2 Samuel 24

Study Guide 34: 2 Samuel 21-24; 1 Chronicles 21-29 INSIGHTS INTO DAVID’ S REIGN Overview In these historical chapters the writers de scribe six incidents that are out of historical sequence. The incidents give us further insights into David’ s reign and times. These incidents are:

Incident2 Sam.1 Chron. Gibeonites avenged2Sa_21:1-14 Philistine wars2Sa_21:15-22 David’ s census2Sa_24:1-251Ch_21:1-30 Temple plans1 Chron. 22-26; 1 Chronicles 28:1-21 David’ s giving1Ch_29:1-20 David’ s death2Sa_23:1-71Ch_29:21-30While lesser known, they too have very personal messages for you and me, and for those we teach. MIGHTY MEN. These were military leaders of David’ s army. For a discussion of the organization of the military and civilian government, see Study Guide 32. SOLOMON. Solomon was 1 of 10 sons of David’ s eight major wives. The other sons were Amnon, Kileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan. Although 1 of 4 sons of David and Bathsheba, Solomon’ s exceptional qualities led many to encourage David to make him David’ s successor. The other named sons of David are Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. These sons are named in 2 Samuel 3:2-5, in 1 Chronicles 3:1-9; and 1 Chronicles 14:3-7. In addition David had other sons by his concubines, or secondary wives.

Commentary Each of the six incidents in these sections of our Old Testament adds insights into David and his rule. It is difficult to place them accurately in particular periods of David’ s life, except for those which clearly come near the end of David’ s reign.

Gibeonites Avenged: 2 Samuel 21:1-14The Gibeonites had lived in the Promised Land long before the time of the Conquest. When Israel attacked Palestine, the Gibeonites resorted to a trick in a desperate effort to survive. They sent envoys, dressed in worn clothing and carrying aged supplies, to beg Joshua and the Israelite leaders for peace. In return for a nonaggression pact, the Gibeonites pledged to be subject to Israel. Joshua and the others accepted this offer without taking time to consult with God. The Bible says, “ Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath” (Joshua 9:15). Three days later the Israelites learned that the Gibeonite cities were actually nearby, and were in fact part of Israel’ s inheritance. But then it was too late. “ The Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel” (Joshua 9:18). Despite the grumbling of the people, the leaders insisted that they abide by their oath, for it had been sworn in the name of the Lord. What Joshua did do was make the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers to serve the community of Israel and the altar of the Lord. With this background we can understand the dynamics of the events recorded for us in 2 Samuel 21:1-22. This passage tells us that there was a three-year famine in the land. When King David desperately sought for a reason from God, he learned the cause of the famine. “ It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death” (2 Samuel 21:1). This incident is not recorded in the Old Testament, and we do not know the reasons for Saul’ s act. We do know that Saul’ s own castle site was at Gibeah, about five miles north of Jerusalem, and that the Gibeonites lived nearby, about five and one-half miles northwest of Jerusalem. In his zeal to purge the land of foreigners, Saul had tried to annihilate them (2 Samuel 21:2). This was a violation of the ancient treaty which had been sworn in God’ s name. The drought was now understood to be a divine punishment for a specific violation of God’ s Law. So David asked the Gibeonites what he could do to make amends. The Gibeonites chose to have seven of Saul’ s sons or grandsons put to death. The executions took place at harvesttime. When the absent rains returned, David knew that God would again answer prayer for his land. David did however give the seven, and also the bones of Saul and Jonathan, burial in the tomb of Saul’ s father. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT What are valid reasons for breaking your word to someone? Several passages in the Bible suggest that commitments are to be kept. Jesus condemned the Pharisees in part because they invented ways to keep their oaths from being binding (Matthew 23:16-22). Instructing His followers, Jesus said, “ Do not swear at all,” and went on to explain that each person’ s integrity should be such that his yes means yes and his no means no. More than that should be unnecessary for a man of integrity. The death of Saul’ s descendants was harsh. And the text does not suggest that God approved. But Saul had intended genocide, despite the historic oath of protection sworn in God’ s name by an earlier Israelite leader. Brutality had engendered brutality in return, just as broken oaths destroy trust and gain a return of deceit. Let your group members read this passage, and the background passages in Joshua, and try to explain what they read. How tragic that what we sow we do reap. And how important to be trustworthy persons, whose yes can be counted on because of the depth of our integrity.

Philistines Defeated: 2 Samuel 21:15-22In the Philistine wars David destroyed the power of these traditional and powerful enemies. Two things, however, are of note in the text. In one battle David was in serious danger of being killed. After his rescue, his men insisted that he not go out to battle with them again. His life was too important to risk in battle. This reaction is understandable. But, on the other hand, if David had been leading his forces rather than standing on his rooftop the evening he saw Bathsheba, one of his great sins might have been avoided. Was remaining away from the battlefield the right thing to do? Or does it suggest a weakening of faith? The other thing of note is the suggestion that Elhanan killed Goliath. Apparently the text has been corrupted here by dropping out the words “ Lahmi the brother of [Goliath]” (see 1 Chronicles 20:5).

