Bad Servants, Bad sons, Bad Advisors

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting March 26 to study 2 Samuel 16.  This chapter serves to further the situation of David fleeing and Absalom entering Jerusalem.  The contrast between the two events is stark and sad, and the responses further the sense of how different the son is from the father.

Read through the chapter several times.  Look for those odd details that raise questions for you, make notes on interesting things you want to look up.  Only after this step should you consult any sort of commentary.  Your notes and questions will help you get more out of the commentary.

After you've gone through the chapter several times, read a commentary or two, then go back through the chapter with the questions below.  It may be helpful to then go back through the commentaries as well.

• You may want to review chapter 9 to remember who Ziba is.  Remember that he was 'somebody' until he again became a servant to Mephibosheth (somewhat of an outcast from Saul's family).  Why do you think Ziba comes out to walk with David?
• What do you think of Ziba's explanation of why Mephibosheth doesn't come with David?  Considering how 'perfect' Absalom is from head-to-toe (2 Samuel 14:25) how much expectation do you think Mephibosheth (lame in both feet) would have of the kingdom?
• David seems to believe Ziba's story.  Why do you think it sounded plausible to him?
• Why do you think Ziba would say he prostrates himself rather than just do it?  Imagine you're there, see him among the donkey's, food, and gear; and hear him say that.  You're tired, the donkey's and food are welcome, but he 'narrates' his humility.  What do you think of him?
• Next Shimei, also of the house of Saul comes out and curses David.  Why do you think Ziba and Shimei both acted so differently even though they are both of Saul?
• Shimei pelts both David and the Chelethites/Perethites.  Considering who these guys are, why do you think he thinks he can get away with it?
•  Consider all that Shimei says in his curse.  What do you think is his primary problem with David?
• Abishai actually says what most of us were thinking as we read this chapter.  Why do you think David is upset with him?  
• Think through David's response to Abishai.  What do you think David believes about his predicament?
• What does David's hope from enduring the cursing tell you about our relationship with God?  Do you think he's right?
• What do you think is the possibility is that God told Shimei to curse David? Why do you think David would say that?
• The place where David and his people 'arrive' isn't mentioned here.  Consider clues from the previous chapter, where do you think he refreshes?
• Hushai meets Absalom, declaring "Long live the king!"  Think through the dialogue he has with Absalom.  It's a bit different than David told him to tell Absalom, so why would Absalom accept it?
• Why do you think Absalom asks what to do now?  Considering how methodical he's been so far, why didn't have this planned through already?
• Ahithophel's advice may require some commentary to decipher the point.  But even without one, by reading his explanation of why it's important to do this, why do you think Absalom needs to sleepin with the concubines?
• Why on the roof in a tent before everyone?  What's the point here (besides fulfilling a prophesy from 12:11)?
• What does the last verse (23) mean to you?

That should be plenty, considering we'll also be having a meal.  Please remember to bring your questions and insights.

Kindness To The Lame

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting February 5 to study 2 Samuel 9.  There is a lot of weirdness in this chapter.  David's actions toward Mephibosheth may seem strange, or at least they should.  But also consider the circumstances David found him in.

Read through this chapter several times, noting odd details, jotting down questions, and perhaps marking your Bible.  Then read ahead at 2 Samuel 16:1-4, and then skip to 19:24-30.  Then skip ahead to 2 Samuel 21:1-9 (which seems confusing).  These passages complete the account of Mephibosheth in David's story.  Without what has preceded (this chapter and the account earlier in 2 Samuel 4:4), these later details would not have made sense.  So this lengthy explanation needed to be included before the account of Absalom.

After you have read these accounts, noting and jotting down questions, read back through this chapter with the questions below:

• Why do you think David would ask about the house of Saul at this point?  What do you think people are thinking when he does?
• Ziba is brought to David, who is Ziba?  And what do you think Ziba's life has been like up to this point?
• David  asks where Mephibosheth is.  Why do you think he wasn't with Ziba already?
• Why do you think Mephibosheth is not with Saul's family in Benjamin? (he's across the Jordan)
• Consider that Mephibosheth falls on his face before David.  How debilitating do you think his 'lame' feet are?  How do you think he looks as he walks?
• The term, "eat at the kings table" doesn't refer to a literal 'table' or meal time, it refers to the source of the meals that Mephibosheth would eat.  So, how is Mephibosheth being treated by David?
• What do you think is going through Mephibosheth's mind at this point?
• What do you think is going through Ziba's mind at this point?
• Now David turns to Ziba, and tells him that everything of Saul reverts to Mephibosheth and that he now works for him.  What do you think is going through Ziba's mind now?
• Consider that all that Ziba does for Mephibosheth he doesn't really need per se because his meals are provided for by the king.  How do you think this makes Ziba feel?
• With that point (what Ziba produces isn't necessary to Mephibosheth), what happens to the produce?
• Why the detail that Ziba has so many children and servants?  What do you think the writer is pointing out here?
• Why do you think it's interesting that Mephibosheth has a son?  What detail is then missing?
• As you read the accounts ahead, who's missing?
• Why do you think it's important to repeat that Mephibosheth is lame in both feet?

2 Samuel 16:1-4

• David is fleeing from Absalom, and Ziba meets him with supplies.  What is his explanation of the supplies?
• David asks about Mephibosheth.  Does Ziba's answer make much sense to you?  Why do you think David believes him?

2 Samuel 19:24-30

• Mephibosheh makes the effort to come down to David as he enters Jerusalem.  What do you think this looks like?
• Consider how unkempt Mephibosheth looks. Does that help or hinder his story?
• He has a mustache.  Why not a beard?
• Does the account of Mephibosheth ring true?  Was he waiting for Ziba to bring him a donkey? Did he miss the 'last cab out of town' or something?
• Mephibosheth finishes his explanation by recounting all that David did for him, and that it was not deserved.  How does that help Mephibosheth?
• Who do you believe between the two?  If Mephibosheth sounds more plausible, why do you think David split the goods?
• What do you think about Mephibosheth's response to splitting the lands/goods with Ziba?
• This seems to be where the issue is left.  Do you think Mephibosheth ever gains favor with David again?

We're not going to cover the issues in chapter 21 just yet. There's too much weirdness to just skip over.  So, we'll cover that in detail when we get to that chapter.

Remember to bring your notes and questions to group.  This is an interesting account, and I think we're going to enjoy studying together.