Kings, prophets and the house of David

Saul and David were each anointed privately by Samuel, Saul at Ramah and David at Bethlehem, and both received the Spirit. Because Saul remained king, David lived for years as the anointed king-designate while Saul still reigned, which frames the whole conflict.

Sources: 1 Sam 10:1 · 1 Sam 16:13 · 1 Sam 16:14

Jonathan, Saul's heir, loved David "as his own soul", made a covenant, gave him his robe and weapons, and warned him of Saul's plots, knowing David would be king. Their bond outlasts Jonathan's death on Gilboa, as David's lament and his kindness to Jonathan's son show.

Sources: 1 Sam 18:1-4 · 1 Sam 20:12-17 · 1 Sam 23:16-18 · 2 Sam 1:26

Jonathan fought beside Saul (Michmash) and died with him on Gilboa, yet he defended David before Saul at the cost of Saul's rage, hurling a spear at him. Jonathan accepted that the throne would pass outside his line.

Sources: 1 Sam 14:1-14 · 1 Sam 20:30-33 · 1 Sam 31:2

Michal loved David; Saul gave her to him hoping the bride-price would get him killed by the Philistines, then later saved David by her ruse. Saul gave her to Palti; David demanded her back through Abner before becoming king, and she later despised him for dancing before the ark.

Sources: 1 Sam 18:20-27 · 1 Sam 19:11-17 · 1 Sam 25:44 · 2 Sam 3:13-16 · 2 Sam 6:16-23

Saul repeatedly tried to kill David, who twice spared him (En-gedi and the camp at Ziph) and refused to lift a hand against "the LORD's anointed". David mourned Saul after his death and executed the man who claimed to have killed him.

Sources: 1 Sam 19:9-10 · 1 Sam 24:1-7 · 1 Sam 26:7-12 · 2 Sam 1:14-16

Abner son of Ner was Saul's uncle's son (or, by another reading, Saul's uncle) and commanded his army. After Saul's death he made Ish-bosheth king, then quarrelled with him over the concubine Rizpah and defected to David.

Sources: 1 Sam 14:50 · 2 Sam 2:8-9 · 2 Sam 3:6-12

Abner killed Joab's brother Asahel in battle while retreating. When Abner came to make peace with David, Joab and Abishai murdered him at Hebron. David publicly cursed Joab's house and mourned Abner.

Sources: 2 Sam 2:18-23 · 2 Sam 3:26-30 · 2 Sam 3:31-39

The three sons of David's sister Zeruiah were David's nephews and among his chief commanders, yet Joab's ruthlessness repeatedly embarrassed David; David said "these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me".

Sources: 1 Chr 2:15-16 · 2 Sam 3:39 · 2 Sam 18:14

Amasa, Absalom's general and David's nephew, was given Joab's post after the rebellion. Joab killed him at Gibeon while greeting him. The act is one of the grounds for Solomon's later execution of Joab.

Sources: 2 Sam 17:25 · 2 Sam 19:13 · 2 Sam 20:8-10 · 1 Kgs 2:5

Amnon, David's firstborn, raped his half-sister Tamar, encouraged by his cousin Jonadab. David was angry but did nothing; Tamar's full brother Absalom killed Amnon two years later and fled. The narrative presents this as the first fulfilment of Nathan's word that the sword would not leave David's house.

Sources: 2 Sam 13:1-19 · 2 Sam 13:28-29 · 2 Sam 12:10-12

Absalom won the people at the gate, was proclaimed king at Hebron, and forced David out of Jerusalem. David's command to spare Absalom was ignored by Joab; David's grief nearly broke the army's morale.

Sources: 2 Sam 15:1-12 · 2 Sam 18:5 · 2 Sam 18:14-15 · 2 Sam 18:33

Ahithophel, David's adviser, joined Absalom and advised an immediate pursuit. David's friend Hushai feigned loyalty to Absalom and persuaded him to wait, giving David time. Ahithophel hanged himself when his advice was rejected.

Sources: 2 Sam 15:12 · 2 Sam 15:32-37 · 2 Sam 17:1-14 · 2 Sam 17:23

David took Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite, and arranged Uriah's death by placing him in the front line. Nathan confronted David with a parable; David confessed, and the child died. Bathsheba later bore Solomon.

Sources: 2 Sam 11:2-5 · 2 Sam 11:14-17 · 2 Sam 12:1-14 · 2 Sam 12:24

The list of "the thirty" ends with Uriah the Hittite, a foreigner in David's elite ranks, placing his murder in context. Other named members include Abishai, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Asahel, and Eleazar son of Dodo; Benaiah rose to command Solomon's army.

Sources: 2 Sam 23:8-12 · 2 Sam 23:20-23 · 2 Sam 23:24 · 2 Sam 23:39

Nathan first approved David's plan for a temple, then delivered God's promise of an eternal dynasty through David's son (2 Sam 7). Later he and Bathsheba secured Solomon's succession, and he is reported as a chronicler of David's and Solomon's reigns.

Sources: 2 Sam 7:1-17 · 1 Kgs 1:11-14 · 1 Chr 29:29 · 2 Chr 9:29

Adonijah, backed by Joab and Abiathar, declared himself king. Nathan and Bathsheba got David to confirm Solomon, and Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah anointed him at Gihon. Solomon then had Adonijah and Joab killed and sent Abiathar to Anathoth.

