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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"The Wise Woman of Tekoah" by Caspar Luiken (1672-1708) from Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University |
Joab invents a plan to show David that
Absalom should come home to Jerusalem.
Joab was the leader of David's army. Joab's father's name was Zeruiah.
Joab knew that David was still worried about Absalom (Absalom ran away after
he killed his brother, Amnon).
[1] Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward
Absalom.
Joab sent a message to the place called Tekoah. He
asked a very smart woman to come. He asked the woman to pretend she was
mourning (sad for someone who died). He asked her to wear mourning
clothes. He asked her to wear no special oil. Joab wanted the woman to look
like she mourned for a long time.
[2] And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto
her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning
apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long
time mourned for the dead:
Joab asked the woman to come and talk
to David. Joab told the woman what to say.
[3] And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the
words in her mouth.
The woman from Tekoah went to see David. She put her
face on the ground to show that she respected David. She asked David to help
her.
[4] And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to
the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
David asked her what was wrong. She said that
she was a widow--her husband was dead. She said she had 2 sons. The 2 sons
were fighting out in a field. There was no one there to stop the fight. One
son killed the other son.
[5] And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am
indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
[6] And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field,
and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
The woman's story is not true. She is telling the story to make David think about Absalom and Amnon. |
She said her whole family was mad at her. They wanted
her to give them the son who was living. They wanted to punish him for killing
his brother. They wanted to kill him because he killed his brother. The woman
did not want to do that. She had only 2 sons. One son is dead. If they kill
the other son, then there is no one to continue the family name. Her husband's
name will be gone.
[7] And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they
said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life
of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they
shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither
name nor remainder upon the earth.
David told the woman to go home. He said he will make
a rule about her problem.
[8] And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give
charge concerning thee.
The woman said she would take the blame if anyone
gets mad at the new rule. She said no one should blame David. David said
if anyone complains to her, she should bring the person to him.
[9] And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity
be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
[10] And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and
he shall not touch thee any more.
The woman asked David to promise in
God's name. She wanted him to promise that no one will kill her son. He said
he promised that not even one hair will fall off of her son.
[11] Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that
thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they
destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of
thy son fall to the earth.
The woman now shows David that her invented story is the same as his situation with Absalom. |
Then the woman asked if she could say something more
to David. He told her to go ahead and say what she wanted.
[12] Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto
my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
The woman asked David about his situation with
Absalom. She asked David why he thinks the Israelites are like her family. She
said her family wants to kill her son. David won't let Absalom come home to
Israel.
[13] And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against
the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty,
in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.
She said that everyone must die. She compares life to
spilled water. After water is spilled on the ground, you can't pick it up.
After people die, other people can't make them live again. But God saves
lives. When people do bad things and run away from God, He brings them back.
[14] For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot
be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise
means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
The woman said she came to talk to
David because she was afraid. She was worried what would happen if David and
Absalom had a war. She wanted to ask David to save all of the people in
Israel. If there was a war, she might lose her family and their land in
Israel.
[15] Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the
king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I
will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request
of his handmaid.
[16] For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the
man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
The woman said she is not worried now. David told her
the situation will be solved. She said David is like an angel of God. David knows
the difference between good and bad. God will help David.
[17] Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be
comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good
and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
David said he wanted to ask the woman a question. He
asked her to tell the truth. David wanted to know if Joab asked her to come there. The
woman said yes. It was Joab's plan for her to come see David. Joab invented
the false story about the woman's son. Joab wanted David to make the right
rule and bring Absalom home. The woman said that David is smart and wise like
one of God's angels. No one can hide the truth from David.
[18] Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray
thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the
king now speak.
[19] And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the
woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn
to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken:
for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of
thine handmaid:
[20] To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing:
and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all
things that are in the earth.
David told Joab that he decided to let Absalom come
home. He told Joab to go bring Absalom home to Jerusalem. Joab
bent down and put his face on the ground. He thanked David for making the rule
that Absalom can come home. That was what Joab wanted him to do. Joab felt
that David respected him.
[21] And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go
therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
[22] And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked
the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in
thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his
servant.
Joab travelled to the place named Geshur. He brought
Absalom back to Jerusalem.
[23] So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
David did not want to see Absalom. David wanted
Absalom to live in his own house.
[24] And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my
face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
David sees Absalom again.
Absalom was very handsome and looked nice. He was
more handsome than anyone else in Israel. From his head to his toes, he was
perfect.
[25] But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his
beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no
blemish in him.
Absalom had thick hair. It was long and heavy. He had
to cut it at the end of each year because it got too heavy. After they cut his
hair, they weighed it. It weighed 200 shekels (about 5 pounds).
