Click Arrow To Start Audio
I & 2 SAMUEL – LESSON TWELVE
XII. FAMINE AND WARS IN THE DAYS OF DAVID (2 Samuel 21-
A. David delivers seven sons of Saul to the Gibeonites to avenge Saul’s bloodshed of them (2 Samuel 21:1-
1. Saul’s killing the Gibeonites was the reason for God’s punishment with the famine.
a. David learns of cause from seeking the face of Jehovah.
b. An oath had been made to the Gibeonites in Joshua’s days (cf. Joshua 9:1-
2. The Gibeonites demand blood for blood (cf. Num. 35:31).
3. Mephibosheth spared
4. Two sons of Rizpah, and five sons of Merab (cf. I Samuel 18:19) are delivered to be killed and hanged in Gibeah.
5. Rizpah manifests maternal love over the bodies of her slain sons
6. God entreated for the land when David has the bones of Jonathan and Saul buried in the sepulcher of Kish in Zela of Benjamin
B. The Heroic deeds of David’s men in the Philistine wars (2 Samuel 21:15-
1. Abishai kills Ishbibenob, a son of a giant when he threatens to kill David who had grown faint.
2. Sibbecai kills Saph the son of a giant in a war at Gob
3. In another war at Gob, Elhanan kills Goliath the Gittite whose spear’s staff was like a weaver’s beam.
4. Jonathan, the son of Shimei, David’s brother, kills a giant who had six fingers and six toes on each hand and foot when he defied Israel in Gath.
C. David’s song of praise for God delivering him from his enemies and Saul (2 Samuel 22:1-
QUESTIONS:
1. How long was the famine in Israel during the days of David?
2. How did David become aware of the cause of the famine?
3. What was the cause of the famine?
4. Is it spiritually healthy to examine ourselves and consider if sins in our life are causing us to suffer adversity?
5. How important is it with God that we fulfill our oaths?
6. Reflecting on the events in the days of Joshua, why do you think Saul killed the Gibeonites?
7. Is this specific event of Saul killing the Gibeonites recorded in Scripture?
8. The Gibeonites demanded what for the sin of Saul against them?
(a). Seven years of freedom from servitude.
(b). The death of seven sons of Saul
(c). Silver and gold
9. What two mothers lost sons because of Saul’s sin?
What lesson concerning sin can you gain from observing Saul’s sin?
10. Give two reasons why “Michal” should or should not be “Merab” in 2 Samuel 21:8?
Should this possibility change one’s belief in the Bible’s inerrancy?
11. How long do you think Rizpah protected the bodies of her two dead sons from birds and beasts?
12. What event or events allowed God to be entreated for the land?
13. What did David’s men say to him after his close call with Ishbibenob?
14. What was noteworthy of the giant Goliath whom Elhanan killed?
15. Is it one particular giant who lost four sons to David and his men, or is it a “race” of giants who settled in Gath?
16. David’s song was uttered after what had occurred?
17. David’s song is also Psalm ________________ .
18. Describe how David “praises” God?
19. Describe how David sees his deliverance as his “vindication”:
20. How did “God’s gentleness” make David “great”?
I & 2 SAMUEL – LESSON THIRTEEN
XIII. DAVID’S LAST WORDS AND HIS NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE (2 Samuel 23-
A. David’s last words (23:1-
1. By inspiration, he speaks of God’s kingdom in theory
2. By inspiration, he speaks of his own kingdom in reality.
B. David’s thirty seven mighty men (23:8-
1. Three distinguished heroes (v. 8-
a. Joshebbasshebeth (Jashobeam) – 800 slain at one time (v. 8)
b. Eleazaar – defied the Philistines (v. 9-
c. Shammah – slew the Philistines, as he defended a plot of land (v.11-
2. Three heroes unnamed who showed courage unto David when in the cave of Adullam (v. 13-
3. Two distinguished heroes (v. 18-
a. Abishai – slew 300 Philistines with spear
b. Benaiah – slew 2 sons of Ariel of Moab; a lion in a pit in the time of snow; and a goodly Egyptian with the Egyptian’s own sword.
4. The mighty men named and identified as among “the thirty” (v. 24-
C. David’s sin in numbering the people and its punishment (24:1-
1. David determines to have people numbered despite Joab’s advice to the contrary (v. 1-
2. Joab gives the number of fighting men: 800,000 (Israel); 500,000 (Judah) (v. 8).
3. David’s heart smites him for his sin and faces God’s choices of punishment as presented by God’s prophet, Gad (v. 9-
4. God sends a pestilence killing 70,000 men – Davis seeks mercy for his people (v. 15-
5. David commanded to rear up altar in the threshing floor of Araunah to stay the pestilence (v. 18-
a. Araunah offers threshing floor and sacrifice.
b. David refuses gift, but buys the threshing floor to offer sacrifice – for he will not offer unto God anything that costs him nothing.
QUESTIONS:
1. What does David mean when he identifies himself as “the sweet psalmist of Israel”?
2. What “kind” of Inspiration did David claim?
3. The king who rules righteously is also the king who probably rules how?
4. Does David speak negatively, or does he speak positively about his own house in verse 5?
5. Describe how “weary” the hand of Eleazar was in his battle with Philistines?
6. Was it Shammah, or was it Jehovah that wrought a great victory in a field?
7. How did David’s three mighty men help him when he was in the cave of Adullam?
8. Why did David not partake of that which he asked for when the three mighty men returned with his request?
9. What number is connected with David’s mighty men, and how were they divided?
10. How did Abishai rank among David’s mighty men?
11. Benaiah, with his spear, slew a goodly Egyptian. (T) (F)
12. Uriah, the Hittite, whom David had killed, was one of David’s mighty men. (T) (F)
13. Why did Joab think David should not number the people of Israel?
14. David’s sin of numbering was the sin of _______________.
15. What is happening in David when “his heart smote him”?
16. Identify Gad in three ways:
17. David did not choose one of the options offered by God as punishment for his sin. (T) (F)
18. Who stretched his hand out toward Jerusalem to destroy it?
19. What did David do when he saw the punishment upon his people?
20. Was God’s mercy extended to God’s people or was it denied when 70,000 died?
21. What did David need to do in order for the pestilence to end?
22. What was David’s attitude concerning “sacrifice”?