Sources: 1 Kgs 1:5-10 · 1 Kgs 1:32-40 · 1 Kgs 2:23-35

Abiathar, son of Ahimelech (Eli's line through Ithamar), escaped Saul's massacre of Nob and joined David. Zadok (line of Eleazar) served with him under David. Solomon's removal of Abiathar fulfilled the word against Eli's house and left Zadok's line as the principal priests.

Sources: 1 Sam 22:18-23 · 2 Sam 8:17 · 1 Kgs 2:26-27 · 1 Chr 6:50-53

Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, was lame from a childhood fall. David, remembering his covenant, restored Saul's land to him and seated him at his table.

Sources: 2 Sam 4:4 · 2 Sam 9:1-13 · 2 Sam 21:7

Hiram, king of Tyre, sent cedar and craftsmen for David's palace and later supplied Solomon with timber and skilled labour for the temple in exchange for food; the two exchanged cities and gold.

Sources: 2 Sam 5:11 · 1 Kgs 5:1-12 · 1 Kgs 9:10-14

Solomon's forced labour and taxes angered the northern tribes. After his death they asked Rehoboam to lighten the burden; Rehoboam followed the advice of his young companions and answered harshly, and ten tribes left.

Sources: 1 Kgs 11:26-28 · 1 Kgs 12:1-15 · 1 Kgs 12:16-19

Jeroboam, an Ephraimite overseer, was told by the prophet Ahijah that he would rule ten tribes; Solomon tried to kill him and he fled to Shishak of Egypt. After the split Jeroboam set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Shishak later invaded Judah in Rehoboam's fifth year.

Sources: 1 Kgs 11:29-40 · 1 Kgs 12:25-33 · 1 Kgs 14:25-26

Rehoboam mustered an army of Judah and Benjamin to recover the north, but the prophet Shemaiah told him not to fight his brothers; they obeyed. Ongoing war between the two kings is reported nevertheless.

Sources: 1 Kgs 12:21-24 · 1 Kgs 14:30

Ahab married Jezebel, a Sidonian princess who promoted Baal and killed the LORD's prophets. Elijah announced drought, confronted 450 prophets of Baal on Carmel, and later pronounced judgement on Ahab and Jezebel after Naboth's murder.

Sources: 1 Kgs 16:31 · 1 Kgs 18:19-40 · 1 Kgs 21:17-24

Naboth refused to sell his ancestral vineyard; Jezebel arranged false witnesses and his death, and Ahab took the land. Elijah met Ahab there and announced that dogs would lick his blood; Ahab's repentance delayed the judgement.

Sources: 1 Kgs 21:1-16 · 1 Kgs 21:19 · 1 Kgs 21:27-29 · 2 Kgs 9:25-26

Elijah found Elisha plowing and threw his mantle on him; Elisha left his family to serve him. At Elijah's departure Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit and received the mantle. The "sons of the prophets" recognised him as Elijah's heir.

Sources: 1 Kgs 19:19-21 · 2 Kgs 2:9-14 · 2 Kgs 2:15

At Horeb God told Elijah to anoint Hazael of Aram, Jehu of Israel and Elisha as prophet. In the record Elisha prophesied Hazael's kingship and a disciple of Elisha anointed Jehu; the tasks were completed through Elisha.

Sources: 1 Kgs 19:15-17 · 2 Kgs 8:7-15 · 2 Kgs 9:1-6

Elisha healed the Aramean commander Naaman and refused payment. His servant Gehazi secretly took gifts by deceit and received Naaman's skin disease.

Sources: 2 Kgs 5:9-14 · 2 Kgs 5:20-27

Jehu, a commander, was anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. He killed Joram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah, had Jezebel thrown from her window, and eliminated Ahab's descendants. Hosea 1:4 later speaks of judgement on Jehu for the bloodshed at Jezreel.

Sources: 2 Kgs 9:6-10 · 2 Kgs 9:30-37 · 2 Kgs 10:1-11 · Hos 1:4

Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab (and in the usual reading of Jezebel), married Jehoram of Judah, then after her son Ahaziah's death killed the royal heirs and ruled Judah six years, importing Baalism. The infant Joash was hidden in the temple.

Sources: 2 Kgs 8:18 · 2 Kgs 11:1-3

The priest Jehoiada hid Joash for six years, then led a coup in the seventh year with temple guards, had Athaliah put to death and crowned the boy. He remained Joash's guide until his death; Joash's later apostasy is reported.

Sources: 2 Kgs 11:4-16 · 2 Kgs 12:2 · 2 Chr 24:17-22

When Sennacherib of Assyria threatened Jerusalem in 701 BC, Hezekiah sought Isaiah. Isaiah promised deliverance and the Assyrian army was struck down. Isaiah also announced and then reversed Hezekiah's fatal illness, and warned of Babylon after the envoys' visit.

Sources: 2 Kgs 19:1-7 · 2 Kgs 19:35-36 · 2 Kgs 20:1-11 · Isa 39:5-7

Isaiah met Ahaz, threatened by Aram and Israel, and offered a sign; Ahaz declined and relied on Assyria. The prophecy of the virgin/young woman bearing Immanuel followed. Ahaz's son Hezekiah later reversed his father's policy.

Sources: Isa 7:1-9 · Isa 7:10-14 · 2 Kgs 16:7-9

In Josiah's eighteenth year Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law in the temple; Shaphan the scribe read it to the king, who tore his garments and launched a sweeping reform. Jeremiah is also associated with Josiah's reign.

Sources: 2 Kgs 22:3-13 · 2 Kgs 23:1-25 · Jer 1:2