II Samuel 24, Census and Plague

We are summarizing various events in the reign of David. The last four chapters of the scroll of Samuel have:

• a famine and its resolution (2 Samuel 21)
• a song of David (2 Samuel 22)
• the last words of David and a list of heroes (2 Samuel 23)
• a plague and its resolution (2 Samuel 24)

Here the plague is apparently caused by David taking a census of the people.

2 Samuel 24:1-3, Census

Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."

So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."

But Joab replied to the king, "May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"

A parallel passage, 1 Chronicles 21, has Satan inciting David to take the census. Here, the Hebrew of 2 Samuel 24:1 is not clear on how David was "incited", as the critical verb, way-ya-set, apparently means "he/it incited" with a vague pronoun as subject. Some reconcile all of this by suggesting that God allowed Satan to seduce David into taking the census. The eventual result of this census and plague is the identification of the location of the future temple.

A census is apparently prohibited because the king of Israel is to rely on YHWH. (See Deuteronomy 17:14-20 which, although saying nothing of a census, orders a king to rely on YHWH, not horses or armies.) Even Joab is opposed to the census. As a census was often a prelude to further taxation, Joab may expect rebellion from the people during this process. We will see that the census is done by soldiers who are counting the number of fighting men.

2 Samuel 24:4-9, Overruled

The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel. After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.

After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

Joab completes the census. There are some natural questions about these numbers, just as in the numbers of the Exodus. The nation of Israel and the tribe of Judah are named. These appear to be different entities, foreshadowing a day when "Israel" will be the name of the northern ten tribes while "Judah" represents the tribe Judah and Benjamin.

2 Samuel 24:10-12, Guilty

David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: "Go and tell David, `This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'"

David feels guilty about what has been done and prays for forgiveness.  The prophet, Gad, brings a choice of penance.

2 Samuel 24:13-14, 

So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me."
 

David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
 

David has already spent months fleeing from enemies. He chooses a three day plague.

2 Samuel 24:15-17, A plague

So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the LORD, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family."

 

The plague kills thousands. (We have no details on the plague.)

2 Samuel 24:18-25, An altar on a threshing floor

On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad.
 

When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" 

"To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped."

Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you."

But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

David builds an altar on the threshing floor and the plague stops. Although this event is certainly not the last act of David, the book of Samuel ends here. David's death and the inauguration of Solomon will be covered in 1 Kings 1-2, where we will go next.

First published September 23, 2023, updated September 23, 2026

II Samuel 23, Mighty Men of David

Our story of David included a long praise song in the last chapter. Now we wrap up David's life by describing David's last words and listing the great warriors that served under him.

2 Samuel 23:1-7, Last words of David
These are the last words of David: 

"The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs: 

"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 

`When one rules over men in righteousness, 

when he rules in the fear of God, 

he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, 

like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'

"Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire? But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie."

 

David has sought (despite some obvious failures) to lead a house that serves God.

2 Samuel 23:8-12, The Three

These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. 

Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

We see here of three mighty men of David: Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah.  (NIV footnotes: In verses 8 and 9, ancient manuscripts have variants on a number of the names.)

2 Samuel 23:13-17, David longs for water

During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"

So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.

"Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

 

These three men broke into the Philistine camp, took water from a well, and brought it to David. David, out of respect for their escapade, poured the water out!

2 Samuel 23:18-19, Abishai

Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
 

A fourth hero is Abishai, who became commander of the Three.

2 Samuel 23:20-23, Benaiah

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

A fifth hero, Benaiah, was in charge of David's bodyguards.

2 Samuel 23:24-39, The thirty mighty men

Among the Thirty were: 

Asahel the brother of Joab, 

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, 

Shammah the Harodite, 

Elika the Harodite, 

Helez the Paltite, 

Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, 

Abiezer from Anathoth, 

Mebunnai the Hushathite, 

Zalmon the Ahohite, 

Maharai the Netophathite, 

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, 

Benaiah the Pirathonite, 

Hiddai  from the ravines of Gaash, 

Abi-Albon the Arbathite, 

Azmaveth the Barhumite,  

Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 

the sons of Jashen, 

Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, 

Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, 

Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, 

Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 

Hezro the Carmelite, 

Paarai the Arbite, 

Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, 

the son of Hagri, 

Zelek the Ammonite, 

Naharai the Beerothite, 

the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

Ira the Ithrite, 

Gareb the Ithrite 

and 

Uriah the Hittite. 

