my child, and I his father, and I will discipline him, but I will never take the kingdom away from him, as I did from Saul.

18-29 David's Prayer

• David speaks directly to God in prayer and in questions:
• What more can David say to you?
• Who is like your people, like Israel?
• Is there another God who would do such great things for his people?
• As to the house, do as you have promised.
• You have revealed to your servant that you will build a house, therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. Notice that throughout the prayer David speaks of himself in the third person. It brings back the memory of a South African 18-year-old Christian woman who spoke to me in such a way. Even though I was only 27 at the time, I was married, with a child, and a preacher's wife, and that was her way of showing respect.
  

2 Samuel 8
1-14 David's Wars

• The Philistines at Metheg-ammah
• The Moabites, marking those who should be put to death with two lengths of cord, and those who were to be spared with one length; survivors became servants
• With 1700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers, King Hadadezer of Zobah at the river of Euphrates, killing 22,000 Arameans who came to King Hadadezer's aid and bringing back the gold shields carried by the King's servants.
• King Toi Hamath sends his son Joram to David with tribute for defeating Hadadezer - silver, gold, and bronze -- which David dedicated to God, along with all the other silver and gold from nations he subdued.
• Edomites - 18,000 in the Valley of Salt.
• "And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went."

15-18 David's Officers

• David administered justice and equity to all his people.
• His officers:
• Commander of the army: Joab son of Zeruiah
• Recorder: Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud
• Priest: Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar
• Secretary: Seraiah
• Over the Cherethites and Pelethites: Benaiah son of Jehoiada. According to Nave's Topical Bible, these were Philistine tribes who formed David's bodyguard. (See 1 Chronicles 12:3 for more about Pelet.)
• Priests: David's sons. Other translations call them "chief ministers."

2 Samuel 9
1-13 David's Kindness to Mephibosheth

• David asks if there is anyone in Jonathan's house to whom he can show kindness for Jonathan's sake.
• A servant of Saul, Ziba, is called, who knows of Mephibosheth, who is crippled (2 Samuel 4:4)
• David calls for Mephibosheth to come, and tells him he will restore his grandfather's land to him. Mephibosheth bows before him: "What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?"
• The king instructs Ziba that he and his 15 sons and 20 servants will till the land David has restored to Mephibosheth, to provide him with produce, and that Mephibosheth would eat at the king's table.
• Mephibosheth has a son named Mica.

2 Samuel 4-6

2 Samuel 4
1-12 Ishbaal Assassinated

• Ishbaal hears of Abner's death, and loses courage.
• He has two captains -- Benjamites -- Baanah and Rechab.
• Side story: Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth is crippled in his feet because his nurse dropped him in her haste to flee when she heard of Jonathan's death. (Is this put here to explain why Mephibosheth is not in Ishbaal's household and is therefore spared from being killed? We'll hear more of Mephibosheth later.)
  
• Baanah and Rechab murder Ishbaal in his own bedroom, behead him and bring the head to David, thinking David will be pleased.
  
• He is not. Citing the death of the one who claimed to have killed Saul, he also punishes Baanah and Rechab, ordering their execution, including cutting off their hands and feet and hanging their bodies beside the pool at Hebron.
• They bury the head of Ishbaal in Abner's tomb. (There's certainly a significance in this; I'm not sure how to express it, though.)
  

2 Samuel 5 (1 Chronicles 11)
1-5 David Anointed King of Israel. Same as 1 Chronicles 11 plus this:

• David was 30 years old when he began to reign.
• He reigned 40 years - 7-1/2 years at Hebron, and 33 years over Israel and Judah.

6-15 Jerusalem Becomes Capital of the United Kingdom

• David and his army attack the Jebusites in Jerusalem, and take it.
• This seems particularly cold-blooded: David orders soldiers to go up the water shaft and attack the lame and the blind, "those whom David hates."
• Jerusalem becomes the City of David (why do I think that refers to Bethlehem?).
• He becomes greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, is with him. (In 1 Chronicles, it calls his army the "LORD's army.")
• King Hiram of Tyre sends cedars, carpenters and masons to build David a house, after which David "perceives" God has established him king over Israel. Interesting that this would be what helps him come to that realization and not the defeat of Jerusalem.
• In Jerusalem, David takes more concubines, and fathers 11 more sons, among them Solomon.

17-25 Philistine Attack Repulsed

• Philistines hunt for David, and he goes to the stronghold (the city of David mentioned before?), inquiring of God whether or not he should go up against them.
  
• God tells him to go up, and he defeats the Philistines at Baalperazim, where the Philistines leave their idols as they flee. David and his men carry away the idols.
• The Philistines come up in the valley of Rephaim. This time God tells David to strike them from the rear. He does so, and strikes them down "from Geba to Gezer."

2 Samuel 6
1-23 David Brings Ark to Jerusalem

• David gathers 30,000 men and travels to Baale-judah to bring back the ark to Jerusalem.
• They put the ark on a new cart, out of the house of Abinadab (see 1 Samuel 6).
• Abinadab's sons, Ahio and Uzzah, drive the cart, with David and "all the house of Israel" celebrating with dancing and music.
• When the cart comes to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen shake, and Uzzah reaches out to steady the cart.
  
