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{{short description|Books of the Bible}}
{{Tanakh OT|Nevi'im|historical}}
[[File:Fl- 147 Biblia de Cervera, Samuel.jpg|thumb|Page from the book of Samuel, in the Biblia de Cervera (1299/1300)]]
The '''Book of Samuel''' ({{Lang-he|ספר שמואל}}, ''Sefer Shmuel'') is a book in the [[Hebrew Bible]], found as two books ('''1–2 Samuel''') in the [[Old Testament]]. The book is part of the [[Deuteronomistic history]], a series of books ([[Book of Joshua|Joshua]], [[Book of Judges|Judges]], Samuel, and [[Books of Kings|Kings]]) that constitute a theological history of the [[Israelites]] and that aim to explain [[Torah|God's law for Israel]] under the guidance of the prophets.{{sfn|Gordon|1986|p=18}}
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{{Long plot|section|date=June 2022}}
The Jerusalem Bible divides the two Books of Samuel into five sections
1 Samuel 1:
1 Samuel 8:
1 Samuel 16:
2 Samuel 2:
2 Samuel 21:
===1 Samuel===
====Samuel (1:
=====The
A man named [[Elkanah]], an [[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraimite]] from the city of [[Ramathaim-Zophim]], has two wives, [[Peninnah]] and [[Hannah (biblical figure)|Hannah]], the latter of whom is his favourite wife, and a rivalry between the two develops based on the fact that Peninnah has children and Hannah does not. The childless Hannah vows to [[Yahweh|Yahweh lord of hosts]] that, if she has a son, he will be dedicated to God. [[Eli (Bible)|Eli]], the priest of [[Shiloh (biblical city)|Shiloh]], where the [[Ark of the Covenant]] is located, thinks she is drunk, but when he realises she is praying, he blesses her. A child named [[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]] is born, and Samuel is dedicated to the Lord as a [[Nazirite]]
Eli's sons, [[Hophni and Phinehas]], sin against God's laws and the people, specifically by demanding raw rather than boiled meat for sacrifice and having sex with the tabernacle's serving women. But the child Samuel grows up "in the presence of the Lord": his family visits him each year, bringing a new coat for him, and Hannah has five more children. Eli tries to persuade his sons to stop their wickedness, but fails. As punishment for this, a holy man arrives, prophesying that Eli's family will be cut off and none of his descendants will see old age.
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One night, God calls Samuel and, thinking Eli is calling him three times, he rushes to Eli. Eli informs him that God wishes to speak to him, and God informs Samuel that the earlier prophecy about Eli's family is correct. He is at first afraid to inform Eli of this, but Eli tells him not to be, and that God will do what is good in His sight. Over time, Samuel grows up and is recognised as a prophet.
=====The Ark in Philistine hands (4:
The [[Philistines]], despite their initial worries when hearing the Israelite ritual of the entrance of the [[Ark of the Covenant]], defeat the Israelites at the [[Battle of Aphek]], [[Philistine captivity of the Ark|capturing the Ark]] and killing Hophni and Phinehas, thus fulfilling the earlier prophecy. When Eli hears of these two events, particularly the capture of the Ark, he falls off his chair and dies. His daughter-in-law, in turn, goes into labour at this, and names her son [[Ichabod]] ('without glory') in commemoration of the capture of the Ark.
Meanwhile, the Philistines take the Ark to the temple of their god [[Dagon]], who recognizes the supremacy of Yahweh. The Philistines are afflicted with plagues, are unable to take the Ark into any city on account of the fear of the populations of those cities, and return the ark to the Israelites, but to the territory of the [[tribe of Benjamin]], to the city of [[Beit Shemesh|Beth Shemesh]], rather than to Shiloh, from where it is passed to the city of [[Kiriath-Jearim|Kiriath Jearim]], where a new priest, [[Eleazar, son of Abinadab]], is appointed to guard the ark for the twenty years it is there. The Philistines attack the Israelites gathered at [[Mizpah in Gilead (Judges)|Mizpah]] in Benjamin. Samuel appeals to God, the Philistines are decisively beaten, and the Israelites reclaim their lost territory. Samuel sets up the [[Eben-Ezer]] (the stone of help) in remembrance of the battle, and takes his place as judge of Israel.