There were thirty-seven in all.

In addition to the five listed previously, we have names of at least thirty mighty men. A final note says that there were 37 in all. We note Uriah, the Hittite, Bathsheba's husband, is on this list.

(NIV footnotes: In verses 24-39, ancient manuscripts have variants on a number of the names.)

First published September 22, 2023, updated September 22, 2026

II Samuel 22, Song of David

As we reach the end of the scroll of Samuel, we have a praise song of David. This song also occurs, with minor changes, as Psalm 18.

This song is ancient poetry and so, argues Robert Alter, like much poetry, it uses terms that were old and antiquated even in the day it was written. Modern Hebrew scholars struggle to translate some of these really old Hebrew terms, terms that do not appear elsewhere in ancient writings.

2 Samuel 22:1-4, David's song of praise

David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: 

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, 

my shield and the horn of my salvation.

 He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior--

from violent men you save me.

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, 

and I am saved from my enemies.

David identifies YHWH with a rock or fortress, something that does not break down.

This version of the song does not include the first burst of an expression of love that occurs in Psalm 18:1, "I love you YHWH, my strength".  In contrast, Psalm 18 does not have the last half of verse 3, regarding refuge and salvation from violence.

2 Samuel 22:5-6, Waves of death

 "The waves of death swirled about me; 

the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

 The cords of the grave coiled around me; 

the snares of death confronted me.

The grave is pictured as overwhelming waves or as strong cords tying him down.

2 Samuel 22:7-9, Response from the temple 

 In my distress I called to the LORD; 

I called out to my God. 

From his temple he heard my voice; 

my cry came to his ears.

 "The earth trembled and quaked, 

the foundations of the heavens shook;

 they trembled because he was angry.

 Smoke rose from his nostrils; 

consuming fire came from his mouth, 

burning coals blazed out of it.

This passage is the same as verses 6-8 of Psalm 18. Some manuscripts (and Psalm 18:7) have the foundations of the mountains shaking, instead of the foundations of the heavens.

YHWH is personified as shaking the earth and breathing out fire and smoke, like a dragon.

2 Samuel 22:10-13, Riding on clouds

 He parted the heavens and came down; 

dark clouds were under his feet.

 He mounted the cherubim and flew;

he soared on the wings of the wind.

 He made darkness his canopy around him--

 the dark rain clouds of the sky.

 Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth.

YHWH responds, riding down from the heavens with clouds at his feet, riding on cherubim. Verses 11 and 12 differ slightly from Psalm 18:10-11. Some ancient Hebrew manuscripts of 2 Samuel reflect the texts of Psalm 18. 

2 Samuel 22:14-16, Bolts of lightning

 The LORD thundered from heaven; 

the voice of the Most High resounded.

 He shot arrows and scattered [the enemies], 

bolts of lightning and routed them.

 The valleys of the sea were exposed 

and the foundations of the earth laid bare

at the rebuke of the LORD, 

at the blast of breath from his nostrils.

Again, we have the image of a blast from the nostrils of a gigantic being, One who can use bolts of lightning as arrows. YHWH has access to all things that might frighten us, including the foundations of the earth, the depths of the sea and the mighty storms.

2 Samuel 22:17-21, Rescued

 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; 

he drew me out of deep waters.

 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, 

from my foes, who were too strong for me.

 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, 

but the LORD was my support.

 He brought me out into a spacious place; 

he rescued me because he delighted in me.

 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;

 according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

(See Psalm 18:16-20.) David rejoices at rescue, a rescue given in regard to his own righteousness.  What is this righteousness?  The next passage says more.  

2 Samuel 22:22-25, Blameless

 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; 

I have not done evil by turning from my God.

 All his laws are before me; 

I have not turned away from his decrees.

 I have been blameless before him

 and have kept myself from sin.

 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, 

according to my cleanness in his sight.

David's righteousness comes from following all the decrees of YHWH. One might cynically ask, "What about adultery?" But David has earnestly sought to follow YHWH and even in his human brokeness, kept returning to seek refuge in Him.

(Psalm 18:24 and some old manuscripts replace "cleanness in his sight" with " cleanness of my hands in his sight.")

2 Samuel 22:26-28, Faithful

 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, 

to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

to the pure you show yourself pure, 

but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

 You save the humble, 

but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.

