Seminaries and Institutes
2 Samuel 8–10: David’s Political and Personal Success


“2 Samuel 8–10: David’s Political and Personal Success,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 100–1

“2 Samuel 8–10,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 100–1

2 Samuel 8–10

David’s Political and Personal Success

In 2 Samuel 8, 10 is a description of how David continued to conquer the land promised by God to the Israelites. The Lord commanded the Israelites to conquer people in the land promised them from the time of Joshua, but David was the one who finally fulfilled the command most fully. At the same time, the record says he ruled his own people with fairness. Chapter 9 of 2 Samuel contains a great example of David’s justice in the account of how he fulfilled his promise to Saul’s son Jonathan to take care of Saul’s family.

Studying the Scriptures

Do activities A and B as you study 2 Samuel 8–10.

  1. What Do You Think?

    Why might some people have been surprised that David would do what he did in 2 Samuel 9 for one of Saul’s descendants?

  2. Find a Scripture

    Use your scripture helps to find a scripture verse that teaches us to act as David did in 2 Samuel 9. Write the scripture in your notebook and explain why you chose it. A good way to find a scripture is to look in the Topical Guide under a word that describes David’s actions. You may find one of those words in the footnotes. Write the reference in the margin of 2 Samuel 9 in your Bible.