About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
The Book of 2 Samuel
Originally, the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel were one book. 1
Samuel was mostly about Israel's first king, Saul. 2 Samuel is mostly about King
David and his family. The dates of the events that happened in 1 Samuel and 2
Samuel were about 1000 B.C.
Bible Timeline
Here is a good timeline to see the book of 2 Samuel in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm
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"David Sees Bath-Sheba
Bathing" by J. James Tissot From the Christian Theological Seminary web site |
Joab told the messenger that David would remind him of what happened to Abimelech at the city named Thebez. This is from Judges 9:
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Nathan was a prophet. God talked to
Nathan. God told Nathan to go to David. Nathan told David a story. The
story was about 2 men. One man was rich, and one man was poor.
[1] And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him,
and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other
poor.
"Nathan Reproaches David" by J. James Tissot From the Christian Theological Seminary web site |
The rich man had many sheep. The poor man had only
one little lamb. The man bought the lamb when it was a baby. He fed it
and took care of it. He raised it with his own children. The lamb ate
the man's food and drank from the man's cup. The lamb slept in the man's lap.
The man loved the lamb like it was his own daughter.
[2] The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
[3] But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had
bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his
children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his
bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
One day, a traveling person came to the rich man's
home. The rich man didn't want to kill any of his sheep to give to the
traveler. So the rich man got the poor man's lamb. He killed the lamb and gave
it to the traveler to eat.
[4] And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his
own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come
unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was
come to him.
David was very mad at the rich man. He made a promise
in the name of the living God. He told Nathan that the rich man will die. He
said the rich man should pay the poor man for the sheep four times. The rich
man did not have any pity on the poor man.
[5] And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to
Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely
die:
[6] And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and
because he had no pity.
Nathan told David that he (David) was the rich man.
The story was to show David that he sinned (David was like the rich man, and
Uriah was like the poor man). Nathan told David what God
said. God said that He made David king of Israel. He saved David from Saul.
[7] And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of
Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand
of Saul;
God said He gave Saul's family to David . He gave David all of the land of Israel
and the land of Judah's tribe. If David did not have enough, God would
have given him more.
[8] And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom,
and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too
little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
God asked David why he did not obey Him? David broke
God's commandments. God knows what David did with Uriah. He knows that
David took Uriah's wife. He knows that David sent Uriah to the front of the
war so the Ammonites would kill him.
[9] Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in
his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken
his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of
Ammon.
God says that now David's family will always have
violence. It is because David did not obey God. He stole Uriah's wife.
[10] Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou
hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
God told David about the bad things that will happen to him
now. God said that someone in David's family will fight against him. God
will give David's wives to another man. The man will have sexual relations
with David's wives, and everyone in Israel will know about it.
[11] Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of
thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them
unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
[12] For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel,
and before the sun.
David confessed to Nathan that he sinned. David knew that he did wrong
things. Nathan told David that God has forgiven him, and he will not die. But
David's sins made God's enemies happy. They said bad things about God. God
will punish David. Nathan said
that Bath-sheba's baby will die.
[13] And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan
said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
[14] Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the
enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall
surely die.
Nathan left and went home. Then Bath-sheba and
David's baby became sick.
[15] And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that
Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
David prayed to God. He asked God to make the baby
healthy again. David fasted
(he did not eat anything). He laid all night on the floor. The leaders
of his house workers tried to get him up. David refused to get up. He refused
to eat.
[16] David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went
in, and lay all night upon the earth.
[17] And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from
the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
The baby died when it was 7 days old. David's workers
were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead. They said that when they tried
to talk to David when the baby was sick, he did not listen to them. They
thought he would be too upset if they tell him now that the baby is dead.
[18] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the
servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said,
Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not
hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the
child is dead?
David saw that his workers were whispering. He felt
that meant the baby was dead. David asked his workers if the baby was dead.
They told him yes.
[19] But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the
child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And
they said, He is dead.
David got up from the floor. He took a bath and put
on oil. He changed clothes and went to God's tent. He worshipped God then went
back home. He asked his workers to bring him some food. They brought some
food, and he ate it.
[20] Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and
changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then
he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and
he did eat.
His workers did not understand why he ate now. When
the baby was alive, David refused food. Now the baby was dead, and David got
up and ate.