• This makes God angry, who strikes Uzzah dead on the spot for touching the ark.
  
• And this angers and frightens David, who names the place "Perez-uzzah," or "bursting out against Uzzah."
• Now afraid to have the ark in his care, David leaves it in the care of Obed-edom the Gittite, where it remains 3 months; and God blesses the household of Obed-edom. Apparently David doesn't mind Obed-edom taking the risk.
  
• When David hears God is blessing Obed-edom's house, he brings the ark to Jerusalem, sacrificing along the way. And "David danced before the LORD with all his might."
• Michal sees his dancing from a window, and despises him "with all her heart." I wonder if this is a residual effect of his having taken her from her previous husband.
  
• They bring the ark into a tent that David has pitched for it. He offers sacrifices and distributes cakes, meats, and raisins to all the people.
• When David returns home, Michal confronts him with her opinion that his actions have been vulgar.
• David defends his behavior, saying he is not ashamed to abase himself before God.
• "And Michael the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death." Was she barren only with David? Was this a punishment by God or by David?
  

2 Samuel 1-3

2 Samuel 1
1-27 David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan

• Two days after David has returned to Ziklag after defeating the Amalekites, a young man, dirty with torn clothes, comes to him and reports that Saul and Jonathan have been killed in the battle with the Philistines.
• When David asks him how he knows, he says he killed the wounded Saul at his own request, and has brought his crown and armlet as evident.
• David and his men tear their clothes and fast until evening.
• David orders one of his men to kill the young messenger, who has identified himself as a resident alien Amalekite, saying "Were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"
• David composes a mourning song, "The Song of the Bow": "...How the mighty have fallen!...Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and death they were not divided...How the mighty have fallen!...I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan...your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women...How the mighty have fallen!" David is consistent in his devotion to both Saul and Jonathan, as he is toward God. The fact that this means he will assume the throne seems to mean nothing to him.
  

2 Samuel 2
1-7 David Anointed King of Judah

• David inquires of God, and God tells him to go back to Judah, to Hebron, which he does, with all his men and both wives.
• When he is told the people of Jabesh-Gilead buried Saul, David sends for them and blesses them and promises to reward them.

8-11 Ishbaal King of Israel

• Abner, son of Ner, commander of Saul's armies, anoints Ishbaal, son of Saul, as king over Israel, where he reigns 2 years.
• David is king of Judah in Hebron for 7 years.

12-32 Battle of Gibeon

• Abner and servants of Ishbaal meet Joab and servants of David at pool at Gibeon, where, at Abner's suggestion, they engage in a "contest," 12 on each side.
• Each contestant grabs his opponent by the head, and each "thrusts his sword in his opponent's side," and they all die, so that the place is then called "Field of Sword-edges." This has to be the most inane contest of all time!
• Then (it appears) it evolves into a battle of all the servants, and David's servants prevail.
• Asahel, Joab's brother, "as swift of foot as a wild gazelle," chases Abner. Abner warns him that if he doesn't stop chasing him, he'll kill him, which he does.
• Joab and Abishai, Asahel's brothers, chase Abner, but other Benjamites surround him for protection.
• Abner persuades Joab to stop the killing, and Joab calls off his men.
• When all return home, David has lost 19 men; Abner has lost 360 men. What was Abner thinking? Is this a result of men who are so used to battle and bloodshed it becomes sport? Or maybe it's the result of ambition, resentment, hatred and competition out of control.
  

2 Samuel 3
1-21 Abner Defects to David

• This battle develops into a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. Saul's resentment toward David now develops into a civil war.
• 6 sons born to David in Hebron -- each with a different mother. At least three - Ahinoam, Abigail, and Eglah -- are wives.
• Abner, who is becoming powerful in Saul's house, is accused by Ishbaal of sleeping with one of Saul's concubines.
• Angry at the accusation, Abner tells Ishbaal since he doesn't respect him, he'll help God accomplish his purposes of handing over Saul's kingdom to David.
• Abner sends messengers to David with his offer, and David accepts, on the condition that he bring Saul's daughter Michal, his former wife, with him. David doesn't have enough wives?
  
• Ishbaal takes her from her husband, Paltiel, but he follows her, weeping, and Abner sends him back home. This is such a pathetic scene. Notice that it doesn't mention how Michal feels about it?
  
• Abner promises elders of Israel and Benjamites he will give them David as their king.
• With 20 men, he goes to a feast David prepares, and promises David he will rally Israel behind him. David sends him away in peace. Is Abner really true to David, or is he just an opportunist?
  

22-39 Joab Kills Abner

• At this time Joab has been away on a raid. When he finds out about the deal David has made with Abner, he's incensed, and warns David that Abner is spying.
• Secretly, Joab sends for Abner to return to Hebron.
• When Abner does so, Joab takes him aside and stabs him to death to avenge his brother Asahel.
• David curses Joab's family with disease and famine.
• David orders the people to mourn for Abner, and refuses to eat, which the people take as a sign he had nothing to do with Abner's death.
• Interesting note: "All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; just as everything the king did pleased all the people."

1 Samuel 28-31

1 Samuel 28
1-2 King Achish of Gath and David

• The Philistines gather to fight against Israel
• Achish compels David to bring his men to help them fight.

