This week we
will continue the study of the Book of 2 Samuel in the Old Testament.
(1) Read 12:14 and also Psalm 51:4. Why did David say to the Lord that “Against you only have I sinned”?
(2) Although the Bible only records a one-sentence reply of David to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord” (12:13), a fuller confession of David is recorded in Psalm 51, likely made after Nathan had left and he was faced with the certainty of the death of his son. In order to appreciate the genuineness of his confession it might be helpful if you could pen a confession as if you were David and compare it to what and how he confessed through this psalm:
a. As much as David’s sin was grave and heinous, how may we learn from his confession?
b. What do you think about Nathan’s affirmation that “The Lord has taken away your sin” (12:13)?
(3) The sin was David’s. Why did the Lord strike his son dead instead?
(4) Although the death of his son had already been declared through Nathan (12:14), why did David still plead with God, lying on the ground and fasting (12:16)? Would you have done the same?
(5) The servants were greatly puzzled by David’s change in attitude after his son’s death:
a. What was David’s explanation?
b. What might we learn from him concerning the death of someone dear to us?
(6) On the one hand, the Lord struck dead the first son born to Bathsheba; on the other hand, He “loved” Solomon to the point that He gave him the name Jedidiah, meaning “loved by the Lord”:
a. Why?
b. What does it say about God’s forgiveness?
(7) Why did Joab send a rather rude message to David in the battle against the Ammonites (12:27-28)? How was David’s response different from that of 11:1?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Read Leviticus 20:17 to get a sense of the gravity of the sin of Ammon.
(2) Even though Ammon might be greatly attracted by the beauty of Tamar, what should he have done?
(3) Could Ammon blame his cousin, Jonadab, for his action? Why or why not? (1 Cor. 15:33)
(4) What was the request made by Ammon to David?
a. Should it not seem odd to David?
b. Do you think David had any inkling about what was going on?
c. What does David’s compliance with Ammon's request say about David? (Ammon was his first-born!)
(5) Since Ammon had time to plan his action, do you think he had thought of the consequence of his action?
(6) The Bible says after the rape, Ammon “hated her more than he had loved her” (13:15):
a. What kind of love did he have for Tamar?
b. Was it love or lust?
(7) The more literal translation of v. 18 reads, “She (Tamar) wore a long dress with sleeves" (K&D, 636). What does this additional description in the Bible seek to highlight?
(8) Why did Absalom tell her sister to be quiet for now? What kind of a person does this reveal about him?
(9) The Hebrew Bible says King David was furious and the LXX (Greek version of the OT) adds, “He did not trouble the spirit of Ammon his son, because he loved him, for he was his first-born”:
a. What should David have done according to Leviticus 20:17?
b. What message was he sending to his children?
c. Do you think his own sin with Bathsheba had anything to do with his inaction? Why or why not?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) How long did Absalom wait for his revenge?
(2) When King David declined the invitation and Absalom specifically asked for Ammon to come together with the rest of the king’s sons, should it not flag David about his possible plot? Why would David give his blessing?
(3) One commentator remarks that “the postponement of revenge…is quite in the spirit of the East” (K&D, 637). Do you agree? Why or why not?
(4) Why was Jonadab so sure that only Ammon was dead? (v. 32)
(5) Since he was the one who counseled Ammon to rape Tamar (like a friend), should he not warn Ammon in advance? What kind of a person was Jonadab?
(6) Why did Absalom choose to flee to Talmai? (See 3:3)
(7) As David mourned for Ammon every day, do you think it was just the kind of mourning of a father over the death of son? Would it not be mourning mixed with guilt? Why or why not?
(8) Should he blame Absalom? Why or why not?
(9) What should he do with Absalom? What did David do (if anything)?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) What might be the motive for Joab to try to bring about the reconciliation of David and Absalom? (14:1)
(2) Since David’s heart longed for Absalom, what might be preventing him from approaching Absalom? (14:24)
(3) In her attempt to help the king see his folly, what was the crux of the story invented by the woman (as instructed by Joab)? (See vv. 5-7) What was its relevance to Absalom’s situation?