(See Psalm 18:25-27.) YHWH responds to the intent of His people, protecting the humble but bringing down the arrogant.

2 Samuel 22:29-30, Lamp

 You are my lamp, O LORD; 

the LORD turns my darkness into light.

 With your help I can advance against a troop; 

with my God I can scale a wall.

(Compare with Psalm 18:28-29.) With YHWH's help, David is guided in darkness, he can break through barriers and scale walls, assaulting an enemy's defenses.

The meaning of the poetic Hebrew in verse 30 is not clear. The BibleHub copy of the Hebrew translates the verse as saying that with God's help "... I can run against a troop ... I can leap over a wall...."

2 Samuel 22:31-34, Flawless

 "As for God, his way is perfect; 

the word of the LORD is flawless. 

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

 For who is God besides the LORD? 

And who is the Rock except our God?

 It is God who arms me with strength

 and makes my way perfect.

 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; 

he enables me to stand on the heights.

(See Psalm 18:30-33.) Apparently some ancient manuscripts, in place of the line "who arms with me strength", in verse 33, have "who is my strong refuge."

2 Samuel 22:35-37, Stooping down

 He trains my hands for battle; 

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 You give me your shield of victory; 

you stoop down to make me great.

 You broaden the path beneath me, 

so that my ankles do not turn.

(See Psalm 18:34-36.) God stoops down to lift David up. He protects him as he runs and fights, so that David does not stumble or turn his ankle.

2 Samuel 22: 38-41, Victory

 "I pursued my enemies and crushed them; 

I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; 

they fell beneath my feet.

 You armed me with strength for battle; 

you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, 

and I destroyed my foes.

(See Psalm 18:37-40.) The result of YHWH's protection of David is victory.

2 Samuel 22:42-43, Trampled down

 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them--

to the LORD, but he did not answer.

 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; 

I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

(See Psalm 18:41-42.) At times, David's victory was brutal. 

2 Samuel 22:44-46, Head of nations!  

 You have delivered me from the attacks of my people; 

you have preserved me as the head of nations. 

People I did not know are subject to me,

 and foreigners come cringing to me; 

as soon as they hear me, they obey me.

 

They all lose heart; 

they come trembling from their strongholds.

(See Psalm 18:43-45.) David has been saved and indeed, his dynasty is "head of nations", with foreigners bowing before him, foreigners trembling in their strongholds. One wonders if this passage is hyperbole, predicting a future leader (the Messiah?) with these attributes.

2 Samuel 22:47-49, YHWH reigns

 "The LORD lives! 

Praise be to my Rock! 

Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

 

He is the God who avenges me, 

who puts the nations under me,

 who sets me free from my enemies. 

You exalted me above my foes; 

from violent men you rescued me.

(See Psalm 18:46-48.) YHWH lives, avenging David, putting the nations under him. No one reigns but YHWH!

2 Samuel 22:50-51, Reign forever

 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; 

I will sing praises to your name.

 He gives his king great victories; 

he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, 

to David and his descendants forever."

(See Psalm 18:49-50.) David and his descendants will reign forever. There is a strong Messianic feeling in these lines.

First published September 21, 2023, updated September 21, 2026

King Solomon and His Legacy, An Introduction to the First Book of Kings

In the first five books of the Old Testament, a nation arises out of the descendants of Jacob. That nation, Israel, then moves into the land of Canaan and for centuries is loosely ruled by judges. The ancient scroll of Samuel (1 & 2 Samuel in modern Bibles) describes the transition to a monarchy, with first king Saul and then the charismatic and powerful king David. David unites the twelve tribes and builds a capital in Jerusalem. The death of David is suggested at the end of the scroll of Samuel but David's death and the crowning of his son Solomon is described in more detail in the first two chapters of 1 Kings.

The scroll of 1 & 2 Kings begins with the glorious characteristics of the kingdom of Israel in 970 BC and ends in a dark time, with the captivity in Babylon, in 586 BC. The final verses describe the existence of a deposed Judean king now residing in Babylon, c. 550 BC. 

(This Wikipedia page on the Kings of Israel and Judah is useful for keeping the kings organized, along with providing tentative dates for their reigns.) 

Historians believe David's death occurred about 970 BC. The scroll of Kings then covers, rather rapidly, four centuries, from the death of David to the destruction of the southern kingdom by the armies of Babylon. At the end of 2 Kings, the descendants of Jacob have been dispersed across the ancient Near East, many of them to Babylon. 

