THE BOOK OF SECOND SAMUEL
Introduction
The Division of Second Samuel
The second book of Samuel contains the history of David after Saul's death, his reign over Judah and over all Israel, as well as the great events which transpired during his reign. The center of the book is the record of his fall, the chastisements which he had to pass through as a result of his sin and his subsequent restoration after the rebellion of his son Absalom. The last four Chapter s form an appendix in which various episodes in David's life are recorded; it tells us of the victories of the King. Much in this book, even more so than in the previous history, has a typical meaning, which we shall follow as far as the purpose of our annotations permits. We make the following division:
I. DAVID KING OF JUDAH AND THE EVENTS OF HIS REIGN
1. David's Lamentation for Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:1)
2. David Anointed King over Judah (2 Samuel 2:1)
3. Abner's Revolt and the War which Followed (2 Samuel 2:8)
4. Abner's Deeds and End (2 Samuel 3:1)
5. The Death of Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:1)
II. DAVID KING OVER ALL ISRAEL AND THE EVENTS OF HIS REIGN
1. David Anointed King Over All Israel (2 Samuel 5:1)
2. David's Conquest of Zion and Victory Over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:6)
3. The Ark Brought to Zion (2 Samuel 6:1)
4. The Lord's Promise to David and the Covenant (2 Samuel 7:1)
5. The Extension of His Kingdom (2 Samuel 8:1)
6. David and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1)
7. The War with Ammon and Syria (2 Samuel 10:1)
III. DAVID'S SIN, CHASTISEMENTS AND RESTORATION
1. David's Great Sin (2 Samuel 11:1)
2. The Message of God and David's Confession. The Beginning of the Chastisements (2 Samuel 12:1)
3. Further Chastisement: Amnon, Tamar and Absalom (2 Samuel 13:1)
4. David and Absalom (2 Samuel 14:1)
5. Absalom's Conspiracy and David's Flight (2 Samuel 15:1)
6. The Sorrows and Testings of the King (2 Samuel 16:1)
7. Absalom, Ahitophel and Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1)
8. The Civil War and Absalom's Death (2 Samuel 18:1)
9. The Return of the King (2 Samuel 19:1)
10. The Revolt of Sheba (2 Samuel 20:1)
IV. THE APPENDIX TO THE HISTORY OF DAVID
1. The Famine and the Wars with the Philistines (2 Samuel 21:1)
2. David's Song of Deliverance (2 Samuel 22:1)
3. The Last Words of David and the Record of the Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:1)
4. David's Failure: the Altar on the Threshing Floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:1)