David’ s Census: 2 Samuel 24:1-25; 1 Chronicles 21:1-30This passage leads us to explore the Old Testament concept of causation — something that is difficult for Western minds to readily grasp. The texts tell us the following story. God was, for some unstated reason, angry with Israel. He “ incited David against them,” and David ordered, “ Go and count Israel and Judah” (2 Samuel 24:1). Though Joab resisted this order, David prevailed and the census was undertaken. When this same story is told in 1 Chronicles, the text begins, “ Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census” (1 Chronicles 21:1). Here Joab’ s argument is stated even more strongly. This was a sinful act, which would surely bring “ guilt on” David and the people he led. When the census had been completed, God punished Israel in unnamed ways. But David realized that the fault was his. “ I have sinned greatly by doing this,” David confessed. “ Now I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish [morally deficient] thing” (1 Chronicles 21:8). God gave David a choice of three punishments, each of which would fall on Israel. There would be three years of famine, three months of defeat, or three days of the “ sword of the Lord” — a terrible plague in the land. Heartbroken, David chose the least of the three evils: the plague. The loss of life was terrible, and David had a vision of the destroying angel. He begged God to let the Lord’ s hand fall on him for he, David, was responsible. Instead, the angel commanded David to offer a sacrifice, and the plague was stopped. In these two reports of this terrible event, responsibility for what happens seems to shift from person to person. The people had done something to merit punishment. God incited David to a foolish act. Satan incited David to a foolish act. And David chose to act foolishly. The question Westerns are likely to ask is, “ Who is really to blame?” We want to fix responsibility in one place, and to excuse the other actors. But the Hebrews did not view moral causation in a Western way. The Old Testament approach to morality takes it for granted that all are responsible. That is, God was responsible for inciting David to take the census. He had His own purpose for this action, and that purpose was a righteous one. Satan was responsible for inciting David to take the census. And Satan had his own purposes for taking that action. And, David was responsible for taking the census. He too had his own purpose in mind! In essence, each actor in this situation is viewed as both free and responsible. God incited David — but He was not responsible for David’ s choice. Satan incited David — but Satan was not responsible for David’ s choice. What God was responsible for was the act of inciting, and His reason for that act was a good, holy, and just reason. What Satan was responsible for was his act of inciting David. And Satan’ s reasons for his act flowed from his evil character: he was acting as the adversary and enemy of God’ s people. What David was responsible for was his decision to take the census. And David too had his own reasons, which commentators have suggested might have been pride, or a shifting of trust from God to military might. We can diagram the above quite simply:

PersonHis responsibilityHis reason GodHe incited DavidRighteous anger against Israel SatanHe incited DavidHatred of God’ s people DavidHe decided to take a military censusPride or lack of trust in GodWhat is important to note here is that each party is responsible for his own acts. None “ made” another do what he did. Each acted responsibly for his own good or bad reasons. In the biblical view, influences do not relieve a person of moral obligation. Each individual is responsible for his own choices. This is a difficult view for those who have been taught to excuse others so easily. Jimmy comes from a broken home. No wonder he steals. Mr. Bronson is an alcoholic. He was drunk when he hit that bicyclist. He’ d never have done it if he’ d been sober, so it’ s not his fault. Or, “ My Suzie would never have given in if he hadn’ t pressured her so much.” In our society “ mitigating circumstances” are assumed to at least partially excuse individuals, and the notion of full personal responsibility makes little sense. Yet in the Bible it is failure to hold people responsible for their actions which makes no sense. God has made human beings both free and responsible. It is true that temptations come, and that we are each subject to many influences. But no influence determines our choices. We are, and must ultimately, be held responsible for our actions. David, despite the supernatural pressures on him, recognized and acknowledged his responsibility. And so must we, if we are to find, as David did, relief from guilt, and a way to halt the rippling effect of every sinful act. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Plan a courtroom role play. Let one member of your group prepare ahead of time to be “ prosecuting attorney” and another to be “ defense attorney.” The crime is theft. The defendant comes from a broken home, and is a high school dropout. There is no doubt that the defendant is guilty. The question is how responsible he or she is for the act, and what the sentence should be. The defense attorney argues for a light sentence on the basis of diminished responsibility. The prosecuting attorney argues for a heavier sentence. After the summations, have the class discuss the arguments of each, and evaluate them. Then look at the story of David’ s census in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. How important is the biblical concept of full individual responsibility for one’ s actions, whatever the influences? How does such a view affect our own lives? How does it affect our relationships with God? The story of the census concludes with David purchasing a threshing floor and animals to offer as a sacrifice. (The threshing floor was a flat, tabletop area of land where grain could be beaten and tossed. The wind blew out the chaff, letting the heavier kernels fall to the ground.) Of particular note is one statement of David’ s to the owner, Araunah, who had offered to give the land and animals to the king. “ No,” David said. “ I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing” (1 Chronicles 21:24).

