The Lord's Discipline

989-977 B.C.; age 51-63; regnal years 21-33

Family Feud

• Amnon rapes Tamar
  2 Sam. 13:1-22
• Absalom kills Amnon
  2 Sam. 13:23-39
• Absalom recalled to Jerusalem
  2 Sam. 14:1-24
• David forgives Absalom
  2 Sam. 14:25-33

Coup d’état

• Absalom wins the favor of the people
  2 Sam. 15:1-6
• Absalom proclaims himself king in Hebron
  2 Sam. 15:7-12

Flight

• David flees Jerusalem
  2 Sam. 15:13-23
• David leaves agents inside Jerusalem
  2 Sam. 15:24-37
• Ziba slanders Mephibosheth
  2 Sam. 16:1-4
• Shimei curses David
  2 Sam. 16:5-14

Counterplot

• Hushai infiltrates Absalom's inner council
  2 Sam. 16:15-19
• Absalom disgraces David's concubines
  2 Sam. 16:20-23
• Hushai opposes Ahithophel's advice
  2 Sam. 17:1-14
• Hushai sends a secret message to David
  2 Sam. 17:15-23
• David finds refuge in Mahanaim
  2 Sam. 17:24-29

Victory

• Joab defeats and kills Absalom
  2 Sam. 18:1-18
• David mourns for Absalom
  2 Sam. 18:19-33
• Joab rebukes David
  2 Sam. 19:1-8

Return

• Israel and Judah recall David
  2 Sam. 19:9-15
• Shimei meets David at the Jordan
  2 Sam. 19:16-23
• Mephibosheth meets David at the Jordan
  2 Sam. 19:24-30
• David parts from Barzillai
  2 Sam. 19:31-40

Sheba's Rebellion

• Conflict arises between Judah and Israel
  2 Sam. 19:41 - 20:2
• Joab murders Amasa
  2 Sam. 20:3-13
• Sheba executed at Abel Beth-maacah
  2 Sam. 20:14-22
• David's advisors
  2 Sam. 20:23-26

Famine, War, and Plague

The dates in this section are not easy to determine. David probably appeased the Gibeonites shortly after honoring Mephibosheth in about the 10th to 15th years of his reign. Most of the feats of the giant killers and special forces took place during the Philistine battles in the first half of his reign. David numbered his fighting men sometime during the last half of his reign. He also apparently made extensive plans for the temple during this part of his reign while Solomon was quite young.

David appeases the Gibeonites to stop a famine
2 Sam. 21:1-14

The giant killers
2 Sam. 21:15-22 [1 Chron. 20:4-8]

Praise for deliverance
2 Sam. 22:1-51
The last words of David
2 Sam. 23:1-7

Special forces

• Three mighty men
  2 Sam. 23:8-17 [1 Chron. 11:10-19]
• Abishai and Benaiah
  2 Sam. 23:18-23 [1 Chron. 11:20-25]
• Thirty mighty men
  2 Sam. 23:24-39 [1 Chron. 11:26-47]

David purchases the temple mount when God stops a plague

• David takes a census
  2 Sam. 24:1-10 [1 Chron. 21:1-8]
  [[1 Chron. 27:23-24]]
• God sends a plague
  2 Sam. 24:11-17 [1 Chron. 21:9-17]
• David builds an altar
  2 Sam. 24:18-25 [1 Chron. 21:18-27]
• David dedicates land for the house of the Lord
  1 Chron. 21:28 - 22:1
• David makes plans for building the temple
  1 Chron. 22:2-5

Favor and Forgiveness

992-990 B.C.; age 47-50; regnal years 17-20

Solomon must have been born about twenty years before the end of David's reign because his son Rehoboam was one year old when he became king (1 Kings 11:42 with 14:21).

God makes a covenant with David

• David desires to build a temple for God
  2 Sam. 7:1-17 [1 Chron. 17:1-15]
• David gives thanks to God
  2 Sam. 7:18-29 [1 Chron. 17:16-27]

Joab lays siege to Rabbah
2 Sam. 11:1 [1 Chron. 20:1a]

David sins

• David commits adultery
  2 Sam. 11:2-5
• David tries to hide his sin
  2 Sam. 11:6-13
• David has Uriah killed
  2 Sam. 11:14-27

David is forgiven

• Nathan rebukes David
  2 Sam. 12:1-12
• David repents and is restored
  2 Sam. 12:13-23
• Solomon is born
  2 Sam. 12:24-25

David takes Rabbah of the Ammonites
2 Sam. 12:26-31 [1 Chron. 20:1b-3]

Military Conquests

1002-994 B.C.; age 38-46; regnal years 8-16

The defeated nations in 2 Samuel 8 appear in the order in which they were defeated. However, the Arameans had been enlisted as allies of the Ammonites who were defeated last. For this reason, the Ammonite war described in 2 Samuel 10 describes how the Arameans became involved before they were defeated by David's army further north in 2 Samuel 8. This outline arranges all events in chronological order. The Ammonites are finally defeated in 2 Samuel 12. Note that the events in this section begin after the defeat of the Philistines described in the previous Jerusalem section and run parallel with the remaining part of that section.

