B1-King David

He returns from exile but faces opposition

19:9-15

• The tribes of Israel [North] desire David to return from exile; David asks, ‘Why is Judah [South] not inviting me back?’
• David appoints Amasa as commander (in place of Joab)

19:16-23

• Shimei apologises to David (cf. 16:5-13); David agrees to spare him [but see 1 Kings 2:8-9, v36-46]

19:24-30

• Mephibosheth claims that he is innocent [of treason] and that Ziba deserted him (cf. 16:1-4)

19:31-40

• David blesses Barzillai & [his son?] Chimham [cf. 1 Kgs 2:7] for their hospitality (cf. 17:27-29)

Sheba takes control of Israel /

Joab takes control of the army

19:41-43

• The tribes of Israel [North] complain that they were not invited to help bring David home [focussing on their own honour instead of rejoicing in David’s return];
• Judah [South] argues back

20:1-13

• Sheba takes control of Israel; David commands Amasa to gather an army from Judah but Amasa acts too slowly, so David commands Abishai to take charge and pursue Sheba
• Joab murders Amasa, and the army follow Joab [thus Joab reclaims his role as commander]

20:14-22

• Sheba goes to Abel; Joab besieges the town; the residents kill Sheba; the army returns home

20:23-26

• List: David’s officials (with Joab listed as commander over the entire army of United Israel)

B1-King David of United Israel

21:1-14

• God sends a 3-year long famine on the land because Saul had been killing Gibeonites [against the oath of peace in Joshua 9:3-27]
• David lets the Gibeonites take revenge & some of Saul’s family are killed
• Saul is reburied with his family
• God answers prayer [the famine ceases]

21:15-22

• The Philistine giants fight against Israel but are defeated by David’s men

ch. 22

• David’s song: ‘I called and God answered & He saved me from my enemies!’ [cf. Psalm 18]

23:1-7

• David’s last [prophetic] words: ‘A righteous ruler is a Light; worthless [ones] are burnt thorns’

23:8-39

• List: David’s mighty warriors, along with stories that demonstrate their bravery
• [for example:] (23:13-17) Some men risked their lives to bring water to David, but he refused to drink it

24:1-15

• David takes a census but then admits that he acted sinfully;
• God threatens to punish him with:
  1. either 7 years of famine [Heb. but LXX=3 years] [cf. Dt 28:23-24]
  2. or 3 months of enemy attacks [cf. Dt 28:25-26]
  3. or 3 days of plague [cf. Dt 28:21-22];
• David asks to fall into God’s hands; God sends a plague

[In Ex 30:12, Moses was warned to carry out a census correctly to avoid a plague]

24:16-25

• David sees God’s angel in Jerusalem at the site of a threshing floor;
• Prophet Gad tells David to build an altar there; David buys the land & builds an altar; the plague stops

[This subsequently becomes the site of the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem, see 2 Chron 3:1] 

Ruth / 1-Sam / 2-SAM / 1-Kgs / 2-Kgs