3-25 Saul Consults a Medium

• When Saul sees the Philistines gathered against him, he becomes frightened and "inquires of the LORD," but God does not answer. So he asks his servants to find him a medium. (He has previously expelled all mediums and wizards from Israel.)
• They find a medium at Endor. Disguising himself and taking 2 men with him, he goes at night to Endor to the medium.
• The medium reminds him that conjuring is illegal, but he assures her she'll not be punished.
• Saul asks her to bring up Samuel. When she does, she is surprised, and knows that it is Saul who has requested it.
• When Saul realizes it is Samuel, he bows before him.
• Samuel is angry at being disturbed, and tells Saul exactly what he has told him before: God has torn the kingdom from him and given it to David.
• Besides that, Israel will lose the battle against the Philistines, and both Saul and his sons will "shall be with me."
• Saul collapses, not only from fear, but hunger, and the woman insists on feeding him "a fatted calf." Saul and his servants eat and return home.

1 Samuel 29
1-11 Philistines Reject David

• In the meantime, the Philistines are gathering at Aphek to fight Israel; Israel is encamped at Jezreel.
• David and his men are bringing up the rear.
• When the army commanders see David and his men, they protest their presence. Because of his reputation in the Israelite army, they figure he will "reconcile himself to his lord with the heads of the men here."
• Achish reluctantly sends David back to Gath.
• The Philistines go up to Jezreel.

1 Samuel 30
1-30 David Avenges Destruction at Ziklag

• While armies have been absent from Ziklag, Amalekites have raided the city, burning it down and carrying away all the people, including David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail.
• In their grief, the people with David threaten to stone him.
• David calls for Abiathar the priest and his ephod, and asks God if he should pursue the Amalekites.
• God tells him to go, and he takes his 600 men. However, 200 of them are too weary to make the whole journey and stay behind at the Wadi Besor.
• The rest continue, and on the way find an Egyptian who has been left behind. He directs them to the Amalekite camp.
• David and his men attack the camp and rescue the captives, including his wives; 400 Amalekites escape on camels.
• They also capture other spoil, which his 400 are reluctant to share with the 200 that stayed behind.
• But David insists they share, even making it an official ordinance: "The share of the one who goes down into the battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage."
• He sends part of the spoil to the elders in Judah (all the places where David had roamed), saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD."
  
• These last two incidents give us glimpses into the character of David and demonstrate his wisdom as a statesman and a politician. In giving part of the spoil to soldiers left behind at the Wadi, he demonstrates his compassion and generosity, and in sharing the spoil with the elders in Judah, he demonstrates not only his gratitude toward those who have helped him but political acumen (and irony): giving spoil he's taken from one of Israel's enemies (Amalek) that he has taken in the name of another (the Philistines).

1 Samuel 31
1-13 Death of Saul and His Sons

• This Philistine army (David had been a part of) overtakes the Israelite army and kill Saul's sons - Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua. Who knows what would have happened here if David had been part of the Philistine army that kills his beloved friend? This has to be God at work, carrying out his purposes: 1) Protecting David from experiencing this unthinkable sight, 2) protecting him from trying to save Jonathan and maybe losing his own life, 3) fulfilling the prophecy Samuel had made to Saul, and 4) allowing David to go back to Ziklag and not only rescue his wives but provide spoil for his friends in Judah, helping his reputation among them.
  
• The Philistine archers wound Saul, and he asks his armor-bearer to finish the job, because he doesn't want the Philistines to find him and "make sport" of him, but the armor-bearer refuses, so Saul falls on his own sword. When the armor-bearer sees this, he falls on his own sword.
• When Israelites in local cities see Saul and his sons defeated, they flee the cities, and the Philistines occupy them.
• While stripping the dead soldiers, the Philistines find the body of Saul, cut off his head, put his armor in one of their temples, and fasten his body to the "wall of Beth-shan."
• The people of Jabesh-gilead hear of this and by night rescue his body and bury Saul's body and those of his sons and bury them "under a tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted 7 days." It seems to me that the occupants of Jabesh-gilead are often found doing the right thing. Gathering together the snippets about them from these books of history would make an interesting study.
  

1 Samuel 25-27; 1 Chronicles 9

1 Samuel 25
1 Death of Samuel

• All Israel mourns for Samuel; he is buried in Ramah.
• David goes to the wilderness of Paran.

2-44 David and Abigail

• Introducing Nabal of Maon, with property in Carmel, a Calebite who is "surly and mean" and is shearing his sheep in Carmel.
  
• His wife is Abigail, "clever and beautiful."
• David sends 10 young men from his camp in the wilderness to ask Nabal for food on a feast day. Nabal's shearers have worked near David's camp, and they have not harmed them.
• Nabal refuses, accusing them of being deserters. When they report back to David, he tells the men to arm themselves, and 400 men go with him to confront Nabal, while 200 stay with the baggage.
• One of Nabal's servants tells Abigail of the situation.
• Abigail gathers a feast of food, loads them on donkeys, and follows her young men to carry the food to David.
• Though David is determined to destroy Nabal and his servants, Abigail disarms him by humbling herself before him, apologizes for Nabal, presents her gifts, and asks his forgiveness.
• David thanks her for keeping him from his vengeance, accepts her food, and sends her back home.
• When Abigail gets home, Nabal is hosting a drunken feast, so she waits until morning to tell him of what has transpired with David. When she does, he has some kind of stroke - "he became like a stone," and ten days later, God "strikes him," and he dies.
• David acknowledges God's own vengeance, which has saved him from doing evil.
• He sends servants to Abigail, proposing marriage. She takes 5 maids with her and becomes David's wife.
• David also marries Ahinoam of Jezreel; Saul has given Michael to Palti, son of Laish.