====Samuel and Saul (8:
=====The institution of the monarchy (8:
In Samuel's old age, he appoints his sons [[Joel (son of Samuel)|Joel]] and [[Abijah]] as judges but, because of their corruption, the people ask for a king to rule over them. God directs Samuel to grant the people their wish despite his concerns: God gives them [[Saul]] from the tribe of Benjamin, whom Samuel anoints during an attempt by Saul to locate his father's lost donkeys. He then invites Saul to a feast, where he gives him the best piece of meat, and they talk through the night on the roof of Samuel's house. Samuel tells Saul to return home, telling him the donkeys have been found and his father is now worrying about him, as well as describing a series of signs Saul will see on the way home. Saul begins to prophesy when he meets some prophets, confusing his neighbours. Eventually, Samuel publicly announces Saul as king, although not without controversy.
Shortly
Samuel is aware he is the final judge and that the age of kings is about to begin, and speaks to the Israelites, demonstrating his innocence and recapping the history of Israel. He calls on the Lord to send thunder and rain, and rebukes the people for their desire for a king. Nonetheless, he tells them that as long as they refrain from idol worship, they will not perish
=====The beginning of Saul's reign (13:
Despite his numerous military victories, Saul disobeys Yahweh's instructions. First of all, after a battle against the Philistines, he does not wait for Samuel to arrive before he offers sacrifices. Meanwhile, it turns out that the Philistines have been killing and capturing blacksmiths in order to ensure the Israelites
Jonathan begins to doubt his father, reasoning an even greater victory could have been achieved if the men had eaten. The royal decree has other unintended knock-on effects, namely that the men start killing and eating animals without draining the blood. To counteract this, Saul sets up an altar so the proper laws can be observed. When a priest suggests asking God before launching another attack, God is silent, leading Saul to set up a pseudo-legal procedure to ascertain whose fault it is that God has abandoned them. The lot falls on Jonathan, but the men refuse to let him be executed since he is the reason for their victory.
Over time, Saul fights the [[Moab|Moabites]], the [[Ammon|Ammonites]], the [[Edom|Edomites]], the [[Zobah|Zobahites]], the Philistines and the [[Amalek|Amalekites]], winning victory over them all; his kingdom is in a constant state of war, and he constantly recruits new heroes to his army. However, he disobeys God's instruction to destroy Amalek: Saul spares [[Agag]], the Amalekite ruler, and the best portion of the Amalekite flocks to present them as sacrifices. Samuel rebukes Saul and tells him that God has now chosen another man to be king of Israel. Samuel then kills Agag himself.▼
▲Over time, Saul fights the [[Moab|Moabites]], the [[Ammon|Ammonites]], the [[Edom|Edomites]], the [[Zobah|Zobahites]], the Philistines and the [[Amalek|Amalekites]], winning victory over them all
====Saul and David (16:1-31:13)====▼
====
Samuel travels to [[Bethlehem]] to visit a man named [[Jesse (biblical figure)|Jesse]], with God promising Samuel can anoint one of his sons as king. However, while inspecting Jesse's sons, God tells Samuel that none of them are to be king. God tells Samuel to anoint [[David]], the youngest brother, as king. Saul becomes ill and David comes to play the harp to him. Saul takes a liking to David and David enters Saul's court as his [[Squire|armor-bearer]] and [[harp]]ist.
A new war against the Philistines begins, and a Philistine champion named [[Goliath]] emerges, challenging any Israelite to one-on-one combat, with the loser's people becoming subject to the winner. David goes to take food to his brothers in the Israelite camp, learns of the situation and the reward Saul is willing to give to the person who kills him
Jonathan befriends David. Saul begins to send David on military missions and quickly promotes him given his successes, but begins to become jealous of David after the Israelites make up a song about how much more successful David is than Saul. One day, Saul decides to kill David with a spear, but David avoids him. Saul realises that God is now with David and no longer with him, making him scared of David. He therefore seeks other ways to pacify David. First, he sends him on military campaigns, but this only makes him more successful.
Saul then plots David's death, but Jonathan talks him out of it.
=====The flight of David (19:
Once again Saul tries to kill David with his spear, and so David decides to escape, lowered out of a window by Michal, who then takes an idol, covers it in clothes and places goat's hair on its head to cover David's escape. David visits Samuel. When Saul finds this out, he sends men to capture David, but when they see Samuel they begin prophesying, as does Saul when he tries to capture David himself.
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David arrives at [[Nob, Israel|Nob]], where he meets [[Ahimelech]] the priest, a great-grandson of Eli. Pretending he is on a mission from the king and is going to meet his men, he asks for supplies. He is given the [[showbread]] and Goliath's sword. He then flees to [[Gath (city)|Gath]] and seeks refuge at the court of King [[Achish]], but feigns insanity since he is afraid of what the Philistines might do to him.