[26] And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he
polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he
weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
Absalom had 3 sons and 1 daughter. His daughter's
name was Tamar (the same name as his sister). She was very beautiful.
[27] And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name
was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
Absalom was back in Jerusalem for 2 years, but he
still had not seen David.
[28] So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's
face.
Absalom wanted Joab to come and see him. He wanted
Joab to help him see David. But Joab did not come. Absalom asked again,
but Joab did not come see him.
[29] Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he
would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not
come.
Absalom talked to his workers. He told them that
Joab's farm was near his farm. Joab had barley growing in his field. Absalom
told his workers to set Joab's field on fire. Absalom's workers did that.
[30] Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and
he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the
field on fire.
Joab came to see Absalom. He asked
him why his workers set his field on fire.
[31] Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him,
Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
Absalom told Joab that he wanted him to come see him.
He wanted Joab to talk to David for him. He wanted to know why David brought
him back from the place called Geshur. Absalom said it would have better for
him to stay in Geshur. He wants to see David. If he is guilty, then David
should kill him.
[32] And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither,
that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it
had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the
king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
Joab talked to David. Then David asked Absalom to
come see him. When Absalom went to see David, he bent down low and put
his face on the ground to show respect. Then David kissed Absalom.
[33] So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for
Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground
before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
People who study the Bible are not clear about this time. The Bible says, ".. it came to pass after forty years". It is not clear if it was 40 years after the first king (Saul) was over Israel. Or it may be 40 years after David became the king. Some people feel it was 4 years after Absalom came home from Geshur. |
The 600 Gittites were men who came with David from the place named Gath. Gath was a Philistine city. Gath was Goliath's home. |
David and his group left and arrived at a place away from
Jerusalem. His workers walked on the sides of David. David's bodyguards
(from the groups of people: the Cherethites, Pelethites, and Gittites) were on
his side, too. 600 men who were Gittites walked in front.
[17] And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a
place that was far off.
[18] And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and
all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him
from Gath, passed on before the king.
David talked to the Gittite man named Ittai.
David asked Ittai why he and his men were going with them. David told him they
could go back to Jerusalem. The Gittites had not been with David very long.
David said they were not obligated to go with him. David said he didn't even
know where he was going.
[19] Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with
us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and
also an exile.
[20] Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and
down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy
brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
Ittai answered. He said that God lives and David the
king lives. It didn't matter where David was going. If David was alive
or dead, Ittai and his men would help David.
[21] And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord
the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in
death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
David told Ittai to go ahead. So Ittai, his men, and
their families continued on with David.
[22] And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed
over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
David and the people with him crossed
over the brook (creek) called Kidron. When the other Israelites saw
David leaving, they cried very loudly.
[23] And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed
over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people
passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
The priest named Zadok and other
Levites were carrying the Ark of the Covenant. They set the Ark down
until all of the people came out of Jerusalem. The priest named Abiathar went
up on a mountain so he could see the people leaving the city.
[24] And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of
the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up,
until all the people had done passing out of the city.
David told Zadok to take the Ark back into Jerusalem.
If God is happy with David, God will help him go home to Jerusalem again. But
if God is not happy with David, God will choose what to do with David.
[25] And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if
I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew
me both it, and his habitation:
[26] But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him
do to me as seemeth good unto him.
David said that Zadok was a prophet. David wanted
Zadok, Abiathar, and their 2 sons, Ahimaaz and Johnathan to go back to
Jerusalem. They can let David know what's going on in the city.
[27] The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return
into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and
Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
[28] See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word
from you to certify me.
Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark and went back to
Jerusalem.
[29] Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem:
and they tarried there.
David went up on the mountain called Mt. Olivet
(another name for the mount of Olives). He was crying and covered his head. He
did not wear shoes. All of the people with him covered their heads, too. They
were all crying.
[30] And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up,
and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was
with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went
up.
Someone had told David that Ahithophel was helping
Absalom (Ahithophel was a
counselor who gave advice to David. ).
David prayed to God. David asked God to make Ahithophel give Absalom foolish
advice.
[31] And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel
into foolishness.
David was worshiping God on top of the mountain. A
man named Hushai came to see him. Husahi was an Archite from the place named
Archi. Hushai's coat was ripped, and he had dirt on his head.
[32] And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount,
where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his
coat rent, and earth upon his head:
David talked to Hushai. He said if Hushai
goes with him, he will be a burden to David. But if Hushai goes back to
Jerusalem, he could help David. He should go back to Jerusalem. He should tell
Absalom that he will help him. He should say that he was David's helper in the
past, but now he will be Absalom's helper. That way, Hushai can help David
know the advice of Ahithophel. If David knows what Ahithophel tells Absalom to
do, he can make his plans better. He can defeat Absalom.