David defeats the Philistines at Metheg Ammah
2 Sam. 8:1 [1 Chron. 18:1]

David conquers the Moabites
2 Sam. 8:2 [1 Chron. 18:2]

David defeats Ammon's allies

• The Ammonites insult David's messengers
  2 Sam. 10:1-5 [1 Chron. 19:1-5]
• David's army prevails over Ammon's allies
  2 Sam. 10:6-14 [1 Chron. 19:6-15]
• David's army is victorious over Ammon's allies again
  2 Sam. 10:15-19 [1 Chron. 19:16-19]
• David conquers Zobah and Damascus
  2 Sam. 8:3-8 [1 Chron. 18:3-8] cf. 1 Kings 11:23-24

David dedicates gifts and plunder to the Lord
2 Sam. 8:9-12 [1 Chron. 18:9-11]

David conquers the Edomites
2 Sam. 8:13-14 [1 Chron. 18:12-13]
cf. 1 Kings 11:15-18; title of Psalm 60

Jerusalem

1002 - 994 B.C.; age 38-46; regnal years 8-16

David conquers Jerusalem
2 Sam. 5:6-10 [1 Chron. 11:4-9]

David builds a palace
2 Sam. 5:11-12 [1 Chron. 14:1-2]

David fathers other sons in Jerusalem
2 Sam. 5:13-16 [1 Chron. 14:3-7] [[1 Chron. 3:5-9]]

David defeats the Philistines in Rephaim Valley
2 Sam. 5:17-25 [1 Chron. 14:8-17]

The Ark of God brought to Jerusalem

• David plans to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem
  1 Chron. 13:1-4
• David's procession is abruptly halted
  2 Sam. 6:1-11 [1 Chron. 13:5-14]
• David consecrates Levites to carry the ark
  1 Chron. 15:1-24
• David succeeds in bringing the ark to Jerusalem
  2 Sam. 6:12-19a [1 Chron. 15:25 - 16:3]
• David gives thanks to God
  1 Chron. 16:4-43; see also 2 Sam. 6:19b-20a
• David argues with Michal
  2 Sam. 6:20-23

David rules with justice and equity
2 Sam. 8:15-18 [1 Chron. 18:14-17]

David shows kindness to Mephibosheth
2 Sam. 9:1-13

Hebron

1009-1003 B.C.; age 31-37; regnal years 1-7

David is proclaimed king over Judah in Hebron
2 Sam. 2:1-7

David fathers sons in Hebron
2 Sam. 3:2-5 [1 Chron. 3:1-4]

David is opposed by Ish-bosheth
2 Sam. 2:8-11

David wins initial victory at Gibeon
2 Sam. 2:12 - 3:1

David accepts Abner's offer
2 Sam. 3:6-21

Joab kills Abner
2 Sam. 3:22-27

David curses Joab and honors Abner
2 Sam. 3:28-39

David punishes Ish-bosheth's murderers
2 Sam. 4:1-12

David is proclaimed king of all Israel
2 Sam. 5:1-5 [1 Chron. 11:1-3]

Armed men gather to David
1 Chron. 12:23-40

Exile

1011-1010 B.C.; age 29-30

David flees to Philistia
1 Sam. 27:1-12

Mighty men join David in Ziklag
1 Chron. 12:1-7

David drafted and expelled from the Philistine army

• Achish drafts David and his men
  1 Sam. 28:1-2
• Philistines exclude David from their army
  1 Sam. 29:1-11

David receives defectors from Saul's army
1 Chron. 12:19-22

Saul consults a witch at Endor
1 Sam. 28:3-25

David finds Ziklag plundered and burned
1 Sam. 30:1-6

David rescues his family from the Amalekites
1 Sam. 30:7-31

Saul dies in battle
1 Sam. 31:1-13 [1 Chron. 10:1-14]

David receives news of Saul's death
2 Sam. 1:1-27

Most Wanted

1016-1012 B.C.; age 24-28

David flees

• David obtains supplies from priests at Nob
  1 Sam. 21:1-9
• David temporarily flees to Gath
  1 Sam. 21:10-15

David becomes a leader

• David comforts the oppressed
  1 Sam. 22:1-5
• David gathers soldiers
  1 Chron. 12:8-18
• David gives refuge to Abiathar the priest
  1 Sam. 22:6-23
• David saves Keilah
  1 Sam. 23:1-13

David moves from place to place

• David avoids Saul
  1 Sam. 23:14-29
• David spares Saul's life near Engedi
  1 Sam. 24:1-22

Samuel dies
1 Sam. 25:1a

David gets a wife

• Nabal insults David
  1 Sam. 25:1b-13
• Abigail intercedes for Nabal
  1 Sam. 25:14-35
• David marries Abigail
  1 Sam. 25:36-44

David spares Saul's life in the Desert of Ziph
1 Sam. 26:1-25

Court Appearance

1023–1016 B.C.; age 17-24

David and his family are introduced twice in 1 Samuel (16:1-23 and 17:1 - 18:9). David is described in both introductions as a handsome shepherd and a son of Jesse. The introductions are overlapping chronologically since they both end with him serving as a soldier in Saul's army. The following chronology eliminates the contradictions many have seen in the accounts. A full discussion of this problem can be found in my book King David: A Biography and Devotional Commentary.

David anointed by Samuel to replace Saul
1 Sam. 16:1-13

David leads Israel to victory over the Philistines

• Goliath insults the Israelite army
  1 Sam. 17:1-11
• David enters the Israelite camp
  1 Sam. 17:12-30
• David prepares for battle
  1 Sam. 17:31-40
• David kills Goliath
  1 Sam. 17:41-54
• Saul inquires about David
  1 Sam. 17:55-18:1
• David arouses Saul's jealousy
  1 Sam. 18:6-9

David enters Saul’s family

• Saul sends for David
  1 Sam. 16:14-23; cf. 1 Sam. 16:22 and 18:2
• Jonathan makes a covenant with David
  1 Sam. 18:3-5
• David eludes Saul and becomes successful
  1 Sam. 18:10-16
• David marries Michal
  1 Sam. 18:17-30
• Jonathan intercedes for David
  1 Sam. 19:1-7

David expelled from Saul’s family

• David flees for his life
  1 Sam. 19:8-17
• David finds refuge with Samuel
  1 Sam. 19:18-24

David fails to renew Saul's favor
1 Sam. 20:1-42