2 samuel 3 and 4

Read 2 Samuel 3 and 4 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Sam 2:12-3:1 {s} War between the commanders, Abner of Israel and Joab of Judah
2 Sam 3:2-5 {p} The sons of David born in Hebron
2 Sam 3:6-8 {s} Abner offended when Ishbosheth confronts him concerning his sin re: Rizpah
2 Sam 3:9-11 {s} Abner threatens to transfer the kingdom to David
2 Sam 3:2-13 {s} Abner offers his service to David + David requires his wife Michal first
2 Sam 3:14-30 {s} The treaty between the houses of Saul and David, but Joab murders Abner
2 Sam 3:31-32 {s] King David commands the mourning for Abner
2 Sam 3:33-37 {s} King David’s lament and fasting for Abner, as it had not been his intent to kill him
2 Sam 3:38-39 {p} The sons of Zeruiah too harsh for David/ the LORD repay their wickedness
2 Sam 4:1-3 {s} Ishbosheth’s two captains, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth
2 Sam 4:4-2 {p} They murder Ishbosheth, so that only Mephibosheth remained of Saul, but David executed them

The strong themes:

2 Sam 2:10-3:5 {s+s+p} Reigns of Ishbosheth + David, war between them + sons of David born in Hebron
2 Sam 3:6-39 {sx6+p} Abner defects to David, but Joab killed him without David’s knowledge
2 Sam 4:1-12 {s+p} Ishbosheth’s captains murder him and defect to David, but David executed them

2 Sam 1:1-4:12 chiastic structure:

1a) 2 Sam 1:1-16 {p+p} An Amalekite came to David at Ziklag + executed for the death of Saul;

1) 2 Sam 1:1-12 {p} An Amalekite brought Saul’s crown + bracelet to David at Ziklag;
2) 2 Sam 1:13-16 {p} David had him executed for his wickedness;

1a) 2 Sam 1:1a, Now it came to pass after the death of Saul;
1b) 2 Sam 1:1b, When David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites;
1c) 2 Sam 1:2a, A man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn + dust on his head;
1d) 2 Sam 1:2b-4, I have escaped the battle and bring you the news of the battle;
central axis) 2 Sam 1:5-10a, The Amalekites’ account of the death of Saul;
2d) 2 Sam 1:10b, I bring my lord Saul’s crown and bracelet, which I took from his body;
2c) 2 Sam 1:11-12 {p} David + men tore their clothes, mourned for Saul + Jonathan + Israel;
2b) 2 Sam 1:13-16a, David ordered the execution of the Amalekite who killed Saul;
2a) 2 Sam 1:16b {p} You have testified that you have killed the Lord’s anointed.

1b) 2 Sam 1:17-2:11 {p+s+p+p+s} David’s lament + anointed king + beginning of Ishbosheth’s reign:

1) 2 Sam 1:17-27 {p} David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan:

introduction) 2 Sam 1:17-18, David’s lamentation: The Song of the Bow;
1a) 2 Sam 1:19a, The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places;
1b) 2 Sam 1:19b, How the mighty have fallen!
1c) 2 Sam 1:20-21, Let not the daughters of Philistia rejoice/ For the shield of the mighty was cast away;

1) 2 Sam 1:20, Tell it not in Gath or Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice;
2) 2 Sam 1:21, Let not the mountains of Gilboa have rain, for the shield of the mighty was cast away there;

1d) 2 Sam 1:22, The bow + sword of Jonathan + Saul did not turn back from the mighty;
central axis) 2 Sam 1:23a, Saul + Jonathan were beloved in life, and united in death;
2d) 2 Sam 1:23b, Jonathan + Saul were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions;
2c) 2 Sam 1:24-25, Let the daughters of Israel weep for Saul/ For the mighty were slain in your high places;

1) 2 Sam 1:24, O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with luxury;
2) 2 Sam 1:25-26, The mighty were slain on your high places, O mountains of Gilboa;

2b) 2 Sam 1:27a, How the mighty have fallen;
2a) 2 Sam 1:27b {p} And the weapons of war perished!