[33] Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a
burden unto me:
[34] But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy
servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now
also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
David reminded Hushai that the priests, Zadok and
Abiathar, will be in Jerusalem, too. When Hushai hears Absalom's plans, he
should tell the priests.
[35] And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests?
therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the
king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
After he tells the priests, the priests can send
their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, to see David. They can tell David about
Absalom's plans.
[36] Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son,
and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing
that ye can hear.
Hushai was David's friend, and he went back to
Jerusalem. Absalom also arrived in Jerusalem.
[37] So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into
Jerusalem.
Back in 2 Samuel 9, Saul's disabled grandson, Mephibosheth, went to live with David. Ziba was one of Saul's workers. David put Ziba in charge of all of Mephibosheth's land and farms. |
Saul's relative, Shimei, throws rocks at David and
curses him.
Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin. Saul was also from the tribe of Benjamin. Shimei was still angry at David because David replaced Saul as the king. David was not from the tribe of Benjamin. He was from the tribe of Judah. |
David and his group arrived at the
place named Bahurim. One of Saul's family members came out. His name was
Shimei. Shimei's father's name was Gera. Shimei yelled and said bad
things to David.
[5] And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the
family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came
forth, and cursed still as he came.
Shimei threw rocks at David, his workers, and his
soldiers on the right side and on the left side.
[6] And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and
all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
Shimei yelled and threw rocks and dirt at David.
|
Shimei was yelling at David. Shimei was glad
that David was out of Jerusalem. He called David "man of Belial"-- an evil man. He said
that God was paying him back for what happened to
Saul and his family. He said that God was giving David's kingdom to Absalom
because he was a bad and violent man.
[7] And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man,
and thou man of Belial:
[8] The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in
whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into
the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief,
because thou art a bloody man.
David's nephew, Abishai, called Shimei a dead dog.
He asked David why he let him say these things to him. Abishai wanted to cut
off Shimei's head.
[9] Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead
dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his
head.
David said he didn't know what to do with Abishai and
his brother Joab (their father's name was Zeruiah). David said to leave Shimei alone. David said that God told Shimei to say bad things to him. If God
told Shimei to say these things, then no one else should ask him why he was
doing it.
[10] And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let
him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then
say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
David said that his own son is trying to kill him. He
said that Shimei, who was from a different tribe, wants to kill him even more
than Absalom does. David told his soldiers to leave Shimei alone. David said
that God told Shimei to talk badly to him.
[11] And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which
came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite
do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
David said that maybe God will see him having trouble
with Shimei and feel sorry for him.
[12] It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD
will requite me good for his cursing this day.
David and his soldiers continued walking. Shimei
followed them over the hill. He continued to yell at David and say bad things.
He threw rocks and dirt at him.
[13] And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's
side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and
cast dust.
David and his group were tired. Then they rested.
[14] And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and
refreshed themselves there.
David's spy, Hushai, meets Absalom in Jerusalem.
Absalom and his men arrived in Jerusalem. Ahithophel was with him (Ahithophel
was a counselor who gave David advice in the past).
[15] And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and
Ahithophel with him.
Hushai came and talked to Absalom (Hushai was the spy
that David sent to Jerusalem). Hushai said to Absalom, "God save the
king."
[16] And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come
unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the
king.
Absalom talked to Hushai. He said that Hushai was
David's friend. Now he is supporting Absalom. Absalom doesn't think Hushai is
acting like David's friend now. He wants to know why Hushai did not go with
David.
[17] And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why
wentest thou not with thy friend?
Hushai said that he supports the king that God and
the Israelites choose. Hushai said he served David, and now he will serve
David's son.
[18] And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people,
and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
[19] And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his
son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.
After David sinned with Bathsheba and
killed Bathsheba's husband, God said that bad things would happen to
David and his family. Now, the bad things are happening. 2 Samuel 11-12 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. |
Ahithophel tells Absalom what to do to show that he does not respect his father.
Absalom talked to Ahithophel. He asked Ahithophel to tell him what he should
do.
[20] Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
Some of David's concubines (mistresses) stayed in
Jerusalem. Ahithophel told Absalom that he should have sexual
relations with the concubines. Everyone in Israel will hear about that. That
would show that Absalom does not respect his father, David. That will make Absalom's soldiers support him more.
[21] And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines,
which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art
abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be
strong.
They put a tent on top of David's house
so that everyone could see. Then Absalom went into the tent and had sexual
relations with David's concubines.
[22] So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went
in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Both David and Absalom thought highly
of Ahithophel. They thought Ahithophel's advice came from God.
[23] And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as
if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of
Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.