AS this is a continuation of the preceding history, without any interruption, it can scarcely be called another book. Originally this and the preceding made but one book, and they have been separated without reason or necessity. For a general account of both, see the preface to the first book of Samuel.
It is generally allowed that this book comprehends a period of forty years, from about A.M. 2949 to 2989. See the prefixed chronological account. It has been divided into three parts: in the first we have an account of the happy commencement of David’s reign, 2 Sam. 1-10. In the second, David’s unhappy fall, and its miserable consequences, 2 Sam. 11-18. In the third, his restoration to the Divine favour, the re-establishment of his kingdom, and the events which signalized the latter part of his reign, 2 Sam. 19-24.
THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL
-Year from the Creation, 2949.
-Year before the Incarnation, 1055.
-Year before the first Olympiad, 279.
-Year before the building of Rome, 302.
-Year of the Julian Period, 3659.
-Year of the Dionysian Period, 467.
-Cycle of the Sun, 19.
-Cycle of the Moon, 11.
Joseph Benson
Argument
BEN_VOL2.PDF, source PDF p. 305
THE SECOND BOOK OF
SAMUEL.
OTHERWISE CALLED, THE SECOND BOOK OF THE
KINGS.
ARGUMENT.
IN this book is contained the history of the reign of David. It gives an account of his triumphs and of his troubles. I. His triumphs over the house of Saul, chap. 1.-4.; over the Jebusites and Philistines, chap. 5.; in the bringing up of the ark, chap. 6., 7.; over the neighbouring nations, chap. 8.-
10. II. His troubles; the cause of them, his sin in the matter of Uriah, chap. 11., 12.; the troubles themselves, from the sin of Amnon, chap. 13. The rebellion of Absalom, chap. 14.-19.; and of Sheba, chap. 20.; from the famine, chap. 21. And the pestilence, for his numbering the people, chap.
24. His song we have, chap. 22.; and his words and worthies, chap. 23. In many instances throughout this book he appears as a great and a good man; yet it must be confessed he had great vices: so that his honour shines brighter in his Psalms than in his annals. The whole period comprehended in this book is about forty years, from the beginning of David’s reign, in the year of the world 2949, to the end of it, in 2989. The conspiracy, however, of his son Adonijah, and his own death, are not here inserted, but are set down at the beginning of the following book. Although the former part of the first book of Samuel, as likewise the books of Ruth and Judges, were, in all probability, compiled by Samuel himself; yet the latter part of that, and this called the Second Book of Samuel, were, doubtless, written by other holy persons, inspired of GOD, such as Nathan, Gad, and others. Abarbinel says, according to Mr. Locke, that the books of Samuel were most probably written by Jeremiah, from memoirs left by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad.
Joseph Sutcliffe
The Second Book of Samuel.
SUT_VOL1.PDF, source PDF p. 771
THE SECOND BOOK OF
SAMUEL.
This second part might have been called the book of David. Having in the preseding book considered his anointing, his singular courage, and marvellous preservation while a candidate for the throne; we here contemplate his wisdom, his valour, and a constellation of the highest virtues which can adorn human nature, or distinguish the sacred person of a King. The glory and happiness to which he raised his country, corresponded with his personal worth. He is indeed accused of cruelty to his enemies; but his punishments were legal retaliations, as the cutting off of the right thumb and the right toe of Adoni-bezek, who had most inhumanly mutilated seventy kings in that manner. Or if we consider the lamentable case of Uriah, he did all that a man or a prince could do to repair his fault. He published a penitentiary Psalm to his country; he married the woman, and made her son king over Israel. It would therefore be wise in the wicked to exceed him in the fruits of repentance, before they presumptuously take shelter under his character. From the virtues and the heroic actions, preserved in this ancient record, which comprises a period of about forty years, the discerning mind will find a vast source of pleasing and of painful instruction. A supplement to this book is given in the twenty eighth chapter of the first book of Chronicles.
