2 Samuel 21 - Introduction

SECTION 10. A Final Summary (21:1-24:25).

This final summary of the Book of Samuel presents a fitting conclusion to the whole book and what it has been all about. Central to the summary, and at its core, is a vivid portrayal of the invisible power of the living God at work, presented in poetic form, which is assumed to have been active during all the incidents described in the book (2 Samuel 22:7). Together with this there is a description of His great faithfulness shown towards David in establishing the everlasting kingly rule of his house (2 Samuel 22:1 to 2 Samuel 23:6). Then, on either side of this glorious depiction of YHWH's heavenly power at work, standing like earthly sentinels appointed to fulfil God's purposes (the earthly equivalent of the Cherubim) are David's mighty men, the men who were empowered by YHWH to watch over the purposes of God in David. They were the human instruments by which God's purposes for David had been brought through to the end, the instruments who had always been there to aid him whenever the going got tough.

Acting as an outer layer to the sandwich are depictions of the failure of both the kings about whom the narratives have been speaking, depictions which bring out the reason for the failure and destiny of each, and which demonstrate what the consequences of such failures were. Saul is seen to have regularly failed because he never took sacred things seriously enough, imagining that he could shape them to suit his purpose or ignore them for his own convenience, and because he knew little of repentance, the consequence was the almost complete destruction of his house. David, in contrast, regularly failed after he had become king because of arrogance and apathy, but in he deepest heart he was concerned to please God, and he always deeply repented when he became aware of his sin. The end result was that he was always delivered from the final consequences of his sins, firstly because of the mercy and purposes of God, secondly as a result of temporary chastisement, and thirdly in consequence of the offering of a substitutionary and atoning offering. In the case cited here it resulted in the plague being stayed, and the consequence of their sin being removed from God's people

The section also presents us with a brief overall summary of different aspects of David's reign from its commencement, and it is no accident that the initial incident takes us back to the time of Saul. It thus begins with a description which summarises the sad legacy left by Saul, a legacy for which punishment had to come on Israel, in this case in the form of famine, together with a portrayal of the awful cost to Saul's family of rectifying that error, something which almost leads to the destruction of his house (2 Samuel 21:1; compare 1 Samuel 9:1 to 2 Samuel 1:27). It continues on with a description of how once David was in power David's mighty men had humiliated the pride of the Philistines (2 Samuel 21:15; compare 2 Samuel 5:17; 2 Samuel 8:1), and then describes in song YHWH's continuing faithfulness towards David and towards Israel, which includes a celebration of the fact of His great promises to David (2 Samuel 22:1; compare 2 Samuel 7:1), calling to mind in the last words of David YHWH's everlasting covenant with him (2 Samuel 23:1; compare 2 Samuel 7:8). This is then followed by a listing in detail of the particulars of David's mighty men, who were from then on continually the backbone of his kingdom (2 Samuel 23:8; compare 2 Samuel 2:3 and often), guaranteeing his successes and dealing with any contingencies that arose, and it ends on a sombre note with a reminder that David by his sinfulness could similarly bring judgment on an Israel who had also sinned, here in the form of pestilence, although in his case YHWH would demonstrate His mercy by chastening but stopping short of total judgment. That was the difference between David's rule and Saul's. And the result in this case was David's offering of thanksgiving for YHWH's mercy, made at YHWH's command, as a result of the cessation of the plague (2 Samuel 24:1; compare 2 Samuel 11:1 to 2 Samuel 20:26).

As will be observed all this follows the usual chiastic form:

Analysis of 21:1-24:25.

a YHWH judges Israel with famine because of the sin of Saul, a judgment which is only removed at the cost of the blood of the house of Saul (2 Samuel 21:1).

b David's mighty men humiliate the pride of the Philistines (2 Samuel 21:15).

c The song of David (2 Samuel 22:1).

c The last words of David (2 Samuel 23:1)

b The list of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8).

a YHWH judges Israel with pestilence because of the sin of David, a judgment which is only removed in his case by the cost of the blood of a substitute (2 Samuel 24:1).