1 Samuel 26
1-25 David Spares Saul's Life a Second Time

• Again the Ziphites inform Saul of David's whereabouts, and again Saul takes 3000 men to find him. It just occurred to me that Saul is using an army for personal purposes. Either that, or he views David's ascendancy to the throne as treason, which means -- since Saul recognizes David is God's anointed (15:26; 24:20)-- God himself is a traitor.
• David, still in the wilderness, finds out where Saul's army is encamped and takes Abishai, Joab's brother, with him to the camp by night, where the whole army is sleeping (heavily, with God's help).
• Abishai offers to kill Saul -- with one blow -- but David stops him, because
• Saul is the LORD's anointed
• Either God himself will take care of Saul, or he will die naturally, or he will die in battle. David has recently experienced God's taking vengeance on an enemy of David's, in the encounter with Nabal. David is already greatly respectful of the king's position, adding to it is this belief that "vengeance belongs to the LORD."
• David gets close enough to Saul -- surrounded by his army -- to take his spear and water jar.
• Then he goes to the top of a hill some distance away and shouts not to Saul, but to Abner, the army commander, telling him he deserves to die for not protecting his king better.
• Saul recognizes David's voice, calling him "Son." What a peculiar man! Does his affection for David really waver this much, or does he just pretend?
• David tells Saul he is just chasing a flea, and that he has forced David to have company with idolaters rather than with his own people.
• Saul apologizes, admits to being a fool; David gives his spear to one of Saul's men, and again they go their separate ways.

1 Samuel 27
1-12 David Serves King Achish of Gath

• Despite Saul's promises, David says to himself, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines." We certainly don't pursue our own spiritual brothers or sisters to kill them, but how many times do we cause them to "defect to the enemy" because we lose their trust?
  
• Sure enough, when Saul learns that David and his 600 men (and 2 wives) are in Gath, he no longer pursues him.
• King Achish of Gath allows David and his company to live in Ziklag; they stay there for 16 months.
• David begins leading raids on Achish's behalf, capturing booty but being careful to destroy all the people, including women, so they won't reveal his conquests on behalf of Israel.

1 Chronicles 9
1-2 Genealogies

• All Israel enrolled by genealogy, written in the "Book of the Kings of Israel." Does this refer to what we know as 1 and 2 Kings?
• After the Babylonian captivity of Judah, the first ones to return to the towns were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants

3-9 Inhabitants of Jerusalem after the Exile

• Listing of Ancestral House Heads
• Descendants of Judah, Benjaim, Ephraim, and Manasseh
  

10-13 Priestly families

14-34 Levitical families - Gatekeepers, Temple Servants, Singers

35-44 Family of King Saul

• Ancestors and Descendants
• Identical, as far as I can tell, to the list in previous chapter: 8:29-38
  

1 Samuel 23-24, 1 Chronicles 8

1 Samuel 23
1-15 David Saves the City of Keilah

• David is told Philistines are fighting Keilah and robbing the threshing floor.
• God tells David to go fight, and even though his men are reluctant, after a second inquiry of God, they go, defeat the Philistines there, bringing away their livestock and rescuing Keilah.
• Saul hears that David is in Keilah, an enclosed town, and determines to capture him there.
• David, with Abiathar the priest and the ephod he brought when he escaped from Nob, asks God if Saul will come, and if his men will give him up to Saul.
• God tells him they will, so David scatters with his 600 men, David to the Wilderness of Ziph.
  
• Saul decides not to go to Keilah, but keeps looking for David.

16-29 David Eludes Saul in the Wilderness

• Jonathan comes to Horesh to David to encourage him and to renew their covenant of faithfulness to each other. Knowing what will happen to Jonathan makes this a sad scene, for Jonathan also states his father knows that David will be king and that Jonathan "will be second" to him.
• Ziphites come to Saul to reveal David's hiding place, pledging their support of Saul, who blesses them and asks them to discover all the places he might hide, for "I am told he is very cunning."
• At one time in the pursuit, in the wilderness of Maon, David is on one side of a mountain, and Saul is on another, when Saul is told the Philistines are raiding Israel, so Saul temporarily has to give up the chase.
• Because of this, the rock where David is hiding is later called the Rock of Escape. From there David goes to En-gedi.

1 Samuel 24
1-22 David Spares Saul's Life

• Saul, finished with pursuing the Philistines, takes 3000 men to resume looking for David in the wilderness of En-gedi.
• For some relief, he enters a cave, where David and his men are hiding, deeper into the cave.
• David's men tell him this is his chance to overcome the king, but all David does is sneak up and cut off a corner of Saul's cloak, later feeling guilty about even doing that much in "raising his hand" against his king. He forbids his men from attacking Saul. David is forever consistent in his respect for the office of the king -- which also transfers into his continuous loyalty to God.
  