[21] Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done?
thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child
was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
David said that he fasted and cried when the baby was
alive. He was hoping God would let the baby live. But the baby died. If David
fasts now, the baby will not live again. In the future, David will die, and he
will go to the baby. But the baby will not come back to life now.
[22] And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I
said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may
live?
[23] But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again?
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
Bath-sheba was very upset and sad that her baby died.
Later, David and Bath-sheba had another baby boy. David named him Solomon. God
loved Solomon very much.
[24] And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay
with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD
loved him.
God sent Nathan the prophet to Solomon. Nathan called Solomon "Jedidiah"
because God loved him. (The word "Jedidiah" means beloved of God.)
[25] And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name
Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
The Israelites take the city of Rabbah.
Joab and the Israelite army continued the war with
the Ammonite people. The Israelites attacked the city named Rabbah. Joab
sent a message to David. He said that the Israelites now control the water for
the city. David should bring the rest of the Israelite army to Rabbah. They
should camp by the city and then attack it and take it. If David does not
come, then people will say that Joab was the one who took Rabbah.
[26] And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the
royal city.
[27] And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against
Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
[28] Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against
the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
David took his army and went to Rabbah. He fought
with the people in the city and won. He took the city.
[29] And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and
fought against it, and took it.
David took the crown off the king of Rabbah. The
crown was heavy. It was made with gold and valuable stones. They put the crown
on David's head. Then they collected everything valuable in the city.
[30] And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was
a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And
he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
This verse is controversial. People who study the Bible have different opinions about it. Some people feel that David killed the Ammonite people. Other people feel that David made the Ammonite people work for the Israelites. |
[31] And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under
saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass
through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of
Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
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Amnon thought about Tamar a lot, and he got sick.
Tamar was a virgin. Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with Tamar.
[2] And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she
was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
Amnon had a friend (cousin) named
Jonadab. Jonadab's father's name was Shimeah. Shimeah was David's brother.
Jonadab was very clever, and he could figure out how to do things.
Jonadab saw Amnon. He asked Amnon why he was looking so thin. Amnon told
him it was because he was in love with his half-sister, Tamar.
[3] But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's
brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
[4] And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to
day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother
Absalom's sister.
Jonadab thought of a plan. He told Amnon to pretend
he was sick. When David comes to see him, he can say that he wants Tamar to
come. He can say that he wants Tamar to come and cook some food for him.
[5] And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself
sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let
my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I
may see it, and eat it at her hand.
Amnon took Jonadab's advice. He acted like
he was sick. David came to see him. Amnon told David that he wanted
Tamar to come and cook him some food.
[6] So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to
see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and
make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
David sent a message to Tamar. He asked her to go to
Amnon's house. He told her to cook some food for Amnon.
[7] Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's
house, and dress him meat.
Tamar went to Amnon's house. He was in bed acting
like he was sick. Tamar made some cakes of bread while Amnon watched
her.
[8] So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she
took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the
cakes.
After the cakes were finished baking, she gave them
to Amnon. He refused to eat until everyone else left the room.
[9] And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat.
And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from
him.
Amnon told Tamar to bring the food closer to him.
Tamar took the food over to him.
[10] And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may
eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought
them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
When she took the food to him, he grabbed her. He
wanted to have sexual relations with her.
[11] And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and
said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
Tamar tries to stop Amnon. She reminds him
that incest and rape are against God's laws. Back in the book of
Leviticus, God says that brothers and sisters should not have sexual
relations. Then Tamar tries to convince Amnon to talk to David to marry her. People who study the Bible feel that Tamar knew that brothers and sisters could not be married. But she may have been saying this so that Amnon would let her go, and she could escape. |
Tamar said no. She begged him not to force her.
She said it was against God's laws in Israel. She
will be shamed. Other people will think Amnon is a fool. She said Amnon should
talk to David if he wants to marry her.
[12] And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing
ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
[13] And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt
be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the
king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
But Amnon would not listen to Tamar. He was stronger
than she was, and he raped her.
[14] Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than
she, forced her, and lay with her.
Then Amnon hated Tamar. He hated her more than he
loved her before. He told her to get out.
[15] Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated
her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto
her, Arise, be gone.