2) 2 Sam 2:1-9 {s+p+p} David anointed king over Judah in Hebron/ Ishbosheth made king over Israel in Mahanaim;

1a) 2 Sam 2:1-3, The LORD sent David to Hebron in Judah to be accepted as king;
1b) 2 Sam 2:4a, The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah;
1c) 2 Sam 2:4b, {s} They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul;”
central axis) 2 Sam 2:5-6, David blessed the men of Jabesh Gilead for their kindness to Saul;
2c) 2 Sam 2:7a, David: Strengthen your hands, men of Jabesh Gilead, for Saul your king is dead;
2b) 2 Sam 2:7b, {p} The house of Judah has anointed David king over them;
2a) 2 Sam 2:8-9 {p} Abner made Ishbosheth king over Israel at Mahanaim in Gilead;

3) 2 Sam 2:10-11 {s} The beginning of the reign of Ishbosheth (he reigned 2 years)/ David reigned 7-1/2 years in Hebron over Judah;

1c) 2 Sam 2:12-32, Abner killed Asahel, the brother of Joab, the captain of David’s men;

1a) 2 Sam 2:12-18a, Abner of Ishboheth went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon/ fierce battle with Joab of David;

1) 2 Sam 2:12, Abner + his men the servants of Ishbosheth went out from Mahanaim;
2) 2 Sam 2:13-18a, The servants of David prevailed over the servants of Ishbosheth;

1a) 2 Sam 2:13, Joab the son of Zeruiah + the servants of David met them in Gibeon;
1b) 2 Sam 2:14-15, 12 of Ishbosheth and 12 of David competed in battle;
central axis) 2 Sam 2:16, They fought with their swords + fell down together at the Field of Sharp Swords in Gibeon;
2b) 2 Sam 2:17, Abner + men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David in a very fierce battle;
2a) 2 Sam 2:18a, The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel;

1b) 2 Sam 2:18b-23, Asahel pursued Abner, and did not turn aside from the pursuit;

1) 2 Sam 2:18b-21, Asahel pursued Abner + did not not turn aside from following him;
2) 2 Sam 2:22, Abner: Turn aside from the pursuit, lest the sword devour you;
3) 2 Sam 2:23a, However, he refused to turn aside/ Abner struck him so that he died;
4) 2 Sam 2:23b, As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still;

2b) 2 Sam 2:24-28, Joab pursued Abner, and turned aside from the pursuit;

1) 2 Sam 2:24-25, Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner + Benjamin took their stand behind him;
2) 2 Sam 2:26, Abner: Shall the sword devour forever? Turn aside from the pursuit of your brethren;
3) 2 Sam 2:27, Joab: We would have pursued you till morning had you not spoken;
4) 2 Sam 2:28, Joab blew a trumpet + all the people stood still, forsook the pursuit;

2a) 2 Sam 2:29-32, Abner + his men returned to Mahanaim from the battle, losing 360 men to Joab + his men;

1) 2 Sam 2:29, Abner + his men went all that night, crossed the Jordan, until they came to Mahanaim;
2) 2 Sam 2:30-32, The servants of David prevailed over the servants of Ishbosheth;

1a) 2 Sam 2:30a, So Joab returned from pursuing Abner;
1b) 2 Sam 2:30b, There were missing of David’s servants nineteen men + Asahel;
central axis) 2 Sam 2:31, The servants of David had struck down, of Abner’s men, 360 men who died;
2b) 2 Sam 2:32a, They buried Asahel in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem;
2a) 2 Sam 2:32b, Joab + his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak;

1d) 2 Sam 3:1 {s} There was war between the house of Saul and David, but David waxed strong;

central axis) 2 Sam 3:2-5 {p} The sons of David born in Hebron;

