1. Rise of the Kings The Books of I & II Samuel
“The Davidic Covenant”

2. Announcements

3. I and II Samuel Week Date Topic 1 07 Mar 12
Samuel’s Call: 1 Samuel 1:1-4:1a 2
14 Mar 12
The Ark Narratives: 1 Samuel 4:1b-7:17 3
21 Mar 12
Israel Demands a King: 1 Samuel 8-12 4
28 Mar 12
The Decline of Saul: 1 Samuel 13-15 5
04 Apr 12
David – God’s Anointed: 1 Samuel 16-19 6
11 Apr 12
Saul’s Rejection of David: 1 Samuel 20:1-28:2 7
18 Apr 12
The Death of Saul: 1 Samuel 28:3-31:13 8
25 Apr 12
David Becomes King: II Samuel 1-6 9
02 May 12
The Davidic Covenant: II Samuel 7-10 10
09 May 12
Senior Blessing 11
16 May 12
David’s Moral Failure: II Samuel 11-14 12
23 May 12
Absalom’s Rebellion: II Samuel 15:1-19:8a 13
30 May 12
David Returns to Jerusalem: II Samuel 19:8b-24

4. Today’s Objectives
Review last week’s lesson, historical background, and timeline for the books of I and II Samuel
Review historical maps of Israel and the region
Read Chapter 7, Review Chapters 8-10
Learn what God said to David when David wanted to build a temple and what David said to God in response
Understand that God is in charge and will provide for us according to His will
Appreciate more of God’s goodness and love in our lives
This week:
II Samuel 7-10: The key versus in II Samuel 7-10 are found in 7:8-17, also titled “God’s Covenant with David.” This has extremely important New Testament impact and we should spend time reflecting upon what it means. God’s promise to David lives through Christ with the lineage outlined in the first chapter of Matthew. Other items in II Sam 7-10:
David tells Nathan of his desire to build a temple for God
Nathan initially approves, but God reveals to Nathan that He did not want David to build the temple
God promises David and his decedents an eternal dynasty, kingdom, and throne
God grants David great success in his military conquests and kingship
Last week:
II Samuel 1-6
God tells David to return to Hebron
Leaders of Judah anoint him king of Judah
David commends the people of Jabesh Gilead for burying the remains of Saul
At Hebron, Israel’s leaders acknowledge David as king of Israel, anointed
David rules Judah and Israel for 40 years
Has 13 children, many more wives
David attacks Jebusites in Jerusalem, takes the city, makes it his royal palace
King Hiram of Tyre helps David build a palace
David attacks the Philistines twice, the second time driving them back to Philistia
David moves the Ark to Jerusalem

5. Historical Background
Samuel named as the primary author
Samuel was the 13th (or 15th) judge of Israel
Nathan of Gad wrote about David’s life (1 Chron 29:29)
Abiathar, high priest, may have wrote later chapters
Existed as one book until translated into Greek around B.C.
Written between 931 B.C. and 722 B.C. and covered the period from B.C. or 130 years
Imperialistic void
Hittite and Egyptian empires had fallen more than a century earlier
Smaller kingdoms like the Ugarit had disintegrated as well
Author: Babylonian Talmud names Samuel as the primary author, but he dies in I Samuel 25, therefore someone else had to have penned the remainder of 1 Samuel and all of II Samuel.
Samuel: Samuel or Shmu'el (Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל, Standard Šəmuʼel Tiberian Šəmûʼēl) is an important leader of ancient Israel in the Book(s) of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. His status, as viewed by rabbinical literature, is that he was the last of the Hebrew Judges and the first of the major prophets who began to prophesize inside the Land of Israel. He was thus at the cusp between two eras. According to the text of the Book(s) of Samuel, he also selected/anointed the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel: King Saul and King David.
Nathan of Gad:
Abiathar:
Questions: How come it remained as one book until 300 B.C.? Good evidence exists that the books of Samuel were considered one book. The Masoretic postscript is at the end of 2 Samuel. Esdras and Josephus refer to Samuel as a single work. The translators of the Septuagint divided the books due to their
length when the vowels were added and renamed them 1 and 2 Kingdoms. Jerome followed the same divisions but changed their names to 1 and 2 Kings, but later versions of the Vulgate reverted to Samuel again.
Ugarit: Mediterranean port kingdom on the coast of modern day Syria. Very progressive, but small, society. Worshipped Baal and Dagon.
How many Judges were there? While the book of Judges lists only 12, Joshua, Eli, and Samuel are considered judges as well. This would increase the total from 12 to 15. The following (in order) are identified as Judges in the Book of Judges - great judges are those deemed worthy of large narratives in the Book:
Major Judges(Common Judges)
Joshua (the first judge/great judge)(book of Exodus)
Samson (great judge)
Deborah (great judge)
Gideon (great judge)
Minor Judges
Othniel
Ehud (great judge)
Shamgar
Tola
Jair
Jepthah (great judge)
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Some Biblical critics, though not all, believe that Abimalech was also originally considered a judge, becoming changed to a "king" owing to his being regarded as evil, at which point Shamgar was added to the list so that there were still 12 in the Book. Textual criticism also views the minor judges as being added to the list simply to make the total number equal 12, a number of religious significance to the Israelites
I Samuel also mentions:
Minor Judge
Eli (great judge)
Major Judge (Common Judge)
Samuel (great judge)
According to some textual critics the initial portion of the first book of Samuel, containing these two names, was probably originally the final part of the Book of Judges. Hence the original form of the book, according to some textual critics, listed 8 judges, 7 good and 1 bad, 7 being a religiously significant number.

