Bible Study Questions for the book of
2 Samuel
- Where is David when Saul is Killed? Who comes to see him? How is the visitor described? What does he do when he sees David? What question does David ask? How does the man respond?
- What does David ask about Saul and his sons? How does the man know? How is this account different than what we read in 1 Samuel chapter 30? Why is this account different? Why would this Amalekite not be mentioned in 1 Samuel?
- What does the man bring back for David? Does this verify his story? What do David and his men do? Why? How long do they fast?
- What does David ask the man? Why should the man have been afraid of Saul? What does David tell one of the young men to do? Why would David do this instead of celebrating the news this man brought?
- What does David say should be taught to the people of Judah? What is the book of Jashar? What does the lament contain? Why should news of Saul's death not be published? How is Saul described in the lament?
- What does God tell David to do? Who goes with him? Where do they settle? What do the men of Judah do? What word does David send to the men of Jabesh-gilead? Why?
- What does Abner do? Why? Is he justified in this action? Why or why not? What territories does Ish-Bosheth rule over? Who follows David?
- What happens at the meeting between Joab and Abner? Who starts the fighting? Who is defeated at this battle? Who chases after Abner? What does Abner tell him to do? What does Abner do when he does not follow his instructions? Who continues to pursue him?
- Why do the men of Judah stop chasing the men of Israel? Where does Abner go? When David musters his men, how many are missing? How many of Abner's men were killed?
- What sons are born to David during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David? What does Abner do during this time of war? Why does he have an argument with Ish-bosheth? What does Abner vow after this quarrel?
- Why does Abner send messengers to David? Why does David send messengers to Ish-bosheth? What does Ish-bosheth do? Who is Paltiel? How does he respond to Ish-bosheth's demands?
- What does Abner say when he meets with the elders of Israel? Why does Abner head out to see David at Hebron? How many men go with him? What does David do for Abner and his men?
- Why would Joab question David's meeting with Abner? What does he accuse Abner of? What does Joab do after he meets with David? What does Joab do to Abner during their private meeting?
- How does David respond when he finds out about Abner's murder? What curse does he pronounce on the house of Joab? What does David command everyone to do? Where is Abner buried?
- Why would David refuse to eat the day they buried Abner? Why are the people pleased when David refuses food? Why do they see David as blameless in Abner's death? What does David say to his servants?
- Who is Mephibosheth? Why is he crippled? Why would this information be provided now? Who murders Ish-bosheth? Who is their father? When do they kill him? How do they kill him? Where do they go after the murder?
- What do the murderers present David with? Why would they think David would be happy with the news? How does David respond? What does David remind them about the man that brought news of Saul's death?
- What does David have his men do to these murderers? Why? Where was the head of Ish-bosheth buried?
- Who comes to Hebron? What do they say about David? Why was his good behavior so important during the reign of Saul? What does David make with the elders? How old is David when he begins his reign?
- Why would there be a distinction between how many years David reigned in Judah and how many he reigned over Judah and Israel? Where do David and his men march to? Who do they fight against?
- What do David's enemies think about his war fighting capabilities? What does David do to them? Where does David take his residence? Why does David become more and more powerful?
- What does King Hiram send to David? What does this prove to David? What does he do when he returns to Hebron? What children are born in Hebron? What happens when the Philistines hear that David has been anointed king?
- What does David ask God about the Philistines? How does God respond? Where does David fight them? What does he rename the place? What does he do with the idols of the Philistines? What does David do when the Philistines spread out in the valley of Rephaim?
- How many men does David assemble? What is their mission? How do they decide to handle this holy item? Why would they not know the proper instructions on how to handle it?
- Who is guiding the cart? Where are they moving it from? What are they doing as they are moving the cart? Why would they be so excited? What happens when the oxen stumble? What happens to Uzzah? Who is David mad at for Uzzah's fate?
- Why does David stop moving the ark? Where does he take it? What happens to the household during its stay? Why does David decide to bring it back again? What is different in how they move the ark the second time? What is David doing?
- Who gets mad at David for this display? What does she say to him? How does David respond? What happens to her?
1. Who is Nathan? What does David tell him? Why would Nathan think that David’s plan is a good one? Why does God forbid David from taking on this task?
