2 Samuel

Definition and Meaning

Second Samuel is the tenth of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and belongs to the historical books (books that record the history of Israel in narrative form). The book takes its name from the prophet Samuel, although Samuel has already died in 1 Samuel. The central figure of the book is David. Korean-language Bibles of the Catholic Church call it the "Second Book of Samuel."

Biblical and Historical Background

In the Hebrew Bible, 1 and 2 Samuel were originally a single book. They were first divided into two books in the Septuagint, the Greek translation, and this division was later adopted by other Bible translations and by printed editions of the Hebrew text.

The main contents are as follows:

• Chapters 1–5: David's lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, David's becoming king of Judah at Hebron, his accession as king over all Israel, and the capture of Jerusalem
• Chapters 6–7: The bringing of the ark of God (the Ark of the Covenant) to Jerusalem, and the promise, given through the prophet Nathan, that David's dynasty would endure forever (the Davidic covenant)
• Chapters 11–12: The Bathsheba affair and the death of Uriah, Nathan's rebuke, and David's repentance
• Chapters 13–20: Conflicts within the royal household, including the episodes involving Amnon and Absalom, and the rebellions of Absalom and Sheba
• Chapters 21–24: An appendix containing David's song (chapter 22 is nearly identical to Psalm 18), a list of David's mighty men, and the census and the plague that followed

On the basis of 1 Chronicles 29:29, Jewish tradition holds that the book was written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad. Many modern scholars regard it as a work compiled and edited from multiple sources. The account of the census in chapter 24 parallels 1 Chronicles 21, but the two passages attribute the census to different instigators (2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1), a difference that commentators have long discussed.

Use in the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the book is frequently used as a preaching text on the life of David. In particular, the Davidic covenant in chapter 7 is read as a passage that looks forward to Jesus Christ, who would come as "the son of David" (Matthew 1:1). The Bathsheba affair and Nathan's rebuke in chapter 12 are often cited, together with Psalm 51, in sermons on repentance, and the scene in chapter 6 in which David dances before the ark is often cited in sermons on worship and praise.

The Davidic covenant is interpreted differently across theological traditions. Reformed denominations that follow covenant theology hold that the covenant has been fulfilled spiritually in Christ. The dispensationalist position tends to hold that the promises given to the nation of Israel will be literally fulfilled in the future.