the Fourth Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments Benson's Commentary
David Mourns Saul and Jonathan's Death.Chapter 2
David Becomes King of Judah; Civil War Begins.Chapter 3
Abner Defects to David; Joab Kills Abner.Chapter 4
Ish-Bosheth Murdered; David Condemns the Killers.Chapter 5
David Becomes King Over All Israel.Chapter 6
Ark Brought to Jerusalem; Uzzah's Death.Chapter 7
God's Covenant With David; Promise of a Dynasty.Chapter 8
David's Military Victories and Administration.Chapter 9
David Shows Kindness to Mephibosheth.Chapter 10
David Defeats Ammonites and Arameans.Chapter 11
David's Sin With Bathsheba and Uriah's Death.Chapter 12
Nathan Rebukes David; Consequences Foretold.Chapter 13
Amnon's Sin Against Tamar; Absalom's Revenge.Chapter 14
Absalom's Return to Jerusalem Arranged by Joab.Chapter 15
Absalom's Conspiracy; David Flees Jerusalem.Chapter 16
David Insulted; Absalom Takes Over Jerusalem.Chapter 17
Ahithophel's Counsel and Hushai's Advice.Chapter 18
Absalom Defeated and Killed; David Mourns.Chapter 19
David Returns to Jerusalem; Political Unrest.Chapter 20
Sheba's Rebellion Suppressed by Joab.Chapter 21
Famine; Gibeonites Avenged; Philistine Battles.Chapter 22
David's Song of Deliverance and Thanksgiving.Chapter 23
David's Last Words; List of Mighty Men.Chapter 24
David's Census and the Resulting Plague.
- 2 Samuel
by Joseph Benson
THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.
OTHERWISE CALLED, THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS.
ARGUMENT.
IN this book is contained the history of the reign of David. It gives an account of his triumphs and of his troubles. I. His triumphs over the house of Saul, chap. 1.-4.; over the Jebusites and Philistines, chap. 5.; in the bringing up of the ark, chap. 6., 7.; over the neighbouring nations, chap. 8.-10. II. His troubles; the cause of them, his sin in the matter of Uriah, chap. 11., 12.; the troubles themselves, from the sin of Amnon, chap. 13. The rebellion of Absalom, chap. 14.-19.; and of Sheba, chap. 20.; from the famine, chap. 21. And the pestilence, for his numbering the people, chap. 24. His song we have, chap. 22.; and his words and worthies, chap. 23. In many instances throughout this book he appears as a great and a good man; yet it must be confessed he had great vices: so that his honour shines brighter in his Psalms than in his annals. The whole period comprehended in this book is about forty years, from the beginning of David’s reign, in the year of the world 2949, to the end of it, in 2989. The conspiracy, however, of his son Adonijah, and his own death, are not here inserted, but are set down at the beginning of the following book. Although the former part of the first book of Samuel, as likewise the books of Ruth and Judges, were, in all probability, compiled by Samuel himself; yet the latter part of that, and this called the Second Book of Samuel, were, doubtless, written by other holy persons, inspired of GOD, such as Nathan, Gad, and others. Abarbinel says, according to Mr. Locke, that the books of Samuel were most probably written by Jeremiah, from memoirs left by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad.