• After Saul leaves the cave, David follows him, calls to him and bows to the ground before him.
• David tells him he had a chance to kill him but didn't, proving he is not treacherous. "May the LORD judge between me and you." At this point, I'm not sure what this means. Is this the same thing as saying, "As God is my witness"?
  
• Saul, hearing David's voice, weeps, extols David's righteousness, admits he knows that David will be king, and asks him not to wipe Saul's name from his father's house. Saul is not so consistent -- one moment he's a picture of remorse, the next he's obsessive about wiping out David. Today, I think we might call him bi-polar. In his case, a lot of it -- I think -- stems from his lack of self-respect and guilt caused by his prideful disobedience.
  
• David swears to this, Saul goes back home, and David returns to his stronghold. Even with this incident, David and his men do not go back with Saul. Evidently, trust has not been restored on David's part.

1 Chronicles 8
1-28 Descendants of Benjamin in Jerusalem

• Benjamin fathered 5 sons: Bela, Ashbel, Aharah, Nohah, and Rapha
• Stories along the way:
• Shaharaim (I can't tell which of Benjamin's sons is his ancestor) had sons by his wife Hodesh in Moab after he sent away his wives Hushim and Baara. Hm-m-m! Sounds like an interesting story. I'm not sure we're given any details anywhere else.
  
• The sons of Elpaal built Ono and Lod
• Beriah and Shema were heads of the tribes in Aijalon, who "put to flight the inhabitants of Gath"

29-40 Other Descendants of Benjamin (More strange names)

• In Gibeon: included Ner, father of Kish, father of Saul - Jonathan - Merib-baal - Micah - Ahaz - Jehoaddah - Zimri - Moza - - - - Eshek - Ulam
• Story along the way: The sons of Ulam were mighty warriors, archers, having many children and grandchildren, 150.

1 Samuel 20-22

1 Samuel 20
1-42 Friendship of David and Jonathan

• David flees from Naioth, where he has been hiding with Samuel.
• David tells Jonathan Saul is trying to kill him, but at first Jonathan doesn't believe it, because Saul tells him everything.
• After David convinces him it is so, they devise a plan of communication about Saul's plans regarding David.
• If Saul becomes angry at David's absence at a new moon meal, Jonathan will warn David.
• Jonathan promises David he will protect him, for "he loved him as he loved his own life."
• On the second day, Saul inquires after David, and Jonathan tells him David's gone home for a family sacrifice. (A fib.)
  
• Sure enough, on the second day of the feast, Saul becomes angry at Jonathan, accusing him of protecting David: "As long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established." Saul knows David will be the next king, but still he tries to force the situation.
  
• In a rage, Saul throws his spear at his own son.
  
• Jonathan is "grieved for David, and because his father had disgraced him." Jonathan cares nothing for himself nor his own right to royalty.
• As they had planned, Jonathan goes to the field, shoots an arrow beyond where David is hiding to indicate that he should flee and not come back to the king's house.
• Jonathan sends the boy home who has fetched the arrow, and Jonathan and David meet, David prostrating himself 3 times before Jonathan. Even though they are good friends, David here seems to show respect to Jonathan as the prince of Israel. How grateful he must have been for Jonathan who would be willing to sacrifice his own standing for the will of God, and for David.
  
• They part -- perhaps for the last time -- kiss one another and weep; "David wept the more."

1 Samuel 21
1-9 David and the Holy Bread

• David goes to Nob to the priest Ahimelech, who at first is frightened, but David tells him he is on a mission for the king and must meet with some young men. (Another fib.)
• David asks for bread, but all the priest has is "holy bread" for the men, if they have kept themselves from women.
• The bread is leftover "bread of the Presence," which has been replaced by fresh bread. Ahimelech gives him the bread. This incident is cited by Jesus when he is accused of breaking the Sabbath (Luke 6:3).
  
• Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul's shepherds, is there that day, "detained before the Lord" (whatever that means).
• David asks for a sword, and Ahimelech gives him Goliath's.

10-15 David Flees to Gath

• David flees to King Achish of Gath, where the servants recognize him.
• He feigns madness, and the King commands his servants to send him away. Funny thing the king says, "Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow....?"

1 Samuel 22
1-5 David and His Followers at Adullam

• David escapes to the cave of Adullam, where he is joined by his brothers and members of his father's house.
• Also those who are in distress, in debt, or discontented -- 400 in all.
• He takes his parents to the king of Moab for protection.
• The prophet Gad tells David to go to the land of Judah.

6-23 Saul Slaughters the Priests at Nob

• Saul, under a tamarisk tree at Gibeah, accuses his servants of conspiring with David and Jonathan because somehow David has promised them land and powerful positions.
• Doeg the Edomite tells Saul he has seen David at Nob, where Ahimelech gave him food and Goliath's sword.
• Saul calls for the priests of Nob to appear before him, and they do, not knowing the circumstances.
• He calls for their execution, but none of his servants are willing to kill them, except Doeg, who attacks and kills 85 priests and puts the city of Nob to the sword - men, women, children, and livestock.
• Abiathar, a son of Elimelech, escapes and tells David of the slaughter.
  
• David takes responsibility for the slaying, because he had seen Doeg at Nob and knew he would tell Saul. He offers Abiathar his protection.
  

