READ IT! - Introduction to 2nd Samuel 7-13

Readings for this week

Monday: 2nd Samuel 7
Tuesday: 2nd Samuel 8
Wednesday: 2nd Samuel 9
Thursday: 2nd Samuel 10
Friday: 2nd Samuel 11
Saturday: 2nd Samuel 12
Sunday: 2nd Samuel 13

Introduction to 2nd Samuel 7-13

Chapter 7 

David then makes plans for the Temple. David feels guilty for having a nice house while God does not have a nice house. David asks the prophet Nathan about it and Nathan is all for giving God a nice house. But Nathan has to put his foot in his mouth. God says, “When have I ever asked for a nice house?” David has too much blood on his hands, so instead his son Solomon will build God’s Temple. David sets up a Temple fund for the future. 

We then read about the Davidic Covenant. God told Nathan to deliver a message to David: 

“I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.” 

“I will make a home for my people Israel…” 

“The LORD himself will establish a house for you.” 

“I will establish forever the throne of your son who will build my Temple…” 

“My love will never be taken away from him…” 

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” 

David’s response: 

“Who am I to deserve this?” 

“How great you are, Sovereign LORD!” 

“Your covenant is trustworthy…” 

“May what you have promised come to pass.” 

Chapter 8 

We then read about David’s battles. David had defeated the Philistines but then he also defeated the Moabites. He allowed a third of them to live and they paid tribute to him. David defeated the army of Hadadezer of Zobah near the Euphrates. He defeated the Aramean army at Damascus and they paid him tribute. David (Jacob’s descendent) defeated the Edomites (Esau’s descendent) in the Valley of Salt. They became subject to David, in keeping with the prophecy, “The older will serve the younger.” David made Joab general of his army, and Zadok and Ahimelek (Abiathar's son) priests. 

Chapter 9 

We then read about David and Mephibosheth. David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” He was told that Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who was still living. Mephibosheth was “lame in both feet.” According to 2 Sam. 4, Mephibosheth was dropped when he was five and could not walk because of this. David returned all of Saul’s land to Mephibosheth and gave him the honor of “eating at the king’s table” as though he were one of David’s own sons. 

Chapter 10 

When the Ammonite king died, David sent a delegation to give his condolences. The new king arrested the delegation, shaved their heads, cut off the butt-side of their robes, and sent them away. The Ammonites led their army against David, and the Arameans joined them. David and Joab led Israel in battle and struck down their enemies. The Arameans were afraid to ally themselves with the Ammonites after this. 

Chapter 11 

We then read about David’s encounter with Bathsheba. We learn that David stayed at his palace while his men were out fighting battles. He looked down from his roof and saw Bathsheba bathing. He asked about her and was told that she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David had her brought to the palace and they had sex. Later on, Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant. David called Bathsheba’s husband Uriah back from the frontlines and told him to go spend time with his wife, but Uriah refused. David got him drunk and sent him home, but Uriah slept in the street instead. 

When David saw he could not cover his tracks, he sent Uriah back to the frontlines with a letter telling Joab to make sure that Uriah was killed in battle. Bathsheba mourned for her husband for a period of time and then David took her into his home and she became his wife. Bathsheba gave birth to a son. 

Chapter 12 

Later, Nathan the prophet confronts David. Nathan goes to King David and tells him a story about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had many sheep, but the poor man only had one that he loved like a daughter. But when the rich man had a guest, he did not feed his guest one of his own sheep, but cooked up the poor man's little lamb for dinner. David is enraged by the rich man in the story and vows to have the man severely punished. But Nathan says to him, “You are the man!” David repents, but he is now living under the curse of the Covenant. 

David’s child with Bathsheba died. Later, David and Bathsheba had another son named Solomon, one of the ancestors of Jesus. Solomon was also known as “Jedidiah,” the name God gave to him. “Jedidiah” means “loved by the LORD.” 

Chapter 13 

The next section of the book covers the story of Absalom’s Conspiracy. David’s son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar. David hears about it, but does nothing... which is similar to the story of the rape of Jacob's daughter. Tamar’s brother Absalom holds a grudge and plots Amnon’s death for two years. Absalom kills Amnon at the banquet of princes and then flees.