=====David the
David travels to the cave of [[Adullam]] near his home, where his family visit him, until he finds refuge for them at the court of the king of Moab in [[Mizpah (Moab)|Mizpah]].
After the invasion, Saul learns David is now living in the desert of [[Ein Gedi|En Gedi]] and resumes his search for him. At one point, he enters a cave to
Samuel dies, and, after mourning him, David moves on to the [[Desert of Paran]]. Here he meets the shepherds of a [[Caleb|Calebite]] named [[Nabal]], and his men help protect them. At sheep-shearing time, he sends some of his men to ask for food.
Saul decides to return to pursuing David, and the Ziphites alert him as to David's whereabouts. Saul returns to the desert of Ziph and sets up camp. One night, David and two companions, [[Achimelech]] the [[Biblical Hittites|Hittite]] and [[Abishai (biblical figure)|Abishai]] son of [[Zeruiah]] (his nephew), go to Saul's camp and find him asleep on the ground. Abishai advocates killing him, but David once again resists, content with taking a spear and water jug lying by Saul's head. The next morning, David advises [[Abner]], Saul's captain, to put the soldiers to death for not protecting Saul, citing the absence of the spear and water jug as evidence. Saul interrupts, and once again repents of his hunt. He blesses David, David returns his spear and Saul returns home.
=====David among the Philistines (27:
David joins the Philistines out of fear of Saul, taking his wives with him and brutally destroying his enemies, largely the [[Geshurites]], the Girzites and the Amalekites, but makes the Philistines believe he is attacking the Israelites, the [[Jerahmeelite]]s and the [[Kenite]]s instead. King Achish is pleased with him, and supposes he will continue to serve him. Eventually, the Philistines go to war with the Israelites, and David goes with them.
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===2 Samuel===
====Saul and David (continued) (1:
=====David among the Philistines (continued) (1:
Back in Ziklag, three days after Saul's death, David receives news that Saul and his sons are dead. It transpires that the messenger is an Amalekite who, at Saul's insistence, had killed Saul to speed his death along, and brought his crown to David. David orders his death for having killed God's anointed. At this point, David offers a majestic eulogy, where he praises the bravery and magnificence of both his friend Jonathan and King Saul.<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Samuel|1:17–27|KJV}}</ref>
====David (2:
=====David King of Judah (2:
David returns to [[Hebron]] at God's instruction. The elders of Judah anoint David as king, and as his first act he offers a reward to the people of Jabesh Gilead for performing Saul's funerary rites. Meanwhile, in the north, Saul's son [[Ish-bosheth]], supported by Abner, has taken control of the northern tribes. David and Ish-bosheth's armies meet at the [[Pool of Gibeon]], and Abner and [[Joab]], another son of Zeruiah and David's general, agree to have soldiers fight in one-on-one combat. All this achieves is twelve men on each side killing each other, but a battle follows and David wins. During the Benjaminites' retreat, Joab's brother [[Asahel]] chases Abner and Abner kills him, shocking everyone. Joab and Abishai continue Asahel's pursuit. A truce is declared when they reach a hill to avoid further bloodshed, and Abner and his men are able to cross the [[Jordan River|Jordan]].
The war continues as David builds a family. Meanwhile, the House of Saul is getting weaker. When Ish-bosheth accuses Abner of sleeping with Saul's concubine [[Rizpah]], Abner offers to join David, which David accepts as long as he brings Michal with him. At the same time, David sends a petition to Ish-bosheth for the return of Michal, which Ish-bosheth agrees to. Patiel follows her crying until he is told to return home. Following the return of Michal, Abner agrees to get the elders of Israel to agree to make David king.
By this point, the only other surviving member of Ish-bosheth's family is [[Mephibosheth]], Jonathan's disabled son, who was dropped by his nurse as she attempted to escape the palace after the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Ish-bosheth is murdered by [[Rechab]] and [[Baanah]], two of his captains who hope for a reward from David, who stab him and cut off his head. They bring his head to David, but David has them killed for killing an innocent man. They are hanged by the pool of Hebron and Ish-bosheth's head is buried in Abner's tomb.
=====David King of Judah and of Israel (5:
David is anointed king of all Israel.