2. What promise does God make to David? Why? What does He promise the Israelites? How long will David’s dynasty last? What does God promise NOT to do with David’s descendants?
3. How does David respond when he hears from Nathan? What do we learn about his faith in God Almighty?
4. Where does David go next? Who does he defeat? What is Metheg-ammah? Who else does David defeat? Where does this people group trace its lineage to? Who is Hadadezer? Where does David defeat him? What does David take from Hadadezer?
5. Who is Toi? What does he do when he gets word of Hadadezer’s defeat? Why would he send blessings to David? What does David do with the weapons he acquires? How many Edomites does David strike down?
6. How does David reign as king? Who is over the army? Who is the recorder? What role do Zadok and Ahimelech fulfill in the kingdom? What assignment is given to David’s sons? How are their duties different than those of Zadok and Ahimelech? Why?
7. Why is David looking for anyone from the house of Saul? Who is Ziba? How does he wind up in front of David? What information does he give David? Who is Mephibosheth? What does he do when he goes to see David?
8. Why would he be afraid of David? What does David promise Mephibosheth? What does Mephibosheth refer to himself as? What is given to Mephibosheth? What does David command Ziba to do? Where does Mephibosheth eat for the rest of his life? Why are we reminded that he is lame in both feet so often?
1. Who becomes king of the Ammonites? What does David plan to do for this new king? Why? Who does he send to the new king?
2. What happens when they arrive at Ammon? Why do the Ammonite leaders think the king should be wary of David? What do they accuse David of doing? What does the king do with David’s people? Why is this such an insult?
3. What does David do when he finds out what happened with the emissaries? What does he tell them to do?
4. What do the Ammonites do when they find out they are “repulsive” to David? Why would they expect David to have any other response? How many soldiers are assembled by the Ammonites?
5. How does David respond when he finds out about the Ammonite army? Where do the Ammonites march to? Where do the Arameans and the men of Tob and Maacah stay? What does Joab do when he sees enemies to his front and rear?
6. Who is Abishai? What does Joab place under his command? What was the purpose of dividing the troops? How do we respond when we face a problem?
7. Why do they have to remain strong? Who is counting on them? What happens when Joab advances against the Arameans? What happens after this group flees? Why would they lose heart? Where does Joab go next?
8. What do the Arameans do? Who does Hadadezer reach out to for help? Who is Shobach? What does he do? Why would they be so emboldened to go after Israel after such a humiliating defeat?
9. What does David do when he finds out the Arameans have reassembled? How many of the charioteers are killed? How many foot soldiers are killed? What happens to Shobach? What happens when all the other kings realize Hadadezer had been defeated by Israel? Why would the Arameans be afraid to help the Ammonites after this event?
1. When do the kings go out to war? Who does David send? Why does he not go to war with them? Who is destroyed by David’s army?
2. What does David see when he is walking on his roof one night? Why would he be up there to begin with? What does David do when he sees the woman? What does David’s informant report?
3. What does David do when he finds out she is married to a soldier in his army? Why would she be willing to come to the palace? Why should this encounter between David and Bathsheba never have happened?
4. What does David do when he finds out Bathsheba is pregnant? What report does Uriah give David about the war? What does David tell Uriah to do? What does David send with him?
5. Where does Uriah set up camp? What does David do when he finds out Uriah has not gone home? What is Uriah’s answer? What is David’s next move? Why would he think that would work?
6. What does David do when his ruse does not get Uriah to go home? Who is the letter sent to? Who takes the letter? What does it say to do? What does this tell us about Uriah’s trust and faith? What does it tell us about David’s trust and faith? How does Joab respond when he receives word from the king? What does this tell us about Joab’s faith?
7. What happens on the battlefield? Who reports the news to David? What does Joab tell the messenger to say if David is upset about the outcome of the battle? Why would he worry about David’s reaction, considering David is the one that gave the order?
8. What message does David send to Joab after receiving the news? What order does he give Joab regarding the city they are fighting against?
9. What does Bathsheba do when she finds out her husband is dead? What happens after her time of mourning? Why would David think that this made everything okay? Why would the author let us know that “God considered what David had done to be evil”?
