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2 Samuel 1-10

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1230-926 B.C.
The Settlement of Canaan

1018 B.C.
Samuel anoints David to be king

1011 B.C.
Death of Saul

1010 B.C.
David begins to reign at Hebron

1005 B.C.
Jerusalem becomes the capital

1003 B.C.
David becomes king over all Israel

990 B.C.
David commits adultery with Bathsheba

980 B.C.
Absalom revolts against his father David

970 B.C.
King David dies

930 B.C.
Solomon dies and the Kingdom divides


After the death of Saul, David soon becomes King over all of Israel. The book of 2 Samuel can be divided into two sections. The first section covers David's Triumphs.

1. Political Triumphs - 2 Sam. 1-5
2. Spiritual Triumphs - 2 Sam. 6-7
3. Military Triumphs - 2 Sam. 8-10


Hebron - Hebron was one of the first cities built in Palestine. It was one of the first places Abraham resided upon his arrival in Canaan. David, when he became King, chose it to be his capital. By this time, the town was already old and established. Hebron is located 23 miles south of Jerusalem, 3,000 feet above sea level, in the center of the tribe of Judah, and was the largest and the most secure city. The area was rich in agriculture, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. There was also plenty of water that would bubble up from the surrounding springs.

Jerusalem - During the time of the judges and until David's time, Jerusalem was called Jebus. This city had been occupied by the Jebusites, who were a mixed population of Canaanite people. When David was chosen King over all Israel, he chose Jerusalem to be his capital. According to one Jewish tradition, Jerusalem was founded by Shem and Eber, ancestors of Abraham. The city sits upon slopes over 2,000 feet above sea level.

Lo Debar - When Saul was killed in battle, some members of his family fled to Lo Debar. It was probably located in the Gilead region east of the Jordan River. Located three miles east of the Jordan River and about 60 miles northeast of Jerusalem, Saul's family hoped that they would be safe and able to protect Mephibosheth, where he lived with Machir until David called him to the palace (2 Sam. 9:4).


Maacah - David's fourth wife, the mother of Absalom. She was also the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur (2 Sam. 3:3).

Haggith - David's fifth wife, the mother of Adonijah (2 Sam. 3:4).

Abital - David's sixth wife (2 Sam. 3:4).

Eglah - David's seventh wife (2 Sam. 3:5).

Bathsheba - David's favorite wife. Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah, who was away in battle when she committed adultery with David. She was the mother of five of David's children, their firstborn having died in infancy due to David's sin. She was the mother of both Solomon and Nathan (1 Chronicles 3:5). In the genealogies of Jesus, Mary came from the line of Nathan and Joseph from the line of Solomon.

Jonathan - Saul's son. He was both a brave and godly man. He became David's best friend (2 Samuel 1:26).

Mephibosheth - He was the lame son of Jonathan. After the death of Jonathan and Saul, David brought Mephibosheth into his house to eat at the king's table like one of his own sons (2 Samuel 9:10-13).

Hanun - The King of Ammon who mistreated some of David's men and ridiculed them. He shaved off one side of their beards and cut away their clothes to expose their buttocks (2 Samuel 10:1-4).

Ish-Bosheth - He was the weak son of Saul who was put in power by Abner, who needed a puppet king. They controlled the kingdom for 7 years after Saul's death (2 Samuel 2:8).

Hadadezer - The king of Zoboah, son of Rehob. Zoboah was a land northeast of Damascus near the Euphrates River. David defeated this king twice (2 Samuel 8:3, 10:15-19).


Carpenters - When David began to rule in Jerusalem and was ready to build his palace, there were very few carpenters in the land. David had befriended Hiram, the king of Tyre, who sent him building supplies and skilled carpenters. These carpenters would have done the construction and the finishing detailed woodwork. Compared to today's power tools, their tools would seem primitive, but these were craftsmen. Wooden mallets were used as hammers, flax and reeds were used as rulers, and crushed sandstone was the sandpaper of the day (2 Samuel 5:11).

Song and Dance - Throughout their history - even to the modern age - the Israelites loved to come together and celebrate. A joyful and natural part of that was singing and dancing. Song and dance were used as an expression of worship, praise and thanksgiving. Much of their history was passed down through song. The Book of Psalms is a collection of songs telling of the nation's history (2 Samuel 6:1-5).

The Tambourine - Also called the timbrel.


Figure 1 - Geography Of The Books Of Samuel

Figure 2 - The United Kingdom