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The Ark is currently still in Baalah (another name for Kiriath Jearim), but David wants to bring it to Jerusalem. He puts it on a cart and employs the priests [[Uzzah]] and [[Ahio]], both sons of Abinadab and brothers of Eleazar, to accompany it. A grand procession with musical instruments is organised, but comes to a sudden halt when the oxen stumble, causing Uzzah to touch the Ark and die. David is afraid to take it any further and stores it in the house of a man named [[Obed-Edom]]. When, after three months, Obed-Edom and his family have received nothing but blessings, David takes the Ark to Jerusalem. As part of the ceremony bringing the Ark into the city, David dances in front of it wearing nothing but an [[ephod]]. Michal sees this and is annoyed, but David says it was for the Lord, and thus it was not undignified. Michal never has any children.
David wishes to build a temple, arguing that he should not be living in a palace while God lives in a tent. [[Nathan (Prophet)|Nathan]], a prophet, agrees. However, that night Nathan has a dream in which God informs him that David should not build him a temple for three reasons. Firstly, God has not commanded it, and has never complained about living in a tent before. Secondly, God is still working to build David and his house up and establish the Israelites in the [[Promised Land]]. Thirdly, God will establish one of David's sons as king
=====David's family and the intrigues for the succession (9:
======Mephibosheth (9:
David asks if anyone from the House of Saul is still alive so that he can show kindness to them in memory of Jonathan. [[Ziba (biblical figure)|Ziba]], one of Saul's servants, tells him about Mephibosheth. David informs Mephibosheth that he will live in his household and eat at his table, and Mephibosheth moves to Jerusalem.
======The Ammonite
Nahash, king of Ammon dies and his son [[Hanun]] succeeds him. David sends condolences, but the Ammonites suspect his ambassadors are spies and humiliate them before sending them back to David. When they realise their mistake, they fear retaliation from David and amass an army from the surrounding tribes. When he hears that they are doing this, he sends Joab to lead his own army to their city gates, where the Ammonites are in battle formation. Joab decides to split the army in two: he will lead an elite force to attack the Aramean faction, while the rest of the army, led by Abisai, will focus on the Ammonites.
If either enemy force turns out to be too strong, the other Israelite force will come to help their comrades. The Arameans flee from Joab, causing the Ammonites to also flee from Abishai. The Israelite army returns to Jerusalem. The Arameans regroup and cross the Euphrates, and this time David himself wins a decisive victory at [[Helam]]. The Arameans realise they cannot win, make peace with Israel and refuse to help the Ammonites again. The following spring, Joab destroys the Ammonites.
However, while Joab is off at war, David remains in Jerusalem. One morning, he is standing on the roof of his palace when he sees a naked woman performing ablutions after her period. David learns her name is [[Bathsheba]], and they have sex. She becomes pregnant. Seeking to hide his sin, David recalls her husband, [[Uriah the Hittite]], from battle, David encourages him to go home and see his wife, but Uriah declines in case David might need him, and sleeps in the doorway to the palace that night. David, in spite of inviting Uriah to feasts, continues to be unable to persuade him to go home. David then deliberately sends Uriah on a suicide mission. David loses some of his best warriors in this mission, so Joab tells the messenger reporting back to tell David that Uriah is dead. David instructs Joab to continue the attack of the city. After Bathsheba has finished mourning Uriah, David marries her and she gives birth.▼
▲
Nathan comes to David and tells him a parable. In a town, there are a rich man and a poor man. The rich man has much livestock, but the poor man has only one lamb whom he loves like a child. One day, the rich man has a guest for dinner, and instead of slaughtering one of his own livestock, took the poor man's lamb and cooked it. David angrily insists the rich man be put to death, but Nathan tells him he is the man, saying he has committed a sin to get something he already had plenty of (wives), and prophesies that his family will be gripped by violence, and someone will have affairs with his wives publicly. David repents, and Nathan tells him that while he is forgiven and will not die, his son with Bathsheba will. The child becomes ill, and David spends his time fasting and praying, but to no avail, because the child dies. David's attendants are scared to tell him the news, worried about what he may do. However, he surprises everyone by ending his fasting, saying that he was fasting and praying was an attempt to persuade God to save his child, whereas fasting now isn't going to bring the child back. After they have mourned, David and Bathsheba have another child, who they name [[Solomon]] (also called Jedediah).▼
David then deliberately sends Uriah on a suicide mission. David loses some of his best warriors in this mission, so Joab tells the messenger reporting back to tell David that Uriah is dead. David instructs Joab to continue the attack of the city. After Bathsheba has finished mourning Uriah, David marries her and she gives birth.