Outline

1 Kings breaks into roughly three parts: Solomon's reign (40 years), then the break up of the kingdom  of Israel into two pieces and the contrasting dynasties that follow (60 years), followed by the reign of Ahab (20 years) and his confrontation with the prophet Elijah. Here are more details:

Solomon's Reign, chapters 1-11

• 1-2, Solomon's ascension
• 3-4, Solomon's wisdom and wealth
• 5-8, Solomon builds the temple
• 9-11, The slow downfall of Solomon

The Division of the Kingdom of Israel, chapters 12-16

• 12-14, The kingdom breaks up
• 15, Nadab, Baasha (Israel) vs. Abijah, Asa (Judah)
• 16, Elah, Zimri, Omri (Israel) 

The Conflict between Ahab and Elijah, chapters 17-22

• 17-19, Battle with Baal
• 20-22, Final confrontations with Elijah

Elijah's conflict with Ahab continues into the first few verses of 2 Kings. Chapters 1 through 10 of 2 Kings shift the focus to a new prophet, Elisha. 2 Kings 11-17 carry us from a bloody revolution by Jehu to the complete destruction of the northern kingdom (Israel) in 722 BC. The rest of 2 Kings (chapters 18-25) describe the remaining 136 years during which the northern kingdom is gone and the southern kingdom faces destruction, destruction which finally comes at the hands of Babylon. 

Author

The last event in the scroll of Kings is the release of Judean king Jehoiachin (2 Kings 25:27-30.) That event occurs about 561 BC. The scroll emphasizes the punishment of Israel and Judah due to their persistent denial of the covenantal agreement with YHWH, as described in Deuteronomy, yet the scroll does not cover the return of exiles to Judah in 538 BC and so scholars believe that 1 & 2 Kings was completed sometime between 561 BC and 538 BC. (Hubbard suggests 550 BC.)  

The scroll not only emphasizes devotion to YHWH, as required in Deuteronomy, but also emphasizes the roll of prophets in confronting the kings. Rabbinical tradition gives the author as the prophet Jeremiah. Indeed, at one point (2 Kings 10:15-16) the author briefly mentions, without explanation, Jehonadab, a son of Rekab and then the story moves on. Jehonadab does not show up again. The descendants of Rekab return to the Old Testament in Jeremiah 35, when Jeremiah addresses the descendants in Jerusalem. Does Jehonadab briefly show up in 2 Kings because the author is Jeremiah, who records there the early involvement of the Rechabites?

There are good arguments for identifying Jeremiah as the author of 1 & 2 Kings. His knowledge of the various kingdoms, along with prophesies against idolatry, are consistent with the book of Jeremiah itself, which also includes some historical information. Hubbard dates the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry to 627 BC and so suggests that Jeremiah wrote most of 1 & 2 Kings but the last few events. These last events (2 Kings 25:27-30), occurring 90 years later, may have been recorded by a later editor, preparing the scroll for the exiles in Babylon.

Questions about Dates

The events of 1 & 2 Kings are close enough to known external events of the ancient Near East, events in Egypt, Assyria and Babylon, that we can provide rough dates. In addition, the scroll of Kings itself provides quite a number of internal dates. The scroll covers the division of Israel into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The accession of a king in one kingdom is dated by the year of reign of the king in the other kingdom. However, with these internal dates, certain questions arise. 

If one king reigns 20 years and his son reigns 30 years, what are the total years of their reigns? 

This simple question may have a number of different answers, depending on how accession is recorded and whether or not there is a coregency, a period in which the son reigned while the father was still alive. There were two different practices in the ancient Middle East and both were apparently used at one time or another during this period in Israel. In one case, if a king took power during the middle of a year, that year counted as Year #1 in his reign. In other cases, that year did not count and Year #1 was the first full year of the king's reign. This means that the a reign of 20 years followed by a reign of 30 years might duplicate a year common to both monarchs or exclude a year in the count, leading to totalities of 49 or 51 years between the two kings. And if there was a coregency of 5 years, we might need to subtract 5 years from the total. Add in the fact that traditionally the year began in the spring but apparently, under the influence of outside nations, the year might began in the fall, and we then have a fair amount of confusion about the internal dating. Without an awareness of these issues, the internal dating is inconsistent (say commentators) and this inconsistency does not seem to bother the author of 1 & 2 Kings. There are some commentators who are very concerned about these calendar issues but I have ignored these in my own reading.