Temple Plans: 1 Chronicles 22-26; 1 Chronicles 28:1-21David had yearned to build a temple for the Lord, but he had been rejected (cf. 1 Chronicles 22:7-8). Still, David was told that the desire was accepted. And David was told that his son, a man of peace to be called Solomon, would build the temple of the Lord. But David was still concerned. Solomon was “ young and inexperienced.” So the worried father, like so many dads today when the time comes to turn over their businesses to their sons, gave Solomon advice. But also David went ahead and made preparations so Solomon wouldn’ t go wrong in building the temple when David was gone. David gathered some 3,750 tons of gold and 37,500 tons of silver, along with uncounted amounts of wood, stone, and metals. David also assembled skilled workmen. In addition David worked out with the leaders of the Levites their temple duties, and organized them into shifts. Still others were trained as musicians (1 Chronicles 25:1-31). In fact, David even gave Solomon detailed blueprints for the structure, and written instructions and drawings of each article of furniture. “ All this is in writing,” David said, “ because the hand of the Lord was upon me, and He gave me understanding in all the details of the plan” (1 Chronicles 28:19). While the great Jerusalem temple was actually constructed during Solomon’ s reign, the vision and plans were David’ s. David could not see his vision fulfilled. But that did not stop him from giving himself fully to that vision. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Often it is spiritual vision that sets apart those who accomplish great things for God from those who merely dream. Many a missionary has worked for decades in a difficult field without seeing a single convert. Yet his or her ministry has prepared the way for a great revival to come after his passing. Ask your group members: “ What can you think of that is so significant that you would spend your life working for it, even if it could not be achieved in your lifetime?”

David’ s Giving: 1 Chronicles 29:1-20David’ s vision of the temple consumed his later years. At the end he could say, “ With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God” (1 Chronicles 29:2). David added, “ I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple” (1 Chronicles 29:3). David’ s example stimulated all the leaders of Israel to give willingly, and “ the people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” (1 Chronicles 29:9). This passage ends with prayer and with praise, and with this meditation: “ But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14). The giving by David and by the people as well was truly, in this case, willing and “ with honest intent” (1 Chronicles 29:17). How beautiful David’ s request: “ Keep this desire in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You” (1 Chronicles 29:18). LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Have your group members study this passage and develop a plan to encourage giving in your church. What seems to have motivated each giver mentioned in the text? What were the results of giving? What might you suggest to stimulate giving in your congregation? When you have studied the passage, have the group work together to develop a list of recommendations on giving that might be presented to a church board or treasurer.

David’ s Death: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Chronicles 29:21-30Second Samuel reports the last words of David. Those words speak powerfully of David’ s awareness that he had been God’ s instrument. Even more, they speak of David’ s complete confidence that God had made an “ everlasting covenant” with David’ s family, and that God would be loyal to that commitment. Because God truly is sovereign, David looked ahead with certainty, knowing that God had “ arranged and secured . . . every part” (2 Samuel 23:5). First Chronicles tells us that David then made final preparations for his departure. He saw to it that Solomon was acknowledged by all as the next king. Then, at the end of a 40-year reign, David died “ at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor” (1 Chronicles 29:28). And his son Solomon succeeded him as king. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Have your group members write their own epitaphs. Study David’ s last words in 2 Samuel and the last few verses of 1 Chronicles. Discuss: “ What seemed important to David as he looked back? What were his feelings as he looked ahead to his coming death?” Then give each member of your group a sheet of paper and ask each to write a two-paragraph “ good-bye” to a loved one, or else to write an obituary column in which he or she looks back and looks ahead and summarizes his or her own life. Read these to each other, and talk about what is really important to each. What kind of legacy would each like to leave others? What would make each feel, as David did, that his life had been meaningful and worthwhile?

Teaching Guide Prepare Which of the incidents reported in these chapters has an important personal lesson for you? Write down the lesson God is teaching you through the selected incident.

Explore

1. Give a minilecture overview of the six incidents, including the following information on the practical themes of several. Then let your group members select one incident to focus on.

Gibeonites avenged. What does it mean to be a person of one’ s word? What can result from a loss of integrity? David’ s census. How responsible are we for our choices? Can we ever shift responsibility to circumstance or to others who have influenced us, or are we fully responsible? Temple plans. What is worth spending our lives working for, even though we may never see the results? David’ s giving. What principles of giving should guide our own and our church’ s stewardship practices? How can we motivate our children to be givers rather than just receivers? David’ s death. What would give us a sense of satisfaction were we to look back on our lives just before our deaths? What would give us a sense of confidence as we look ahead at that time? 2. Or, simply survey these themes, and then select one of them for your group to focus on, without giving them the option of choice.

Expand Use the “ link-to-life” activity suggested in the commentary with the passage you chose to emphasize to give you a start. Enrich and expand the process suggested to focus on your own teaching goals.

Apply As you conclude, point out that the stories of the Old Testament are there to challenge each of us to examine our own lives and experiences. We can learn from David’ s successes and failures, and from other Bible characters, how to live more meaningful, more fulfilling, and more godly lives.