▲Nathan comes to David and tells him a parable. In a town, there are a rich man and a poor man. The rich man has much livestock, but the poor man has only one lamb whom he loves like a child. One day, the rich man has a guest for dinner, and instead of slaughtering one of his own livestock, took the poor man's lamb and cooked it. David angrily insists the rich man be put to death, but Nathan tells him he is the man, saying he has committed a sin to get something he already had plenty of (wives), and prophesies that his family will be gripped by violence, and someone will have affairs with his wives publicly.
David repents, and Nathan tells him that while he is forgiven and will not die, his son with Bathsheba will. The child becomes ill, and David spends his time fasting and praying, but to no avail, because the child dies. David's attendants are scared to tell him the news, worried about what he may do. He surprises everyone by ending his fasting, saying that he was fasting and praying was an attempt to persuade God to save his child, whereas fasting now isn't going to bring the child back. After they have mourned, David and Bathsheba have another child, who they name [[Solomon]] (also called Jedediah).
Back on the front line, in the city of [[Amman|Rabbah]], Joab has gained control of the water supply. Joab invites David to finish capturing the city so that it may be named after himself. David gathers an army and travels up himself. He wins a victory, crowns himself king of the Ammonites, takes a large amount of plunder and puts the Ammonites into forced labour before returning to Jerusalem.
======Absalom (13:
A complicated controversy begins to develop within the palace. [[Amnon]], David's son by Ahinoam, becomes lovesick for [[Tamar (daughter of David)|Tamar]], David's daughter by [[Maacah]], daughter of [[Talmai]], king of [[Geshur]]. Amnon's advisor and cousin [[Jonadab]] suggests he pretend to be ill and ask Tamar to come and prepare bread for him so he can eat out of her hand. When she comes to his house, Amnon tells her to come to his bedroom. Here, after she refuses to have sex with him, Amnon rapes her. He then forces her to leave the house. She rips the gown which symbolises she is a virgin, puts ashes on her hand and walks around wailing. Tamar's brother, [[Absalom]], and David learn about this and become angry.
Two years later, Absalom is shearing sheep at [[Baal-hazor|Baal Hazor]] and invites David and all his sons to come. David refuses, but blesses him and sends Amnon and the rest of his sons to him. Absalom holds a feast and gets Amnon drunk. He then instructs his servants to kill Amnon in revenge for his rape of Tamar. David's other sons are disgusted and return to Jerusalem. David hears a rumour that Absalom has killed all of David's sons, but Jonadab assures him that only Amnon is dead. Meanwhile, Absalom goes to live with his grandfather in Geshur for three years. After David has finished mourning Amnon, he considers visiting Absalom.
Joab wants to help David, so he tells a wise woman from [[Teqoa|Tekoa]] to travel to Jerusalem pretending to be in mourning and speak to the king. The woman tells a story about her two sons, one of whom killed the other and whose death is now being called for. After some cajoling, David agrees to issue a decree ensuring that her son is not killed. The woman turns this back on David, and asks, then, why he has not forgiven his own son.
After the woman admits that Joab put her up to this, David agrees to allow Absalom back to Jerusalem, but insists he does not come to the palace. Absalom becomes popular in Jerusalem due to his good looks. His family also grows during this time. Two years pass without Absalom being recalled to court. When Joab refuses to help him, Absalom sets his field on fire. This gets Joab's attention, and finally Absalom manages to convince him to persuade David to allow him back to court. Absalom purchases a magnificent chariot, and begins campaigning to become a judge, principally by waiting outside the city gate, listening to the concerns of people coming to the king and pretending there is no-one to hear them, as well as embracing anyone who bows to him. Four years pass, and Absalom travels to Hebron, claiming to be fulfilling a vow, but in fact he hatches a plan to get the tribes of Israel to proclaim him king. The 200 guests who follow him do not know of his plan, and while he is at Hebron Absalom summons [[Ahitophel]], David's counselor.
David is told of the increasing support for Absalom and decides to flee Jerusalem. He takes with him his wives and concubines,
On the other side of the mountain, David meets Ziba, who brings donkeys and fruit as supplies. He claims that Mephibosheth is hoping to be restored to the throne of Saul in the chaos, and David grants Ziba Mephibosheth's estates. As the party approaches [[Bahurim]], a Benjaminite named [[Shimei ben Gera|Shimei]] begins cursing and stoning David for the bloodshed he caused in the House of Saul. Abishai suggests executing him, but David considers that God has told Shibei to curse him and lets him carry on.
