History
2 Samuel
David’s reign over Judah and then all Israel, his sin with Bathsheba, and the troubles that followed.
Second Samuel follows David from the death of Saul to his old age. It is the main account of God’s covenant promise to David of an everlasting house (2 Samuel 7). Like 1 Samuel it was probably drawn from the records of the prophets who lived through the events.
Kinds of writing
- Narrative 93%
- Song and psalm 7%
Key verses
David made king over all Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel.
2 Samuel 5:3 (World English Bible)
A throne established forever. Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’
2 Samuel 7:16 (World English Bible)
You are the man. Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.”
2 Samuel 12:7 (World English Bible)
Absalom, my son. The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 18:33 (World English Bible)
Yahweh is my rock. and he said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;”
2 Samuel 22:2 (World English Bible)
People
DavidJoabAbnerMephiboshethBathshebaUriahNathanAbsalom
Places
HebronJerusalemCity of DavidRabbahGeshurMahanaim
On the timeline
David becomes king of Judah at HebronDavid rules all Israel and takes JerusalemThe ark brought to JerusalemGod's covenant with DavidDavid, Bathsheba, and Nathan's rebukeAbsalom's rebellionDavid's census and the threshing floor of Araunah
The New Testament quotes or alludes to 2 Samuel 2 times (counted in the site’s Old in the New).
Dating notes
Spans are estimates; the compiler is unknown. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.