Read through chapter 4 and 5 together. We may start 5, but they belong together even if we do them separately. Really chapters 1 through 5 belong together, and are referred to as the 'succession narrative'. There's another 'succession narrative' with Solomon, but after that, they're either short or non-existent. A 'succession narrative' shows the various hurdles overcome to establish a king on a throne. This had to happen every time a king came to power, even in Judah, but we only have the details of David and Solomon.
Remember to take notes, jot down questions, and see what you can find to reconcile problems you find. There are plenty of places where the text seems to show what happens, but doesn't explain inconsistencies. They drive us crazy, but didn't seem to bother the initial audience, or detract from the point of the author/editor.
After reading through a few times on your own, and with your own questions/notes taken, read through again with the questions below:
Chapter 4
- Why do you think, if Ish-Bosheth was afraid of Abner, he 'looses courage' when Abner dies? Why do you think he wasn't 'comforted'?
- All Israel is 'disturbed' when Abner dies. What do you imagine might have been their greatest concerns or fears?
- Regardless of where "Beeroth" fell in the tribal regions of Israel, the point of the author/editor is that they are Benjamites. Why do you think that would be important here?
- Why do you think Mephibosheth is mentioned here? Different commentators have different ideas about it, but what do you think?
- In almost every translation, the deed of killing Ish-Bosheth is repeated. If you have a New Living Translation, look at their wording for it. The reason for the difference is that the NLT used the Greek text instead of the Hebrew at this point. Keep in mind that the available Greek text is older than the Hebrew. Which do you think is easier to explain as an 'editorial change', a duplication or a consistent story?
- The two brothers go to David as quickly as possible. Yet David seems to know the details of Ish-Bosheth's death already. So how do you think that happened? What are some explanations you came up with or found in commentaries? (there aren't wrong answers here)
- David refers to the death of the Amalekite who announces Saul's death to him in Ziklag. Do you think, considering how people in this story seem to know so much, these guys hadn't heard that particular one?
- Again David has someone kill the 'bearers of "good news"' in a way. Why do you think he didn't do this with Joab when he killed Abner? For some context here, read 1 Kings 2:5 and 6. What do you think it is about Joab that 'protects' him from David?
- The elders of the all the tribes come to David, finally. Considering what they say to him, why do you think it has taken them so long to come to David? Who's death do you think really cinched it for them, Abner or Ish-Bosheth?
- They site the prophecy that David will shepherd Israel. Where do you think they heard that? Was Abner the first or was it widely distributed around prior? There is a historical saying that the 'victors get to write the history'. How much of that do you think might be happening here?
- After the elders make their statement, they make a covenant with David, and anoint him king over all Israel. What do you think made up the covenant? Was it a 'Bill of Rights' sort of thing or do you think it was what they were willing to do? There's no record of it, so it's all guess.
- The timing issue comes up again. Seven years and six months over Judah in Hebron, does that mean only Judah? The impression this gives is that as soon as he was anointed king, he takes Jerusalem. So, how does Ish-Bosheth only reign 2 years over all Israel while David reigns seven over all Judah?
- It says 'The king and his men' came to Jerusalem. Some think this just means the 600 who followed David before he became king. Some think it just refers to the army in general. Why do you think it would be important for David to take Jerusalem without the help of the other tribes?
- The Jebusites are Caananite hold-outs against Israel, but also against the Philistines. They are very confident in their city defenses. What does David seem to know that other attackers don't?
- Verses 1 through 5 seem to establish that David is anointed (accepted by the other tribes, finally). Six through ten are the establishment of Jerusalem as his capital. Eleven through sixteen are the establishment of his 'dwelling' and life there. Why do you think this progression is so important to his ascension to the throne of Israel? Why all the detail about his wives, concubines, and sons for instance? The writer did this for Hebron too, so what do you think is the point?
- Seventeen through the rest of the chapter, is the defeat of the Philistines. What do you think might be significant about the 'place' where they fight (The Valley of Raphaim)?
- What, if anything, might be significant about 'all the Philistines' going up to fight David?
- In the first defeat of the Philistines, David takes spoils of idols. Why do you think that might be significant?
- In the second defeat of the Philistines, they pursue them to their cities. Why do you think the difference might be important?
- In both instances David inquires of God. Each time he gets a different answer. So how do you imagine this happening? What does David do to inquire?
- The response the second time has some interesting detail. What does this detail mean for the method David used to inquire? How does this detail influence how you imagine David inquiring of God?
- David has success, lots of it. Yet his victories still are due to his inquiry of God. What does that say about our lives? Do you see the value of knowing how David inquired of God? How can we also inquire of God?
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