Back in Jerusalem, Ahitophel and Hushai arrive at Absalom's court. Absalom is at first suspicious of Hushai's presence, but ultimately accepts him. Ahitophel suggests Absalom sleeps with David's concubines who he left to take care of the palace in order to entrench the division between David and Absalom, so Absalom pitches a tent on the palace roof and does this in the view of all the Israelites. Ahitophel then suggests launching a sneak attack on David with 12,000 men.
God has decided to frustrate Ahitophel's advice so that Absalom can be defeated, so Absalom follows Hushai's advice. Hushai then goes to Zadok and Abiathar and tells them to get word to David to cross the fords. Their sons, [[Ahimaaz]] and Jonathan, respectively, are staying at [[Ein Rogel|En Rogel]], where they receive the message. Unfortunately, one of Absalom's spies sees them so they have to hide in a well in Bahurim. The well's owner's wife hides them and lies to Absalom's men that they have crossed the brook. After Absalom's men are gone, the pair make it to King David and he manages to cross the Jordan in time.
David and Absalom meet at [[Mahanaim]], and David's allies bring his army food, given his army is tired and exhausted after its time in the wilderness. David divides his army into thirds: one led by Joab, one led by Abishai and one led by Ittai. David intends to come out with his men, but his generals veto it. He decides to stay at the city, and instructs his generals to be gentle with Absalom. The battle is fought in the [[Battle of the Wood of Ephraim|Wood of Ephraim]]. This proves to be a victory for David, in part because of the treacherous terrain. As Absalom meets David's men, he passes under a tree; his long hair gets caught in the tree and he is hanged. Joab gets word of this, finds him and plunges three javelins into his heart, killing him. Joab declares the battle over and buries Absalom. Absalom's monument is [[Tomb of Absalom|the pillar]] he built during his lifetime.▼
▲David and Absalom meet at [[Mahanaim]], and David's allies bring his army food, given his army is tired and exhausted after its time in the wilderness. David divides his army into thirds: one led by Joab, one led by Abishai and one led by Ittai. David intends to come out with his men, but his generals veto it. He decides to stay at the city, and instructs his generals to be gentle with Absalom. The battle is fought in the [[Battle of the Wood of Ephraim|Wood of Ephraim]]. This proves to be a victory for David, in part because of the treacherous terrain. As Absalom meets David's men, he passes under a tree
Ahimaaz and a [[Cush (Bible)|Cushite]] run to tell David the news of his victory and his son's death. Ahimaaz declares the victory, but is not sure yet what the situation with Absalom is. The Cushite bears the same news, but also tells David that Absalom is dead. David begins to mourn, wishing he had died instead of Absalom. This prompts his men to start mourning as well, causing Joab to enter his tent in an attempt to talk sense into him. Joab points out that the battle has saved not only David's life, but the lives of his wives and concubines, and thus it is humiliating for the men to have to mourn for the enemy. David agrees to come out and encourage the men.
Given the sudden change in situation, the elders of Israel begin to argue about what to do next. David convinces the elders of Judah to escort him back to Jerusalem. They are joined by Shimei, who apologises to David. Abishai once again calls for the death penalty, but once again David grants clemency. Mephibosheth also comes to David, and explains the earlier situation: he had wanted to come with David and had told Ziba to saddle his donkeys, but Ziba had betrayed and slandered him. David offers to allow him and Ziba to split the land, but Mephibosheth allows Ziba to take the lot in celebration of David's triumph.
David invites his host in Mahanaim, Barzillai, to return to Jerusalem with him, but Barzillai protests on the basis that he is now eighty years old and thus will gain no enjoyment from coming. He gives David his servant Kimham in his place, and David promises to look after him. A scuffle breaks out between the Judahites and the other Israelites about why they specifically got to escort the king home. Attempting to resolve the issue, a Benjaminite named [[Sheba son of Bichri]] launches a rebellion against David, which all the tribes except Judah back.