6. Historical Background
Transition period in Israel’s history
Conclusion of a great famine in the land (see Ruth 1:1)
After the exodus, end of the period of the judges, and beginning of the monarchy
Israel had disintegrated morally, spiritually, politically
II Samuel Chapter 7-10 Key Events
David tells Nathan of his desire to build a temple for God
Nathan initially approves, but God reveals to Nathan that He did not want David to build the temple
God promises David and his decedents an eternal dynasty, kingdom, and throne
God grants David great success in his military conquests and kingship

10. David Desires to Build a Temple (7:1-7)
David had returned the Ark to Jerusalem
King Hiram of Tyre had built David a palace (5:11)
David concerned that the Ark remained in a tent
David consults with Nathan about the Ark
Contrasts his palace with the tent that held the Ark (7:2)
David proposes a permanent building for the Ark
Nathan initially approves, but God reveals His will (7:4)
God’s will revealed
God asks if David is the one to build His house (7:5)
God was satisfied with the tabernacle arrangement (7:6-7)
Our desires, even when commendable, do not always agree with God
NATHAN (ISBE) na'-than (nathan, "gift"; Nathan): A court prophet in David's reign and a supporter of Solomon at his accession. There are three main incidents in his career as depicted in the Old Testament. 1. Nathan and David's Temple-Plans: The two parallel narratives, 2 Sam 7:1-17 = 1 Ch 17:1-15, of which the former is the original, relate how David confided to Nathan his intention to build a house for Yahweh's ark. Nathan at first blesses the project, but that same night is given a Divine message, and returns to tell the king that instead of David building a house for Yahweh, Yahweh will build a house for David: "I will set up thy seed after thee, .... and I will establish his kingdom I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men" (2 Sam 7:12-14). 2 Sam 7:13 says that "He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever," but this disturbs the one great thought of the passage,. which is that God will build a house for David, and which is also the thought in David's prayer (7:18-29). The word "seed" in 2 Sam 7:12 is collective and so throughout the passage, so that the prophecy does not refer to any individual, but, like Dt 17:14-20; 18:15-22, belongs to the group of generic prophecies. Nor is it Messianic, for 2 Sam 7:14 could not be reconciled with the sinlessness of Jesus. The message is rather a promise of the ever-merciful providence of God in dealing with David's family. (See, however, C.A. Briggs, Messianic Prophecy, 126 ff.) Budde, who says that the section belongs to the 7th century and is certainly pre-exilic in the leading thought of the passage, sees in the prophecy something of the idealism of Amos and Hosea, for the prophet teaches that Yahweh dwells, not in "a holy place made with hands" (Heb 9:11,24), but rather in the life of the nation as represented by the direct succession of Davidic kings. This presents an extension of the teaching of Paul that the very body itself is a sanctuary unto God (1 Cor 6:19). 2. Nathan and David's Sin: 2 Sam 12:1-25 narrates Nathan's rebuke of David for his adultery, and for causing the death of Uriah; and then comes an account of the death of Bathsheba's child. In 12:1-15a, we have Nathan's parable of the rich man and the poor man's ewe lamb, and the application of it to David's conduct. But several difficulties arise when we ask exactly what Nathan's message to David was: 12:13 f represent the prophet as saying that God has forgiven David but that the child will die, while 12:10-12 speak of a heavy punishment that is to come upon David and his family, and 12:16 does not show any indication of a prophecy as to the child's death. Commentators regard 12:1-15a as later in origin than 2 Sam 11; 12 in the main, and hold 12:10-12 to be still later than the rest of 12:1-15a. Budde omits 12:9a,10ab,11,12, but regards even the rest of the story as interrupting the connection between 11:27b and 12:15b, and therefore of later date. 3. Nathan and Solomon's Accession: 1 Kings 1 is a part of "one of the best pieces of Hebrew narrative in our possession" (H.P. Smith, Old Testament History, 153, note 2). It narrates the part that Nathan played in the events that led to Solomon's accession. David was getting old and feeble, and the succession had not been settled. When Adonijah, who was probably the eldest son living, gave a banquet to some of his father's state officials, Nathan, who was one of those that had not been invited, incited Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, to remind David of his promise to her that Solomon should succeed to the throne. This she did, and in the middle of her audience with David, Nathan appears with the news of Adonijah's feast and proclamation as king. Solomon is then anointed king by David's command, Nathan being one of his chief supporters. It has been suggested that it is only Nathan who interprets Adonijah's feast as a claim to the throne, but this contradicts 1 Ki 1:5. Yet, whereas in the two sections treated above Nathan is the prophet of Yahweh , he is represented in 1 Kings as an intriguing court politician, planning very cleverly an opportune entrance into David's presence at the very time that Bathsheba has an audience with the king. The parallel narrative of 1 Ch 28 makes no mention of Nathan, Solomon being there represented as Divinely elected to succeed David. 1 Ki 4:5 mentions a Nathan as father of Azariah and Zabud, two of the chief officers of Solomon. He is probably the prophet. 1 Ch 29:29; 2 Ch 9:29 refer to "the words" or rather "the acts of Nathan the prophet" as well as those of Samuel and Gad. "There can be no doubt that these are nothing more than references to the narratives in which Samuel, Nathan and Gad are mentioned in our Books of Samuel" (Curtis on 1 Ch 29:29). In 2 Ch 29:25, sanction is claimed for Levitical temple-music as being commanded by God through Nathan and Gad. Curtis (on 1 Ch 29:29) observes that Nathan is always called nabhi' ("prophet") in Samuel and Kings and not ro'eh or chozeh, "seer." David Francis Roberts