In the Bible, a
woman's virginity is very valuable and important. A woman who was
not a virgin would probably never get married. She would live with her
family and never be independent. Back in the book of Deuteronomy, God's law said that if a man raped a virgin, he must marry her. That is because no other man would marry her. Tamar wanted Amnon to marry her. She knew brothers and sisters should not marry. But if Amnon sent her away, Tamar knew that she would be shamed. Everyone would know what happened, and she would never be married. People would think badly of her because she had been raped. |
Tamar said that Amnon shouldn't treat
her like this. She said it was worse to send her away. But Amnon did not
listen to her.
[16] And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is
greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto
her.
Amnon told his worker to put Tamar out and lock the
door behind her.
"The Desolation of Tamar" by J. James Tissot From the Christian Theological Seminary web site |
[17] Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now
this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
All of David's daughters wore pretty and colorful
clothes. When people saw the special clothes, they knew the girls were
virgins. Amnon's worker put Tamar outside and locked the door behind
her. Tamar tore her clothes and put ashes on her head to show she was very
upset. She held her hand on her head and was crying.
[18] And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes
were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant
brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
[19] And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours
that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
Absalom saw his sister. He asked her if Amnon had
raped her. He told her to be quiet. He didn't want her to tell anyone what
happened. Amnon was her brother. She shouldn't think about it. Tamar was very
upset and sad and stayed at Absalom's house.
[20] And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with
thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this
thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
When David heard what happened, he was very upset.
[21] But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
Absalom hated his brother Amnon because Amnon raped
Tamar. Absalom didn't talk to Amnon at all.
[22] And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for
Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
Amnon was David's oldest or firstborn son. He would be king after David dies. |
Absalom has Amnon killed because of what he did to
Tamar.
Two years passed. One day, Absalom's workers
were cutting the wool off the sheep. They were in the place named Baal-hasor
which is near Ephraim. Absalom invited all of his brothers and half-brothers
to come.
[23] And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers
in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's
sons.
Absalom asked David to come. But David said no.
He said it would be too expensive for Absalom to have a lot of people. Absalom
tried to convince David to go. David said no, but he blessed Absalom.
[24] And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath
sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy
servant.
[25] And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we
be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but
blessed him.
David didn't want to go, but Absalom asked David to
let Amnon go. David asked why Amnon should go.
[26] Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us.
And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
Absalom kept asking David, so David let Amnon and all
of his other sons go.
[27] But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go
with him.
Abaslom talked to his workers. When Amnon becomes drunk,
Absalom will tell them to kill him. They should kill him and not be afraid
because Absalom told them to do it.
[28] Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's
heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him,
fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous and be valiant.
The workers obeyed Absalom. They killed Amnon.
Then all of David's other sons got up. They hurried and ran away.
[29] And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then
all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
While the other sons were traveling home, someone
told David what happened. They told David that Absalom killed all of his sons.
They told David that none of his sons were alive.
[30] And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to
David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of
them left.
David was very upset. He got up and tore his clothes
to show he was very, very sad. Then he laid on the ground. All of his workers
tore their clothes, too. They stood near David.
[31] Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all
his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
Jonadab was the cousin who gave Amnon the plan to rape his own sister, Tamar. Jonadab was David's nephew. Jonadab was the son of David's brother, Shimeah. |
Jonadab talked to David. Jonadab said that
David should not think all of his sons are dead. Jonadab thinks that only
Amnon is dead. He said that Absalom has been planning to kill Amnon since the
day Amnon raped Tamar.
[32] And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let
not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons;
for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been
determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
[33] Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to
think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
Absalom ran away.
The man in the city who watched the gate could see far. He saw many people
coming to the city. Jonadab said the people were David's sons. He said he was
right, and that they were not killed.
[34] But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his
eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill
side behind him.
[35] And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy
servant said, so it is.
When Jonadab finished talking, the sons arrived. They
were crying. David and his workers were crying, too.
[36] And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that,
behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king
also and all his servants wept very sore.
Absalom ran away. He went to his grandfather, Talmai.
Talmai was the son of Ammihud--the king of the place called Geshur.
David was sad for his son and mourned (cried) every day.
[37] But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.
And David mourned for his son every day.
Absalom stayed in Geshur for 3 years.
[38] So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
David wanted to go see Absalom. He knew Amnon was
dead, and Amnon could not come back.
[39] And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was
comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.