Back in Jerusalem, David begins to sort out the issues that were caused by his absence. First, he puts the ten concubines who were left behind into a guarded house and gives them pensions but does not sleep with them, allowing them to live the rest of their lives as widows. He then begins to sort out a defence against Sheba. He tells [[Amasa]], the general whom he wishes to replace Joab, to summon the Judahite troops and have them in Jerusalem within three days, something he fails at. David therefore tells Abishai to start pursuing Sheba to effectively put down his rebellion before it has begun. Amasa meets Abishai and Joab at [[Gibeon (ancient city)|Gibeon]]. Amasa goes to meet Joab, but Joab's dagger falls out of his tunic, stabbing Amasa in the stomach, killing him. He is covered with a cloth and placed in a field, and the army continues pursuing Sheba. They meet him at [[Abel-beth-maachah|Abel Beth Maakah]], a stronghold of Sheba's rebellion, and begin to lay siege to it. A wise woman asks them why they want to destroy the city, and Joab responds they don't want to destroy it, but merely end Sheba's rebellion. The wise woman cuts off Sheba's head and throws it to Joab from the city walls, thus ending the siege.▼
Back in Jerusalem, David begins to sort out the issues that were caused by his absence. First, he puts the ten concubines who were left behind into a guarded house and gives them pensions but does not sleep with them, allowing them to live the rest of their lives as widows. He then begins to sort out a defence against Sheba. He tells [[Amasa]], the general whom he wishes to replace Joab, to summon the Judahite troops and have them in Jerusalem within three days, something he fails at. David therefore tells Abishai to start pursuing Sheba to effectively put down his rebellion before it has begun.
====Supplementary information (21:1-24:25)====▼
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2 Samuel concludes with four chapters, chapters 21 to 24, that lie outside the chronological succession narrative of Saul and David, a narrative that will continue in The Book of Kings. Chapter 21 tells the story of a three-year long famine which takes place at the start of David's reign. God explains this is a punishment for Saul's genocide of the Gibeonites, a people group who are the remnants of the [[Amorites]], whom Israel had promised to spare but Saul has massacred. David calls the Gibeonites and asks what he can do to make amends, hoping this will end the famine.
The Gibeonites ask for seven of Saul's descendants to kill, and David agrees. He spares Mephibosheth, but hands over Rizpah's sons [[Armoni and Mephibosheth]] and the five sons of Merab and Adriel. They are killed by the Gibeonites and their bodies are exposed at the start of the barley harvest. Rizpah protects the bodies, and David agrees to take the bones of Saul, Jonathan and those killed by the Gibeonites and bury them in the tomb of [[Kish (Bible)|Kish]] in [[Zelah, Judea|Zelah]]. This pleases God and the famine ends.
Another war then occurs with the Philistines. In the first battle, Abishai kills Ishbi-benob, a Philistine who had sworn to kill David, which leads to David's army refusing to let him fight alongside them again for his own protection. The second battle takes place at Gob, and this time Sibbekai the Hushathite kills a Philistine named Saph. A third battle also takes place in Gob, where [[Elhanan, son of Jaare-oregim|Elhanan, son of Jair]] kills Goliath's brother. In the fourth battle, at Gath, Jonathan, son of Shimeah, kills a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.
Chapter 22 is similar to [[Psalm 18]], and is a song David sang when he was delivered from Saul.
Chapter 23 begins with David's last words, a subdued speech in which David expresses gladness at the goodness of his house. It then tells stories of a group of men identified as '[[David's Mighty Warriors]]'. [[Jashobeam|Josheb-Basshebeth]], [[Eleazar (son of Dodai)|Eleazar, son of Dodai]] and Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite all single-handedly win battles against the Philistines. One day, while David and his men are hiding in the cave of Adullam, David becomes homesick and, hearing the Philistines have taken over Bethlehem, cries out desiring water from Bethlehem's well.
These three men risk their lives to work their way through Philistine lines and bring water from the well back to David. David refuses to drink it and offers it to God because his warriors risked their lives for it. Abishai, we learn, achieved his high position by single-handedly killing three hundred men. Another warrior, [[Benaiah#Benaiah, son of Jehoiada|Benaniah, son of Jehoiada]], kills Moab's two mightiest warriors, a lion, and a huge Egyptian with his own spear. The chapter finishes by listing David's other mighty warriors, known as the Thirty. Chapter 24 tells the story of more calamities on Israel. God is angry once again at Israel, so he instructs David to take a census. Joab has his reservations, but ultimately relents. When the results come in, David realises what he has done, and begs God for mercy. [[Gad (prophet)|Gad the prophet]] offers David three choices of punishment: three years of famine, three months of pursuit by his enemies or three days of plague. David chooses the plague. 70,000 people die.