Adam Clarke
Introduction to the Second Book of Samuel,
CLA_2SA.PDF, source PDF p. 3
INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND BOOK OF
SAMUEL,
OTHERWISE CALLED THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS
AS this is a continuation of the preceding history, without any interruption, it can scarcely be called another book. Originally this and the preceding made but one book, and they have been separated without reason or necessity. For a general account of both, see the preface to the first book of Samuel.
It is generally allowed that this book comprehends a period of forty years, from about A.M. 2949 to 2989. See the prefixed chronological account. It has been divided into three parts: in the first we have an account of the happy commencement of David’s reign, 2 Sam. 1-10. In the second, David’s unhappy fall, and its miserable consequences, 2 Sam. 11-18. In the third, his restoration to the Divine favour, the re-establishment of his kingdom, and the events which signalized the latter part of his reign, 2 Sam. 19-24.
THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL
-Year from the Creation, 2949.
-Year before the Incarnation, 1055.
-Year before the first Olympiad, 279.
-Year before the building of Rome, 302.
-Year of the Julian Period, 3659.
-Year of the Dionysian Period, 467.
-Cycle of the Sun, 19.
-Cycle of the Moon, 11.
Joseph Benson
Argument
BEN_VOL2.PDF, source PDF p. 305
THE SECOND BOOK OF
SAMUEL.
OTHERWISE CALLED, THE SECOND BOOK OF THE
KINGS.
ARGUMENT.
IN this book is contained the history of the reign of David. It gives an account of his triumphs and of his troubles. I. His triumphs over the house of Saul, chap. 1.-4.; over the Jebusites and Philistines, chap. 5.; in the bringing up of the ark, chap. 6., 7.; over the neighbouring nations, chap. 8.-
10. II. His troubles; the cause of them, his sin in the matter of Uriah, chap. 11., 12.; the troubles themselves, from the sin of Amnon, chap. 13. The rebellion of Absalom, chap. 14.-19.; and of Sheba, chap. 20.; from the famine, chap. 21. And the pestilence, for his numbering the people, chap.
24. His song we have, chap. 22.; and his words and worthies, chap. 23. In many instances throughout this book he appears as a great and a good man; yet it must be confessed he had great vices: so that his honour shines brighter in his Psalms than in his annals. The whole period comprehended in this book is about forty years, from the beginning of David’s reign, in the year of the world 2949, to the end of it, in 2989. The conspiracy, however, of his son Adonijah, and his own death, are not here inserted, but are set down at the beginning of the following book. Although the former part of the first book of Samuel, as likewise the books of Ruth and Judges, were, in all probability, compiled by Samuel himself; yet the latter part of that, and this called the Second Book of Samuel, were, doubtless, written by other holy persons, inspired of GOD, such as Nathan, Gad, and others. Abarbinel says, according to Mr. Locke, that the books of Samuel were most probably written by Jeremiah, from memoirs left by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad.
Joseph Sutcliffe
The Second Book of Samuel.
SUT_VOL1.PDF, source PDF p. 771
THE SECOND BOOK OF
SAMUEL.
This second part might have been called the book of David. Having in the preseding book considered his anointing, his singular courage, and marvellous preservation while a candidate for the throne; we here contemplate his wisdom, his valour, and a constellation of the highest virtues which can adorn human nature, or distinguish the sacred person of a King. The glory and happiness to which he raised his country, corresponded with his personal worth. He is indeed accused of cruelty to his enemies; but his punishments were legal retaliations, as the cutting off of the right thumb and the right toe of Adoni-bezek, who had most inhumanly mutilated seventy kings in that manner. Or if we consider the lamentable case of Uriah, he did all that a man or a prince could do to repair his fault. He published a penitentiary Psalm to his country; he married the woman, and made her son king over Israel. It would therefore be wise in the wicked to exceed him in the fruits of repentance, before they presumptuously take shelter under his character. From the virtues and the heroic actions, preserved in this ancient record, which comprises a period of about forty years, the discerning mind will find a vast source of pleasing and of painful instruction. A supplement to this book is given in the twenty eighth chapter of the first book of Chronicles.