Resources and References

My practice is to read through the text from the New International Version (NIV), copied into the blog and italicized in blue and placed in bowl face. At the head of each blue paragraph of text I place a short title; after the text I place my thoughts or comments in black. I begin this process with my own reactions and thoughts and then supplement these comments with gleanings from a commentary or two.

(In the Substack posts that parallel this blog, the colors have been lost.)

The real goal of this blog is to force me to read every verse thoughtfully. I hope that you, too, read the passages thoughtfully!  Feel free to disagree -- or to react in other ways! (I place hyperlinks in pink, created so that one can click on a link and see the linked site open in another window... and go down a rabbit hole if you wish!)

For the book of 1 Kings, I have found two commentaries especially helpful. 

• Robert L. Hubbard, Jr.. has a commentary First & Second Kings, in the Everyman's Bible Commentary Series, published by Moody Press.
• I have also used a commentary by R. D. Patterson and Hermann J. Austel found in the fourth volume of the Expositor's Bible Commentary.

Both of these sources cover both 1 and 2 Kings. In addition to the two commentaries above, there are also:

• Amongst the online commentaries provided by EasyEnglishBible, is an online commentary on 1 Kings.  (The Easy English Bible commentaries are easy to read, with deliberately simple language intended for those for whom English is a second language. The Old Testament text is included in the commentary.) 
• The Gospel Coalition now has a set of online commentaries. Here is their commentary on 1 Kings.
• I have also used A Synoptic Harmony of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles: With Related Passages from Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezra, edited by James Newsome. Another harmony of those books is available as an online pdf here.
• A Bible Project video on 1 & 2 Kings is here.

Onward to the remarkable (and sad) history of Israel in the first half of the first millenium BC!

First published November 12, 2023, updated September 20, 2026

II Samuel 21, The Gibeonites and Saul's Descendants

David is now undisputed king of Israel. The book of Samuel ends with accounts of four events of his reign. These are not necessarily in chronological order; the event in this chapter likely precedes Absalom's rebellion. It reminds us of the bloody, violent times of the reigns of Saul and David.

2 Samuel 21:1-6, Gibeonites' revenge

During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."

The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to [spare] them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) David asked the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the LORD's inheritance?"

The Gibeonites answered him, "We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death."

"What do you want me to do for you?" David asked.

They answered the king, "As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul--the Lord's chosen one." 

So the king said, "I will give them to you."

Some Gibeonites had been killed by Saul, despite the agreements made in the time of the Joshua conquest. (See Joshua 9.) The three-year famine is linked to this murder and so David makes amends by agreeing to sacrifice seven of Saul's descendants.

2 Samuel 21:7-9, Slaughter of seven

The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

David turns over seven grandsons of Saul to be murdered by the Gibeonites.  

(NIV footnotes: some ancient manuscripts have Michal in place of Merab in verse 8.)

2 Samuel 21:10-14, Honoring the dead

Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.

When David was told what Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done, he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up. They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. 

After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

The act of Rizpah forces others to finally give honor to the dead. One result is that God returns to answering the prayers of Israel.

2 Samuel 21:15-17, Ishbi-Benob 

Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 

And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new [sword], said he would kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, "Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished."

David is exhausted in battle and his people decide he should no longer be involved in the fight. The descendants of Rapha appear to be powerful giant warriors of the Philistines.

2 Samuel 21:18-22, Other battles 

In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.

In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot--twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him.

These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

David continues to have conflict with the Philistines. This chapter ends with an account of four Philistines, Ishbi-Benob, Saph, Goliath/Lahmi and a huge man with six fingers on each hand. All were apparently descendants of Rapha.

Verse 19 in the NIV follows the Masoretic text, which has Elhanan, son of Jair, killing Goliath. But other ancient manuscripts have the son of Jair killing Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. This agrees with 1 Chronicles 20:5. 

First published September 20, 2023, updated September 19, 2026

II Samuel 20, The Rebellion of Sheba

Absalom's rebellion has been put down and now David is king again in Jerusalem. The divisions caused originally by Saul and David lives on, first in those supporting Absalom's rebellion and now in sporadic resistance to David's rule.

2 Samuel 20:1-2, Sheba rises

Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, "We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!" So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

The Benjamite followers of Saul included Shimei and Saul's grandson, Mephibosheth, in the last chapter. Apparently many of those people had gone over to Absalom in the earlier civil war and that division continues to ripple through the nation. Here we are told that the "men of Israel" desert David.