2d) 2 Sam 3:6, While there was war between the house of Saul and David, Abner strengthened his hold on the house of Saul;

2c) 2 Sam 3:7-32 {sx5} Joab killed Abner for the blood of his brother Asahel:

1a) 2 Sam 3:7-8 {s} Abner was offended by Ishbosheth and betrayed his king;
1b) 2 Sam 3:9-13a {s} Abner vowed to align himself with David;

1) 2 Sam 3:9-11 {s} Abner vowed to transfer the kingdom of Israel to the house of David;
2) 2 Sam 3:12-13a, Abner proposed a covenant with David to bring all Israel under his crown;

1c) 2 Sam 3:13b {s} David: But I require that you bring my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter;
2c) 2 Sam 3:14-16, David sent to Ishbosheth for his wife Michal, and he took her from her husband and sent her;
2b) 2 Sam 3:17-21, Abner proposed an alliance with David;

1) 2 Sam 3:17-19, Abner sent word to all the elders of Israel and Benjamin to establish David as king;
2) 2 Sam 3:20-21, Abner came to Hebron and sealed his covenant with David;

2a) 2 Sam 3:21b-32 {s+s} Joab was offended by David’s covenant with Abner, and betrayed his king;

1a) 2 Sam 3:21b-26, David sent Abner away from Hebron in peace;

1a) 2 Sam 3:21b-23, David sent Abner away in peace;

1a) 2 Sam 3:21b, So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace;
1b) 2 Sam 3:22a, Joab came from a raid + brought much spoil with them;
central axis) 2 Sam 3:22b, Abner was not with David, for he had sent him away in peace;
2b) 2 Sam 3:23a, When Joab had come from the raid, it was told him;
2a) 2 Sam 3:23b, “Abner came to the king, and he sent him away in peace;”

1b) 2 Sam 3:24b, Then Joab came to the king;
central axis) 2 Sam 3:24b-25, Joab rebuked the king;
2b) 2 Sam 3:26a, And when Joab had gone from David’s presence;
2a) 2 Sam 3:26b, He sent messengers after Abner, but David did not know it;

1b) 2 Sam 3:27, When Abner returned, Joab killed him for the blood of his brother Asahel;
central axis) 2 Sam 3:28-29, David’s kingdom + house guiltless in Abner’s murder/ let it rest on the house of Joab;
2b) 2 Sam 3:20 {s} Joab + Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon;
2a) 2 Sam 3:31-32 {s} David mourned Abner + he was buried in state at Hebron.

2b) 2 Sam 3:33-4:7,I David’s lament as anointed king + end of Ishbosheth’s reign:

1) 2 Sam 3:33-37 {s} David sang a lament for Abner, for it had not been his intent that he be killed;
2) 2 Sam 3:38-39 {p} David weak though anointed king/ did not bless the sons of Zeruiah for their wickedness;
3) 2 Sam 4:1-7, Ishbosheth’s reign ended with his assassination at the hands of his captains;

1a) 2 Sam 4:1, When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart/ all Israel was troubled;
1b) 2 Sam 4:2-3 {s} Saul’s son’s two captains of troops: Baanah + Rechab, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth;
central axis) 2 Sam 4:4, Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, Saul’s son, who was lame in his feet;
2b) 2 Sam 4:5, The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab + Baanah, came to the house of Ishbosheth;
2a) 2 Sam 4:6-7, They killed him + he lost his head + they escaped all night;

2a) 2 Sam 4:8-12 {p} They came to David at Hebron + executed for the death of Ishbosheth;

1) 2 Sam 4:8, They brought Ishbosheth’s head to David at Hebron/ the king’s enemy is dead;
2) 2 Sam 4:9-12 {p} David had them executed for their wickedness, as he had done at Ziklag.

The central axis of the first four chapters, is the record of David’s sons born to him at Hebron, for chiastic structures often prophesy of Messiah and/ or the gospel of grace, and Messiah is the son of David.