Second Samuel

Second Samuel was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapters Four-Five

 

OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER:

I. BANNAH AND RACHAB ASSASSINATE ISHBOSHETH - (4:1-8)

II. DAVID AVENGES THE DEATH IF ISHBOSHETH - (4:9-12)
III. DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER ALL ISRAEL - (5:1-5)
IV. DAVID ESTABLISHES HIS THRONE IN ZION - (5:6-12)
V. "DAVID TOOK HIM MORE CONCUBINES AND WIVES..." - (5:13-16)
VI. DAVID SMITES THE PHILISTINES AT BAAL-PERAZIM IN THE VALLEY OF REPHAIM - (5:17-25)

 

I. BANNAH AND RACHAB ASSASSINATE ISHBOSHETH - (4:1-8)

Ishbosheth is a puppet king. He was totally unprepared for the great responsibility laid upon him as a result of the death of his father, Saul. It is more than obvious that Abner was the authority in the kingdom, for it was he who ultimately appointed Ishbosheth to rule in his father's stead. Saul and Abner both are dead. Ishbosheth finds himself very insecure. He is not alone, for the whole nation shares in his lack of security (vs. 1).

Two young men, Baanah and Rechab, take it upon themselves to eliminate Ishbosheth. Their reasoning parallels that of the Amalekite in (2 Sam. One). They want to do David a favor and possibly earn for themselves some kind of reward or recognition. In the midst of the account the name Mephibosheth comes up, we will see him later in II Samuel Nine.

Baanah and Rechab steal into the bedroom of Ish-bosheth at noon, while he is taking a 'siesta' "and they smote him under the fifth rib (2 Sam. 2:23; 3:27; 20:10). The strange reoccurrence of the phrase "fifth rib," when no other rib is ever singled out like this, would lead us to believe there may be some significance to the number. Could it be that Eve was formed of the fifth rib of Adam, or that it was under the fifth rib that the Roman spear pierced the side of Christ?

Note the peculiar statement in (vs. 8), "the Lord hath avenged my lord the king." The Lord certainly gets blamed for a lot of things; see: (1 Sam. 23:7,14,21).

 

II. DAVID AVENGES THE DEATH OF ISHBOSHETH - (4:9-12)

David wastes little time with the misdirected 'hooligans.' He makes reference to the incident in which the Amalekite sought fame and fortune, and says "you are more guilty than he." David requires their blood according to Genesis 9:5, 6 and Numbers 35.

"Cut off their hands and their feet..," the actions are certainly scripturally significant. "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief." (Prov. 6:17,18).

 

III. DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER ALL ISRAEL - (5:1-5)

This is David's third anointing.

    [1]. (1 Samuel 16:6-13)

    [2]. (2 Samuel 2:1-7)

    [3]. Text. Two of these three are anointings as king over all Israel.

Again we have a wonderful picture of our future King of Israel, Jesus Christ. Jesus was anointed in (Matt. 3) at His baptism, (Acts 10:38), and will be anointed before He sits down on the Millennial throne, note (Heb. 1: 8,9).

(1 Chron. 12:1-40) reveals to us the mass migration of Israelites that have chosen to be loyal to David. There is a picture of the conversion of the sinner in the text. The people in general are knowledgeable of God's appointment. Here they decide to stop fighting the Lord and declare, "we are bone and thy flesh" (1 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 5:30). If this seems to be 'straining the text' notice verse two, "thou shalt feed my people" (John 10; I Peter 2:25), "be a captain" (Heb. 2:10). Also (1 Pet. 4:19; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25). "They anointed David king over Israel "the scepter shall not depart from Judah," (Gen. 49:8).

"David was thirty years old..." again note the type of Christ, (Lk. 3:23; Gen. 41:46), Joseph.

It appears from the context of (Psa. 18), that this great Psalm was written at this point in David's life.

 

IV. DAVID ESTABLISHES HIS THRONE IN ZION - (5:6-12)

"Zion" means "sunny" or "shone upon." Zion was a hill in Jerusalem which after the captivity of that city by Israel became the royal residence of David (2 Sam. 5:4-7; 1 Chron. 11:5-7; 2 Chron. 5:2). This became the place of the temple; the center of Hebrew government, worship and national life. The name is often used as a general reference to the people of Israel, (1 Chron. 11:5).

The Jebusites are the inhabitants of Jerusalem when Joshua and the Israelites cross Jordan and enter the land of Canaan, (Josh. 15:63; Judg. 1:21). The verbal confrontation has caused some consternation for Bible readers. "Except thou take away the blind and the lame..." This appears to be the language of utter contempt. The Jebusites were so assured of the impregnability of their stronghold, that they considered the feeblest of their men would be quite sufficient to defend it against any attack of David and his army. So secure did the Jebusites deem themselves that when David purposed its capture, they met him with insulting ridicule. In verse eight, David does not argue, but responds with "Well if that is so, then we will just have to 'mow down' the "lame and the blind," referring to the Jebusite defenses. See Jesus handle a situation in this same manner, (Lk. 19:21,22). David is not opposed to cripples and blind people (Lev. 19:14), he is meeting an insult with sarcasm.

"Millo" seems to be the town hall, state house, or convention center, (2 Ki. 12:20; 1 Chron. 32:5).

 

V. "DAVID TOOK HIM MORE CONCUBINES AND WIVES" - (5:13-16)

David, it seems, has an insatiable craving for women, either that, or he is the original "family man," the more the merrier. We just passed by one list in (2 Sam. 3:2-5) and here we find another large group of wives and offspring. Nathan and Solomon probably are the most familiar of the brood.

 

VI. DAVID SMITES THE PHILISTINES AT BAAL-PERAZIM IN THE VALLEY OF REPHAIM - (5:17-25)

The king takes the throne and he is immediately confronted by Israel's perennial enemy, the Philistines. David has not been able to establish a very good report over the years with these folks, (1 Sam. 17,29). David learns of another possible confrontation and he heads for his prayer closet, "went down to the hold." (Isa. 28:21-29) refers back to this event and the context in Isaiah is a Second Coming reference. This may be a tip off to the fact that we have a typically prophetical event before us.

David enquires of the Lord, probably through Abiathar the priest using the Ephod and Breastplate. See previous references, (1 Sam. 23) and notes. The Lord gives David the 'green light,' and David meets the Philistines at Baalperazim and arises victorious. The heathen leave some of their St. Christopher statues, scapulars and crucifixes behind. David burns them according to (Deut. 7:5).

The Philistines ask for a rematch; permission granted. David's second inquiry receives a different answer (vss. 23,24 . This is striking: here is the same enemy to be met, in the same place, and under the same Lord of hosts, and yet God's answer now is the very opposite of the previous one: then it was, "Go up," now it is "Go not up." Two identical situations, yet God instructs his man to react differently in each situation. "Who hath known the mind of the Lord?"

"Fetch a compass behind them" means, go around behind them.

This is the only biblical mention of "mulberry trees" in the scriptures, save the companion passage in (1 Chron. 14). The "sound of a going" reminds us of two other passages: (Acts 2:2) "rushing mighty wind," and (Jn. 3:8) "the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof... so is every one that is born of the Spirit." See also (Num. 11:31; Jonah 1:4;4:8; Isa. 11:15). The work of the Spirit of God is the common context.

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