2 Samuel 20:3, Ten concubines

When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

Absalom had publicly slept with the concubines. This apparently dishonors the concubines and David exiles them to some type of confinement. Like his first wife, Michal, these women will not be mothers of royalty.

2 Samuel 20:4-7, Amasa's assignment

Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us." So Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.

Amasa, formerly Absalom's general, is given an assignment. He is slow in carrying it out and David begins to worry that there is treason afoot. He orders Abishai, Joab's brother to hunt for Amasa.  Abishai does this, taking charge of Joab's men. 

Joab is being pointedly ignored. He has no command, no authority.  What does he think about his command being passed to his enemy (and cousin) Amasa?

2 Samuel 20:8-10, Murder of Amasa

While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.

Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?"  Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.

Possibly Amasa is playing both sides. He was ordered to bring the men of Judah together but seems to be dawdling. Joab marches out, presumably in the direction of Abishai and his soldiers, and finds Amasa coming towards him at "the great rock." Joab takes this opportunity to murder Amasa. Joab, like many soldiers of that day, is wearing a tunic with a dagger and sheath visible in the belt. As Joab steps forward to greet Amasa, the dagger falls out of its sheath. This has the appearance of an accident and Joab picks up the dagger with his left hand while reaching with his right hand for Amasa. Amasa, expecting a greeting, is suddenly and brutally stabbed by the dagger in Joab's left hand. The violent thrust kills Amasa immediately and his intestines and blood spill onto the ground. Joab has gotten his revenge.

This deception echoes Ehud's lefthanded killing of Eglon in Judges 3:20-23.

2 Samuel 20:11-13, Wallowing in blood

One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!"

Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. After Amasa had been removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.

After Joab kills Amasa, one of Joab's men pulls his body out of the road so that the other soldiers won't stare at it. Joab, Abishai and Joab's army continue on in hunt of Sheba

2 Samuel 20:14-15a, Sheba besieged 

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.  All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. 

The troops of Joab trap Sheba at Abel Beth Maacah and surround the city. Joab is apparently leading them now.

(NIV footnotes: The identity of Abel Beth Maacah in verses 14 and 15 is unclear. This Wikipedia article identifies it with a tell -- an archealogical mound -- in far northern Israel. Indeed, this website invites students to join them for an ongoing dig there!)

2 Samuel 20:15b-21a, Ultimatum 

While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him."

He went toward her, and she asked, "Are you Joab?" "

I am," he answered. 

She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say." 

"I'm listening," he said.

She continued, "Long ago they used to say, `Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD's inheritance?"

"Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city." 

The town of Abel apparently has a reputation as a place for finding answers and claims a reputation of being peaceful. The woman insists they want no part in this civil war. Joab responds that the siege can be stopped by handing over Sheba.

2 Samuel 20:21b-22, Ultimatum 

The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall."

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
 

The woman of the city clearly has a leadership role. She promises Joab the head of Sheba and shortly therafter Sheba's head is tossed over the wall. Joab, triumphant, and the leader of the army of David, returns to Jerusalem. 

This chapter is one of several in the Old Testament that carries a PG-13 or R rating (R if put on film) for its violence. We have one man dying among his intestines and blood while another has his head thrown over the wall. After the violence of Judges, I enjoyed Ruth; after the violence of David's era, I'd rather read the Psalms for a bit!

Both commentators Robert Alter and Ronald Youngblood point out the numerous times that a woman has stepped in to reduce the violence of thts era. There is the "wise woman" of Tekoa (2 Samuel 14) who helps bring Absalom home and here the wise woman of Abel prevents a massacre. The wise woman, Abigail, wife of Nabal (1 Samuel 25) stopped David from massacring Nabal's family and servants.

2 Samuel 20:23-26, David's officers

Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.

We have here a list of leaders of David's army, all under Joab.

At this point we have most of the details of the reign of David. In the last four chapters of the scroll of Samuel we will have four additional stories from his reign. Then David's death and the appointment of Solomon as the next king will be told in chapters 1 and 2 of 1 Kings.

First published September 19, 2023, updated September 18, 2026

II Samuel 19, Return to Jerusalem

Absalom is dead. The civil war is over and David is victorious. David is still at a town east of the Jordan.

