2 Samuel 23 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

2 Samuel 23 Short Summary:

2 Samuel 23 opens with the final words of King David. Nearing the end of his life, David praised God for promoting righteous rulers. He knew God had blessed his kingdom because he honored God’s laws. The second half of the chapter describes David’s mighty men and their exploits against the enemies of Israel.

2 Samuel 23 Summary - Bible Study

WHEN:

• Saul died in approximately 1055 B.C., after reigning over Israel for 40 years.

• David became king over Judah the same year. He reigned over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, before becoming king over all Israel. His reign over all Judah and Israel lasted 33 years.

CHARACTERS:

• David – The second king over all Israel and Judah.

• David’s Mighty Men – David had an elite group of warriors. Their names and exploits are listed in verses 8-39.

WHERE:

• The achievements of David’s mighty men took place all over Israel, but especially in the territory of the Philistines.

OUTLINE:

• THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID (23:1-7):

  • Some of the final words of King David are recorded at the opening of 2 Samuel 23.

  • The text begins with a special introduction to David. Verse 1 reads, “Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel.”

  • David began by saying that his tongue was guided by the Spirit of God.

  • His next statement was an acknowledgement that God’s blessings fell on nations who were ruled by upright men. He said, “He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth” (23:4).

  • He mentioned the “everlasting covenant” God made with his house, the promise that his kingdom would last forever (2 Sam 7:13-16; This was fulfilled in Jesus, see application section).

• DAVID’S MIGHTY WARRIORS (23:8-39):

  • The second part of 2 Samuel 23 is a record of David’s mighty men.

  • His warriors were classified into two groups, 3 ultra-elite soldiers and 30 elite soldiers.

  • The group of 3 included Josheb-basshebeth (Adino, KJV), Eleazar son of Dodo, and Shammah son of Agee. Each man, with God’s help, accomplished incredible single-handed victories against David’s enemies.

  • Several of the exploits of the 30 are also listed.

  • 3 of the 30 broke through the camp of the Philistines to bring David water from the well at Bethlehem.

  • Abishai, brother of Joab, killed 300 Philistines with a spear. He was “the most renowned of the thirty.”

  • Benaiah, a valiant man, killed 2 mighty men of Moab, an Egyptian, and a lion in a pit. Benaiah oversaw David’s bodyguard.

  • Asahel, Joab’s brother who was killed by Abner, was also counted among the 30.

  • Uriah the Hittite, husband of Bathsheba, is also listed.

  • Verses 24-39 contain the names of the rest of David’s mighty men.

APPLICATION:

• How did God fulfill His promise, to establish David’s throne forever, if David’s descendants aren’t on the throne of Israel anymore?

• Well, the fact is, a descendant of David is currently king of Israel, along with the rest of the world.

• When Jesus came to the earth as a man, He was born into a family that descended from David.

• Jesus is king, not of an earthly kingdom, but of the Kingdom of Heaven, which the Bible explains as the reign of God over all things, including all earthly kingdoms.

• Jesus will never die; therefore, He is king without end, thereby fulfilling God’s promise that David’s throne would be established forever.