1 Samuel 17-19

1 Samuel 17 David and Goliah
1-11 The Setting

• Philistines gather for battle at Socoh on one mountain; Israel on another, with a valley between them.
• The Philistines send out Goliath of Gath, 9 feet tall and heavily armed, challenging one Israelite to meet him in battle.
• Saul and all Israel are afraid of him.

12-30 Enters David

• David's older brothers -- Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah - are among Saul's soldiers, while David is taking care of the sheep at home.
• Jesse instructs David to take bread to his brothers and cheese to the commander, and to bring back a report.
• When David gets there, Israel is preparing for battle, and as he talks with his brothers, he hears Goliath's challenge.
• At his request, soldiers tell David of the rewards for killing Goliath.
  
• David's reply: "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
• Eliab scolds David for his presumption and accuses him of coming only to see the battle.
• When Saul hears of David's inquiries, he sends for him, and David offers to fight the giant, citing his previous experiences of killing lions and bears.

31-54 The Battle

• Saul offers him armor, but David is not used to them, so he takes them off and gathers his weapons: a staff, 5 smooth stones from the stream, and a sling.
• When Goliath sees him approaching, he scoffs and invites him to the challenge: "Come...and I will give your flesh to the birds..."
  
• David's reply: "You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD...the LORD will deliver you into my hand...that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's and he will give you into our hand." A lesson for our times -- wars between nations are not God's wars -- that is not his battleground.
  
• David runs toward Goliath, takes a stone from his bag, slings it, and strikes Goliath so that the stone sinks into his forehead, stunning him.
• David takes Goliath's own sword, kills him, and cuts off his head.
• The Philistine troops flee (so much for Goliath's promise of surrender), the Israelites chase them back to Gath, and David brings the head of Goliath to Jerusalem, putting Goliath's armor in his own tent.
• Saul asks Abner of David's father's name, which he does not know. Abner brings him to Saul, and David identifies his parentage. It seems that Saul, in his mental state, has either forgotten who David is, or who his father is. Maybe David has not constantly been in the king's presence since their first meeting.

1 Samuel 18
1-9 Jonathan's Covenant with David

• After his victory over Goliath, Saul insists David be a part of his household
• Jonathan comes to love David "as his own soul," makes a covenant with him and gives him his robe, armor, sword, bow and belt.
• Saul appoints David over the army, and all the people approve.
• When they return from the Philistine battle, women come out to meet King Saul, singing "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands," which causes Saul to be jealous and suspect of David.

10-16 Saul's 1st Attempt to Kill David

• Raving, Saul throws a spear - twice - at David while he's playing his lyre, but David twice eludes him.
• Even though it should be the reverse, Saul is afraid of David, because he knows God has left him and is with David.
• He makes him a commander of the army, at which David excels, and now Saul "is in awe" of David.

17-30 David and Michal, Saul's Daughter

• Saul offers his daughter Merab to David as wife, and commissions him to fight, thinking that might be a way to get rid of David -- let the Philistines take care of him.
• David questions his right to marry a daughter of the king.
• I don't understand this: At the time when Saul's daughter should have been given to David she is given instead to Adriel the Meholathite. I didn't see an agreement in the previous verses that the marriage was going to take place.
• Another daughter, Michal, loves David, so Saul offers her to David in exchange for the foreskins of 100 Philistines, in hopes the Philistines will slay David in the process.
• Of course, David fulfills his part of the agreement, and Saul is even more afraid of David.
• Whenever there is a battle, David is the most successful of all the commanders, and his fame grows.
  

1 Samuel 19
1-7 Jonathan Intercedes for David

• He speaks to his father about wanting to kill David, reminding him of the battle he won with Goliath and other great things he has done on the king's behalf.
• Saul promises not to try to kill David.

8-17 Michal Helps David Escape

• After a battle that David has won, he is playing music for Saul, and once again Saul tries to pin him against the wall with a spear.
• David goes home, and Saul sets a watch on him, planning to kill him in the morning.
• Michal learns of the scheme and warns David to escape, letting him down through a window, and putting an idol in the bed and telling the soldier David is sick.
• Saul demands his presence anyway, and the soldiers discover Michal's deception.
  
• Michal claims David threatened her.

18-24 David Joins Samuel in Ramah

• David tells Samuel of all that has happened, and they move to Naioth.
• Saul sends 3 sets of messengers after David, and each group falls into a prophetic frenzy.
• Finally, he goes himself, and does the same thing, stripping off his clothes and lying naked the rest of the day and night.
• "Therefore it is said, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'" It seems he has become a laughingstock among his own people. This happened before, too, I believe, when Saul was heading back from looking for the lost donkeys (1 Samuel 10:10-13).

1 Samuel 15-16; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13

1 Samuel 15
1-9 Saul Spares King Agag (His 2nd major error in judgment)

• God through Samuel tells Saul to attack Amalek and to destroy every living being.
• Saul takes 200,000 foot soldiers plus 10,000 from Judah.
• He warns the Kenites to withdraw from Amalek in order to save their lives, and they do.
  
