Seminaries and Institutes
2 Samuel 21–23: More about David


“2 Samuel 21–23: More about David,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 103

“2 Samuel 21–23,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 103

2 Samuel 21–23

More about David

The story in 2 Samuel 21 is either not translated correctly or shows that David truly fell deep into apostasy. Never would God approve of putting one’s grandsons to death for something their grandfather did. The idea that God demanded human sacrifice to end a famine is simply false doctrine, like the doctrine of idol worship.

Chapters 22–23 of 2 Samuel are not really the continuation of David’s history but appear to be placed at the end of 2 Samuel by the writer to summarize some things about David and his kingdom. Chapter 22 of 2 Samuel is a psalm of David. Chapter 23 tells about David’s “mighty men,” or the men of his army.