(4) In v. 9, the woman essentially was saying that if the people of her clan did not listen to the king and went ahead and killed her son, she would not blame the king. However, as King David assured her that he would definitely make sure his decree would be obeyed, she asked him to swear before the Lord and David did (v. 11):
a. Why did she charge that King David’s continuous rejection of Absalom was devised against the people of God? (v. 13)
b. How did David’s decree in favor of her son serve to convict himself?
c. To what did she also appeal to in trying to convince King David in v. 14?
(5) As much as she tried to make her case sound real again (in vv. 15-17), King David knew it was a made-up story, but how did he know that Joab had a hand in it? (v. 19)
(6) What does this say of the relationship between Joab and David?
(7) What does this say about Joab as the right-hand man of King David?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Joab was doing the king a favor and yet he had to thank David for listening to him. Shouldn’t David be thanking him? Why didn’t he?
(2) It was obvious that King David “longed for Absalom” (14:1) and now Absalom was back, why did David refuse to see Absalom?
a. Was it a matter of face?
- As a king
- As a father
b. Was it a matter of anger?
c. Was it real reconciliation?
(3) What was the purpose of the insertion in vv. 25-27?
a. What might Israel think of Absalom?
b. What might Absalom think of himself?
c. Why were the names of his sons not mentioned, but only his daughter?
(4) Why was Joab reluctant to see Absalom?
(5) How did Absalom feel during the years after his return to Jerusalem?
(6) What did he want from his father?
(7) How was he finally received by his father?
(8) Why didn’t David do it earlier?
(9) Do you think it was too late?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Do you think Absalom’s intention was to position himself to succeed David or to overthrow his father?
(2) Had David been quick to forgive and embrace him back as his son, would this have happened? Why or why not?
(3) Do you think what Absalom did in vv. 1-6 could totally evade the knowledge of David?
a. If for four years, David knew nothing about what he did, what does it say about David as a king?
b. If David knew about it and did nothing about it, what does it say about David as a father and a king?
(4) How can one explain the success of Absalom in apparently having support “throughout the tribes of Israel” and why would these people support him against David?
a. Were they dissatisfied with David?
b. Did they consider Absalom a much better king? If so, why?
(5) As much as “the hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom” (15:13), did David have to flee?
a. Why could he not fight against Absalom from the citadels of Jerusalem?
b. Did he enquire of the Lord?
c. Had God relinquished His choice of David as king over Israel? (See 7:15)
(6) In your opinion, how did David look upon the rebellion of his son? What kind of struggle might he be going through?
(7) Why does the Bible make mention of the decision of the Gittites to follow David? What did this mean to David at a time like this?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) It appears the whole procession did not resemble the normal fleeing from a war, but a funeral procession:
a. Why did the “whole countryside” weep aloud?
b. Why did David continue up the Mount of Olives weeping?
c. Why did “All the people with him” cover their heads and weep too?
(2) It was even more unusual that the “fleeing” was accompanied by the offering of sacrifices by the priest, Abiathar. What did such an offering represent?
(3) From the words spoken by David to Zadok in vv. 25-26:
a. How did David look upon Absalom’s rebellion?
b. What does the decision of leaving the Ark behind in Jerusalem say about David? (Contrast his decision with that of the elders in 1 Sam. 4:3.)
(4) Upon learning that his trusted adviser Ahithophel had betrayed him, what did David do? Do you think God would answer his prayer? (Some commentators think that Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba.)
(5) Hushai appeared to be an old man who would be “a burden” to David had he followed. What role did David ask him to play? How effective was he? (See 17:14)
(6) As much as Absalom appeared to have “the hearts of the men of Israel”, David had many friends who were loyal to him — the priests were behind him, the ark of the covenant was with him, and he still had a sizeable army (see chapter 18). Do you think his decision to flee was (a) prudent, (b) fair to the nation, or (c) pleasing to the Lord? Why or why not?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?