• He destroys Amalek, but spares Agag, the best of the livestock and other valuables

10-34 Saul Rejected as King

• God to Samuel: I regret I made Saul king, because he is disobedient.
• Samuel, angry, cries out to God all night, then rises early the next morning to meet Saul.
• Saul seems to think (or pretends) he has obeyed, accuses the people of sparing the best of the livestock. Yes -- I utterly destroyed them -- sparing only Agag, and taking spoil in order to sacrifice it to God.
  
• Samuel's famous reply, "...to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." And "...rebellion is no less a sin than divination, and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry." What a sobering principle this is -- and one I think extends beyond the Old Testament, because it indicates a characteristic of God. When we stubbornly hang on to our sinful practices, God counts it the same as if we worshiped idols.
• Then "because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." Before, when Saul illegally offered the sacrifices, Samuel told him only that his kingdom would not continue, meaning, I think, that his sons would not be kings. This time it is more serious, for Samuel also rejects Saul, removing his (and therefore God's) presence.
  
• Saul confesses his sin, asks for forgiveness, and begs Samuel to return with him to Gilgal to worship.
• Samuel eventually agrees to do that, but tells Saul God will not change his mind about the rejection.
• Samuel asks for Agag to be brought to him, and he kills him in a gruesome way.
• Samuel returns to Ramah and never sees Saul again, grieving over him.

1 Samuel 16
1-13 David Anointed as King

• God tells Samuel to stop grieving for Saul, but to go to Jesse in Bethlehem, for God has chosen a king.
• In order to keep the purpose of his visit private, he tells the Bethlehemites he has come to offer sacrifices and invites Jesse and his sons to come. God has told him to give them this impression because Samuel was afraid Saul would find out about his visit. Is this a kind of God-approved deception? Another one of those incidents of lying that seems to be excused in Old Testament stories?
  
• Each son passes before Samuel. When Samuel likes how the oldest son looks, God tells Samuel not to "look on his appearance or on the height of his stature...for the LORD ...looks on the heart."
• All the older sons that are there are rejected; David is away, watching the sheep.
• Samuel calls for David and anoints him in the presence of his brothers, and "the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward."

14-23 David Plays for Saul

• At the same time, the spirit departs from Saul, and an evil spirit torments him.
• Servants suggest a musician might calm him down, and one of them suggests David.
• Jesse sends David with bread, wine, and a kid, and David begins serving Saul.
• "Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer."
• David's playing relieves Saul; when he plays the evil spirit leaves Saul.

1 Chronicles 4
1-23 Descendants of Judah (through Perez)

• Perez (2:4) - Hezron (2:5) - Carmi (AKA Caleb - 2:18) - Hur (2:19) - Shobal (2:50)
• Notes along the way:
• Ephrathah was the father of Bethlehem. See Micah 5:2 -- a Messianic prophecy. "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, {Too} little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."
• Jabez named so because his mother "bore him in pain." And here is the obscure yet famous "Prayer of Jabez": "O that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm." And "God granted what he asked." Simple as that. A formula prayer that will work magical powers and put God at your disposal. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic, and maybe unjustly so, because I never actually read the bestselling book.)

24-43 Descendants of Simeon (Their territory was in the midst of Judah - Joshua 19:1)

• Notes along the way. I'm not clear whose sons these were; it would take too much time to unravel it to where I understand where everyone comes from.
  
• Shimei had 16 sons and 6 daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, nor did their family multiply like the Judeans.
• The Simeonites controlled certain towns until David become king.
• Some moved to a rich pasture land: "The former inhabitants there belonged to Ham."
• Some destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites for their land.

2 Corinthians 13
1-10 Further Warning

• This will be Paul's 3rd visit to Corinth.
• He will not be lenient when he gets there in confronting those who are sinning -- a proof that he speaks for Christ, for Christ would not show any weakness in that regard, either.
• For though Christ was crucified in weakness, he lives by God's power.
• Examine yourselves -- we want you to pass that examination, whether we do or not.
• We pray for your perfection.
• I don't want to have to be severe when I see you again, so I may use the authority given me not for tearing down but for building up.

11-13 Final Greetings and Benediction

• Finally
• put things in order
• listen to my appeal
• agree with one another
• live in peace
• greet one another with a holy kiss
• May these be with you:
• the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
• the love of God
• the communion of the Holy Spirit
  

1 Samuel 13-14; 1 Chronicles 3; 2 Corinthians 12

1 Samuel 13
1-15 Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice

• Saul gathers army of 3,000 to attack Philistines - 2,000 to go with him to Michmash and Bethel, and 1,000 to go with Jonathan to Gibeah of Benjamin. To my recollection, this is the first time Jonathan is mentioned, and the text does not identify him until v. 16.
• Jonathan defeats the Philistines at Geba, and Saul announces it to the rest of the people, who are called to join him at Gilgal.
• The Philistine gather an army of 30,000 chariots; 6,000 horsemen; and troops "like the sand on the seashore" and encamp at Michmash.
• Many of the Israelites hide in fear in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and wells.
• Samuel is to come offer sacrifices in 7 days, at which time Saul will begin the attack.
  