11. God Makes a Covenant with David (7:8-17)
God reminds David of His earlier blessing
From a humble shepherd to be ruler of His people (7:8-9)
God promises three things for David while he is alive
Pledged to make his name great (7:9, also see 8:13)
God promises to give the Israelites a peaceful land (7:10)
God pledged to give him rest from all his enemies (7:11)
God promises four things for David after he dies
Establish his house (7:11)
Establish the throne of David forever (7:12)
Allow David’s son to build a temple to worship in (7:13)
Establish an intimate father-son relationship with David’s decedents (7:14)

12. David Offers a Prayer of Thanks (7:18-24)
David responded to Nathan’s message with prayer
Sets before God, acknowledges His blessing (7:18)
Wonder’s if this is how God treats everyone (7:19)
Overwhelmed by God’s grace (7:20)
Why had God made this covenant with David and his descendants?
To fulfill His earlier promises made to the Israelites
Followed his eternal plan and purpose for mankind (7:21)
Bestowed for God’s benefit (I Chron 17:19)
David acknowledges God’s supreme greatness
No one else like Him, He alone was God (7:22)
God did awesome things for His people (7:23)

13. David Prays for Continued Blessings (7:25-29)
David petitions God in prayer
David’s humble approach to the prayer
Acknowledges God’s sovereign power (7:27)
Asks God to remain faithful to His promise (7:25)
Acknowledges God’s trustworthy words (7:28)
Asks God to bless the house of David forever (7:29)

14. Titles for God in II Sam 7
David uses several important titles to address God
Sovereign Lord (7:18)
Combines God’s covenant name Yahweh with Adonai, meaning “lord” or “master”
Lord God (7:25)
Combines God’s covenant name Yahweh with Elohim, a general term for God used in ancient Israel
“El” is derived from a term meaning “power” or “might”
Lord Almighty (7:26)
Combines God’s covenant name Yahweh with Tzaba, a term that means “army” or “warfare”
Depicts God as a leader of a vast army of angelic beings

15. II Samuel 8-10 In Brief
God’s promises to David realized through military and administrative successes
Subdues the Philistines in the west
Subdues the Moabites in the east
Subdues the Arameans in the north,
Subdues the Edomites in the south
David as a kind ruler
Honors the pledge to Jonathan’s family (I Sam 20:14-15)
Learns about Mephibosheth’s plight
Returns property to Mephibosheth, permits him to live in Jerusalem
Tries to show kindness to the Ammonites

16. Review
Reviewed last week’s lesson, historical background, and timeline for the books of I and II Samuel
Review historical maps of Israel and the region
Read Chapter 7, Reviewed Chapters 8-10
Learned what God said to David when David wanted to build a temple and what David said to God in response
Understand that God is in charge and will provide for us according to His will
Learned to appreciate more of God’s goodness and love in our lives