Fun On The Hill And At The Pool

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Group meeting December 11 to study 2 Samuel 2.  This chapter has some odd elements in it.  The characters behave in odd ways, and the story is a bit odd or at least difficult to imagine.

Read through the chapter a few times.  Perhaps reading ahead would help gain some context.  As you read through, jot down observations, questions, and insights.  Look for elements that demonstrate the influence of God.  Sometimes they are more difficult to find than you would expect because you end up having to infer them.

After you've read through a few times, read back through with these questions:

• Why do you think David is inquiring of God at this point?  What is his circumstance?
• Consider God's answers.  Try and imagine the process to ask the questions from the answers.  What do you imagine is happening?
• Both Carmel and Jezreel are actually in Judean hills, but more famous places with these names are found in the north.  Why do you think it might matter that these wives are 'local'?
• Read 1 Samuel 30:26-31.  What influence do you think this had on the men anointing David as king?
• David finds out what the men of Jabesh-Gilead did for Saul and Jonathan, and sends a blessing to them.  Many commentators say this was 'shrewd' on David's part to gain support, but look at where Jabesh-Gilead is in relation to Judah (see map below).  What do you think are some other alternatives?
• Consider the content of David's message.  Why do you think David would want to 'bless' them and return their kindness onto them?
• Why do you think David mentions his 'kingship' in Judah?  Do you think he's being shrewd or do you think he's simply validating his ability or resources to bless/do kindness to Jabesh-Gilead?
• Abner becomes a character at the forefront of the story here.  Considering that Abner was Saul's uncle, why do you think he wouldn't simply try and become king?
• Look at 1 Chronicles 8:33.  Considering that 'Baal' was also a term for the Hebrew God early on, what is the difference between the names?  Look up the name in 1 Chronicles 8:33 here, and the name in 2 Samuel 2:8 here.  What do you think is important and meaningful in the difference?
• Find Mahanaim on the map below.  Why do you think it made sense to make the 'capital' there?  What do you think that says about the 'strength' of the new 'king & country'?
• If Ish-Bosheth was 40, why wasn't he at the battle, and how old was everyone else if he's the youngest?
• Ish-Bosheth reigned two years and David 7 in Hebron.  What do you think happened to the 5 years difference?
• There's no real explanation about how they meet up in Gibeon.  If you check commentaries and your study Bibles, there will be differing opinions.  Why do you think Abner wanted to turn it into a 'battle' of sorts?
• The 'battle' didn't end up going Abner's way.  Imagine how it begins, consider the wording and the explanation of the place-name, what do you think is the writer's point here in describing it as he does?
• Zeruiah was David's sister, and her three sons were part of David's warrior band, and Joab was his 'general'.  This is important for the next few chapters.  Why do you think, as fast as Asahel was, he couldn't catch the much older (like, well-over-60 older) Abner?  What do you think he was doing?
• Why doesn't Abner want to kill Asahel?  Remember that!
• How hard must they have been running for the butt-end of the spear to pass through Asahel?
• Everyone stops at the place where Asahel dies, except for his two brothers.  Why do you think they kept going?  Why do you think they really stopped when they did?
• Abner was the one who suggested the 'battle' in the first place.  Why do you think he would blame Joab for continuing it?
• Joab says he will stop because Abner said what he did.  What do you think are some other reasons he would stop the pursuit?
• Consider how long Abner and his men walk (v.29).  Then consider how much Joab and the people accomplished in the same time.  Look at the map below.  Who traveled further?
• Consider the huge difference in how many were lost on each side.  What do you think that means?  Why do you think it would be so lopsided?

That should keep us busy for a bit.  Remember to bring your notes and questions to the group Thursday.

Late Night Visitors

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting February 27 to study 1 Samuel 26.  This is very similar to the account in chapter 24, but the differences are important.  This account seems to be more pieced together.  I'm sure lots of theories exist about how it's merely another version of chapter 24, or about how this one is evidence of how accounts of David were more fragmentary legends than actual fact. 

Big deal. Let them theorize.  The only truly verifiable fact is that this account not only made it into versions of 1 Samuel early on, but that it also acquired very few very minor differences between manuscript families. So, while it, like so many we have studied, are peculiar, it has more support as a historical event than many other less ancient cultures.

So, like always, read the chapter several times.  In this one, pay particular attention to things that seem repetitious.  Also pay close attention to any margin notes your particular translation may have.  The repetitious parts may have some significance, but even if not significant, can signal where different versions of the account were pieced together.  If you step back, you can sometimes tell in such places how various accounts were actually amazingly harmonious in their details. 

Jot down questions and observations you make as you read through the chapter.  It may be helpful to look back over chapter 24 for a reminder of details there.  After you've been through the chapter a few times on your own, look back over it with the questions below:

• The people of Ziph come again to Saul.  Why do you think they keep doing this with David?
• So, how do you think David is able to move about and see so clearly without being seen?  It's the desert, it's hard to hide much of anything...or is it?
• David goes out to see for himself, and takes two with him.  Abishai is the son of Zeruiah.  Look up Zeruiah on the Blue Letter Bible website.  There are interesting ideas of what her name means, but why do you think David refers to Abishai in terms of his mom?  He always refers to the three men that way, so it's important, but we don't really know why.
• What is expected but missing as David and Abishai sneak into the camp?
• Who is with Saul here but was missing in chapter 24?  Why do you think he came this time?
• Again, David and his men are able to talk where you would think it would be unwise.  Why do you think that is?  And doesn't it make Abishai's point stronger?
• David restrains Abishai, takes Saul's spear and water jug, and leaves.  What do you think might be important about the 'spear'?
• Who takes the spear and jug?
• On their way out, we're told how they're able to get away with it.  Why do you think God wants David to do this?
• David goes a good distance and calls out to wake the army.  Why do you think he calls out to Abner specifically?
• Read what he says to Abner carefully, possibly from several translations.  His reasoning seems somewhat convoluted, but the essence is clear.  What does he claim needs to be done to Abner?
• As David speaks to Saul, what details are similar to chapter 24?  What details are different?
• David gives the spear back to Saul, and then continues to speak.  With the breaks in the dialogue sometimes you can spot where 'splices' were made to various accounts.  But what is the consistent theme throughout them all?

That should keep us busy for an hour or so.  Be sure to bring your own questions and observations.  See you Thursday!