• When Samuel does not come in time, Saul decides to offer the burnt offerings himself.
• As soon as he's finished, Samuel comes and demands an explanation.
• Saul: "I couldn't wait any longer, and I needed God's blessing."
• Samuel: For this, your kingdom will be taken away. The LORD "has sought" a man after his own heart because you disobeyed. This is really early in Saul's life as king -- practically his first test, and he fails it. Also, it seems like the decision was made about seeking a "man after God's heart" even before Samuel got there. Or, maybe it's like so many other times, when God decides to do something it's like it's already done.
  
• Samuel leaves Saul, but about 600 men follow Saul toward Gibeah of Benjamin.

16-22 Preparations for Battle

• Philistines sent out "raiders" into Israel.
• The Philistines have made sure there are no iron smiths in Israel to sharpen their weapons, and no one but Saul and Jonathan has a sword or spear.

1 Samuel 14
1-23 Jonathan Surprises and Routs the Philistines

• On his own, without the knowledge of Saul, Jonathan takes his armor-bearer to spy on a Philistine garrison camped at the pass of Michmash, trusting the LORD to defeat the garrison for them, even if there are only two of them.
  
• In a reflection of Jonathan's own faith, the armor-bearer states: "Do all that your mind inclines to. I am with you; as your mind is, so is mine."
• When the Philistines see them, they invite them over, a sign to Jonathan that God will give them into his hands.
  
• He and his armor-bearer kill 20 Philistines, sending the rest of the garrison into a panic. It also mentions an earthquake here -- I don't know if that is literal, or caused by the panic.
• Saul's lookouts can see from a distance what is happening. When they ascertain that Jonathan and his armor-bearer are missing, Saul calls for the priest (Ahijah - verse 3) to bring him the ark.
• He and his army rally and go to Jonathan's aid, and other Israelites come out of hiding, some of whom are "hiding" among the Philistines. The troops with Saul have grown from 600 (v. 2) to 10,000.

24-35 Saul's Rash Oath

• Saul commands his troops not to eat all day until the enemy is defeated. They become faint from hunger.
  
• Not knowing about his father's oath, Jonathan eats honey that is found, and gains strength from it.
• When other troops tell him of the oath, Jonathan replies, "My father has troubled the land...." Already Jonathan is showing he has lost respect for his father. First he goes out on his own to defeat the Philistines, and now he reacts to the news of his father's rash oath.
• After the troops defeat the Philistines, they are so hungry they slaughter the spoil and eat the meat with the blood, which is forbidden.
• Saul commands them to bring the cattle to where he is to slaughter them there. He builds an altar, "the first altar that he built to the LORD."

36-46 Jonathan in Danger of Death

• Saul wants to attack the Philistines by night, but delays the attack at the priest's advice.
• Saul inquires of God whether or not he will give him the victory, but God does not answer.
• Saul tries to find out whose sin is preventing God from giving him victory.
• When lots are taken, it comes to Jonathan, and Jonathan confesses to having eaten honey.
• Saul threatens to kill Jonathan, but the people speak up from him.
• So Saul stops pursuing the Philistines and they go back home.

47-52 Saul's Continuing Wars

• Summation of Saul's battles against Moab, Ammon, Edom, Zobah, the Philistines. "He rescued Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them."
  
• Saul's family: Sons Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; Daughters Merab and Michael; Wife Ahinoam; Army commander Abner, son of Ner, Saul's uncle. Something to remember for future readings: Abner is Saul's first cousin.
  

1 Chronicles 3
1-23 Descendants of David and Solomon

• David's sons born in Hebron, where he reigned for 7-1/2 years
  
• Ammon by Ahinoam the Jezreelite (Saul's wife was also named Ahinoam)
• Daniel by Abigail the Carmelite
• Absalom by Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur
• Adonijah of Haggith
• Shephatiah by Abitai
• Ithream by Eglah
• David's sons born in Jerusalem (besides the sons of concubines)
• Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon by Bath-shua (this must be an alternate spelling of Bathsheba) daughter of Ammiel
• Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Elliphelet -- doesn't mention the mother's name.
• Their sister was Tamar. Note: Apparently Michal, Saul's daughter, didn't give David any children; at least they're not mentioned here. Also -- didn't remember David having so many wives and concubines. Solomon's always the one I think of in that regard.
  
• Solomon's lineage: Rehoboam - Abijah - Asa - Jehoshaphat - Joram - Ahaziah - Joash - Jehoiakim - Jeconiah - Pediaiah - Zerubbabel - Hananiah - Jeshaiah - Rephaiah - Arnan - Obadiah - Shechaniah - Shemaiah - Neariah - Elioenai - 7 sons.
  

2 Corinthians 12
1-10 Paul's Visions and Revelations

• Paul relates his experience 14 years ago when he was caught up into "Paradise" (NRSV)
• To keep him humble, he was given a thorn in the flesh
• Even though he had prayed 3 times for it to be removed, the Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."
• Therefore Paul was thankful for his weaknesses, because when he was weak, it enabled him to experience the power of Christ.

11-21 Paul's Concern for the Corinthians

• Paul has to defend himself because the Corinthians do not.
• His only fault among them was that he didn't burden them -- but what parent takes from the children? It should be the other way around.
• Contrary to what you say, I never deceived you. I never took advantage of you nor did anyone I sent, such as Titus.
• My fears for you when I come:
• I will not find you as I wish; you do not find me as you wish
• There will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit and disorder
• I will have to mourn over those who have not repented of their immorality.