== Composition ==
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Four of the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] feature parts of the books of Samuel: [[List of manuscripts from Qumran Cave 1|1QSam]], found in [[Qumran Caves|Qumran Cave 1]], contains parts of 2 Samuel; and 4QSam<sup>a</sup>, 4QSam<sup>b</sup> and 4QSam<sup>c</sup>, all found in [[List of manuscripts from Qumran Cave 4|Qumran Cave 4]]. Collectively they are known as [[The Samuel Scroll]] and date from the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/blog/tag/1qsam/|title=1qsam | The Way To Yahuweh}}</ref>{{sfn|Rezetko|Young|2014|p=671}}
The earliest complete surviving Hebrew copy of the book(s) of Samuel is in the [[Aleppo Codex]] (10th century CE).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-28-adfg-aleppo28-story.html|title=Scholars search for pages of ancient Hebrew Bible|date=September 28, 2008|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The complete Greek text of Samuel is found in older manuscripts such as the 4th-century [[Codex Sinaiticus]].
== Themes ==
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{{Refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite book|last=Auld|first=Graeme|chapter=1 & 2 Samuel|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC&q=There+are+two+common+types+of+strategy+for+reading+the+books+of+Samuel&pg=PA213|editor=James D. G. Dunn and John William Rogerson|title=Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible|publisher=Eerdmans|year=2003|isbn=9780802837110}}
*{{cite book|last=Barron|first=Robert |title=2 Samuel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t1J-BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT17|series=Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible|
*{{cite CE1913|last=Bechtel|first= Florentine Stanislaus|wstitle=First and Second Books of Kings|volume=8}}
* {{Cite book|last=Bergen|first=David T.|title=1, 2 Samuel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eGT6fWsajqcC&q=I+%26+II+Samuel%3A+a+commentary+Gordon&pg=PA49|publisher=B&H Publishing Group|year=1996|isbn=9780805401073}}
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* {{Cite book|last=Gordon|first=Robert|title=I & II Samuel, A Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JMJ1ZAnswuUC&q=I+%26+II+Samuel:+a+commentary+Gordon&pg=PA338|publisher=Paternoster Press|year=1986|isbn=9780310230229}}
* {{Cite book|last=Halpern|first=Baruch|title=David's Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King|publisher=Eerdmans|year=2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tn8PG4XfuBAC&q=lahmi+bethlehemite&pg=PA8|isbn=9780802827975}}
* {{Cite book|last=Hertzberg|first=Hans Wilhelm|title=I & II Samuel, A Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=friNN7IdjOIC&q=Saul+appointed+anointed+instituted&pg=PA19|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|year=1964|orig-year=1960|edition=trans. from German 2nd
* {{Cite book|last=Jones|first=Gwilym H|chapter=1 and 2 Samuel|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wCRYl9Ikk6EC&q=Gwilym+Jones+1+and+2+Samuel&pg=PA196|editor=John Barton and John Muddiman|title=The Oxford Bible Commentary|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2001|isbn=9780198755005}}
*{{cite book|last=Kirsch|first=Jonathan |title=King David: The Real Life of the Man Who Ruled Israel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TEwVdltjBSQC&pg=PA307|date=
* {{Cite book|last=Klein|first=R.W.|chapter=Samuel, books of|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OJvO2jMCr8C&q=narrative+sources+books+of+samuel&pg=PA314|editor=Bromiley, Geoffrey W|title=The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia|publisher=Eerdmans|year=2003|isbn=9780802837844}}
* {{Cite book|last=Knight|first=Douglas A|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SNLN1nEEys0C&q=630+BCE&pg=PA62|editor=James Luther Mays, David L. Petersen and Kent Harold Richards|chapter=Chapter 4 Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomists|title=Old Testament Interpretation|publisher=T&T Clark|year=1995|isbn=9780567292896|page=62}}
* {{Cite book|last=Knight|first=Douglas A|chapter=Sources|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=goq0VWw9rGIC|editor1=Watson E. Mills|editor2= Roger Aubrey Bullard|editor3=Edgar V. McKnight|title=Mercer Dictionary of the Bible|publisher=Mercer University Press|year=1991|isbn=9780865543737}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Lawee |first1=Eric |title=From the Pages of Tradition:
*{{cite book |last1=Lawee |first1=Eric |title=Isaac Abarbanel's Stance Toward Tradition: Defense, Dissent, and Dialogue |date=2012 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-7914-8988-8 |pages=180–181 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmvO5K43Kv8C&pg=PA180 |language=en}}
* McCarter Jr., P. Kyle (1984). ''II Samuel: A New Translation With Introduction and Commentary By''. Anchor Bible. {{ISBN|9780385068086}}.
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[[Category:6th-century BC books]]
[[Category:Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)]]
[[Category:Nevi'im| 03]]
[[Category:Works set in the 11th century BC]]
[[Category:Works set in the 10th century BC]]
[[Category:Phoenicians in the Hebrew Bible]]
[[Category:Historical books]]
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