2 Samuel 19:1-4, Grieving for Absalom

Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, "The king is grieving for his son." The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. The king covered his face and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Despite victory, David's public distress has brought down the morale of the army. Joab sees dangers everywhere with this.

2 Samuel 19:5-7, Intervention by Joab

Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.

"You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now."

Joab, loyal to David and to his throne, confronts David. He assures David that by focusing on his son, Absalom, the one who tried to kill him, David has insulted all of the men who risked their lives for David. Embedded in his argument is a threat -- David is about to lose control of his army and all he has fought for.

2 Samuel 19:8a, David responds

So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, "The king is sitting in the gateway," they all came before him. 

David responds to Joab's correction and makes a public appearance, reassuring the people that he is indeed back in charge.

2 Samuel 19:8b-10, What of Israel?

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. Throughout the tribes of Israel, the people were all arguing with each other, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

The civil war has brought strife to Israel. Absalom's revolt involved men of Judah, including relatives of David. Ten of the other tribes seem to have allowed the rebellion but people within those tribes are now arguing that they should be active in restoring David to power. They cite David's past victories against the Philistines as evidence that David is their true king.

2 Samuel 19:11-14, What about Judah?

King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, `Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

"You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?'

"And say to Amasa, `Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.'"

He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men."

David asks the leaders of Judah to arrange a welcome for him back to Jerusalem. David goes as far as to appoint Amasa (Absalom's general) in place of Joab. (Absalom, Amasa and Joab are all cousins; Absalom a son of David while Amasa and Joab of sons of his sisters Abigail and Zeruiah.)

Putting Amasa in charge of the army is quite a step. We don't know what Joab thinks of this but David is certainly still angry about Absalom's death and may have an idea of Joab's part in that.

2 Samuel 19:15-18a, Recovering Jerusalem

Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan. Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.  With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul's household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished. 

The people of Judah hurry to welcome David back. At the front is Shimei, of the tribe of Benjamin, a supporter of Saul, who had cursed David earlier, as David fled Jerusalem. (See 2 Samuel 16: 5-8.)

2 Samuel 19:18b-23, Shimei begs forgiveness

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD's anointed."

David replied, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?"

So the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king promised him on oath.

The civil war has turned in David's favor and so Shimei quickly pleads for forgiveness. His earlier cursing of David surely put him on a list of David's enemies and Shimei must make this move or be killed later.  

Shimei gets forgiveness -- but it is somewhat limited, as we will see later.

Abishai, Joab's brother, is always eager to kill. David has seen enough of Joab and Abishai to object to these sons of his sister, Zeruiah. 

2 Samuel 19:24-30, Mephibosheth and Ziba

Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely.

When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"
 

He said, "My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, `I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.' But Ziba my servant betrayed me. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever pleases you. All my grandfather's descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who sat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?"

The king said to him, "Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the fields."

Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has arrived home safely."

Mephibosheth, grandson of Saul, also makes amends. There seems to have been a dispute that Mephibosheth blames on his servant Ziba. David seems uninterested and orders Mephibosheth and Ziba to split Mephibosheth's property. This is surely unjust to one of them; Mephibosheth is insulted by this apathetic reply and says the fields are not that important, that he is merely pleased to have David home safely.

2 Samuel 19:31-40, Barzillai and his servant

Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.

 The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you." But Barzillai answered the king, "How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

"Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."

The king said, "Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you." 

So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai returned to his home. When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

 

David attempts to reward Barzillai of Gilead, who had helped provide for David in his stay as a refugee, at Mahanaim.  Barzillai declines, citing his extreme age, but asks David to take care of his servant Kimham. (Alter suggests that Kimham is a son of Barzillai and that Barzillai is asking that David reward Barzillai's legacy in place of direct reward to him.)

David has now crossed back west of the Jordan, headed back to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 19: 41-43, Dispute between Judah and Israel

Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?"

All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king's provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?"

Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?" 

But the men of Judah responded even more harshly than the men of Israel.

A dispute continues between the ten tribes of Israel and the two tribes, Benjamin and Judah, led by Judah. Each claim to have been the first to invite David back to his rightful throne.

Tribal conflict in Israel has appeared from time to time since the day of the judges. The conflict between the northern ten tribes and the souther two tribes will explode into civil war and separation within the next four or five decades. But for now, the conflict has been resolved. Or has it? 

This story continues in the next chapter.

First published September 18, 2023, updated September 18, 2026