Book 10 of 66 · Old Testament
2 Samuel
The reign of King David — his rise over all Israel, his great sin, and the troubles that followed in his own house.
24 chapters695 versesWritten in HebrewSet The reign of King David (c. 1010–970 BC)
Overview
2 Samuel is the story of King David's reign. He unites the tribes, captures Jerusalem, and is promised a lasting dynasty. But after his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, trouble breaks out in his own family — his son Absalom rebels and is killed. It is an honest portrait of Israel's greatest king, flaws and all.
Book facts
- Author
- Unknown; part of the Samuel scrollOriginally one book with 1 Samuel; the writer is unnamed.
- Date written
- c. 1000–900 BCThe events cover David's roughly forty-year reign (c. 1010–970 BC).
- Original language
- HebrewHebrew narrative, with David's poems in chapters 22–23.
- Setting
- The reign of King David (c. 1010–970 BC)From David's rise over all Israel to the troubles of his later years.
How it came to be
2 Samuel names no author and was originally the second half of one Samuel scroll. It continues straight from 1 Samuel, covering David's reign after Saul's death.
Like the first half, it appears to be woven from older court records and stories about David.
What is arguedHow the sources were combined, and how much is contemporary record. The vivid "court history" of David's family is often thought to be very early.
The whole book, chapter by chapter
| Chapter | What happens | Who is in it | Where it takes place |
|---|---|---|---|
David's rise — David becomes king over all Israel, chapters 1–10 | |||
| Chapter 1The lament for Saul | David mourns the deaths of Saul and Jonathan with a song. | , , | — |
| Chapter 2David king in Hebron | David is made king over Judah at Hebron, while Saul's son Ish-bosheth rules the north. | , , , | |
| Chapter 3The death of Abner | Abner defects to David but is murdered by Joab in revenge. | , , | |
| Chapter 4The death of Ishbosheth | Ish-bosheth is assassinated, leaving David without a rival. | , | — |
| Chapter 5David takes Jerusalem | David is made king over all Israel and captures Jerusalem as his capital. | , | |
| Chapter 6The ark brought up | David brings the ark to Jerusalem, dancing before it; Uzzah dies touching it, and Michal despises David. | , , | |
| Chapter 7The promise to David | Through the prophet Nathan, God promises David a lasting dynasty. | , | — |
| Chapter 8David's victories | A summary of David's wars and the reach of his kingdom. | — | |
| Chapter 9Mephibosheth | David shows kindness to Jonathan's crippled son Mephibosheth. | , | — |
| Chapter 10The Ammonite war | David's messengers are insulted, and war with Ammon and Syria follows. | , | — |
David's fall — his sin, and the troubles it brought on his house, chapters 11–20 | |||
| Chapter 11David and Bathsheba | David commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges the death of her husband Uriah. | , , , | |
| Chapter 12Nathan's parable | Nathan confronts David with a parable; the child of the affair dies, and Solomon is later born. | , , | — |
| Chapter 13Amnon and Tamar | David's son Amnon assaults his half-sister Tamar; her brother Absalom kills Amnon in revenge. | , , | — |
| Chapter 14The woman of Tekoah | Joab uses a wise woman to persuade David to bring the exiled Absalom home. | , , | |
| Chapter 15Absalom's revolt | Absalom wins the people's hearts and declares himself king; David flees Jerusalem. | , | , |
| Chapter 16Shimei's curses | As David flees, Shimei curses him and Ziba brings supplies, while Absalom takes the palace. | , , , | — |
| Chapter 17The counsel of Ahithophel | Ahithophel's shrewd advice is undone by Hushai, David's secret ally. | , , , | — |
| Chapter 18The death of Absalom | Absalom is caught in a tree and killed by Joab; David weeps bitterly. | , , | — |
| Chapter 19The king's return | David returns to Jerusalem and settles accounts with those who cursed or helped him. | , , | |
| Chapter 20Sheba's revolt | A man named Sheba leads a short-lived revolt, ended by Joab. | , | — |
Closing records — an appendix of songs, heroes, and a census, chapters 21–24 | |||
| Chapter 21The Gibeonites avenged | A famine is ended by giving justice to the Gibeonites; more battles with Philistine giants follow. | , | |
| Chapter 22David's song | David sings a long song of thanksgiving for God's deliverance. | — | |
| Chapter 23David's mighty men | David's last words, and a roll of his mighty warriors and their deeds. | — | |
| Chapter 24The census | David's census brings a plague; he buys a threshing floor and builds an altar there. | ||
All 24 chapters. Start reading →
Worth knowing
Key people
Tap a name to see who they are.
Key places
Tap a place to see where it is.
Known for
Some of the book's best-known moments — tap the verse to read it.
- David and Bathsheba2 Samuel 11:2
- "Thou art the man"2 Samuel 12:7
- David dances before the ark2 Samuel 6:14
- "O Absalom, my son, my son"2 Samuel 18:33