Ark of the Covenant - Bible History Online
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2 Samuel 22

1 - David spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul,
2 - and he said:"The LORD is my rock,my fortress,and my deliverer, even mine;
3 - God is my rock in whom I take refuge;my shield, and the horn of my salvation,my high tower, and my refuge.My savior, you save me from violence.
4 - I call on The LORD, who is worthy to be praised;So shall I be saved from my enemies.
5 - For the waves of death surrounded me.The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
6 - The cords of Sheol were around me.The snares of death caught me.
7 - In my distress, I called on The LORD.Yes, I called to my God.He heard my voice out of his temple.My cry came into his ears.
8 - Then the earth shook and trembled.The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken,because he was angry.
9 - Smoke went up out of his nostrils.Consuming fire came out of his mouth.Coals were kindled by it.
10 - He bowed the heavens also, and came down.Thick darkness was under his feet.
11 - He rode on a cherub, and flew.Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12 - He made darkness a shelter around himself:gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
13 - At the brightness before him,coals of fire were kindled.
14 - The LORD thundered from heaven.The Most High uttered his voice.
15 - He sent out arrows, and scattered them;lightning, and confused them.
16 - Then the channels of the sea appeared.The foundations of the world were laid bare by The LORD's rebuke,at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17 - He sent from on high and he took me.He drew me out of many waters.
18 - He delivered me from my strong enemy,from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19 - They came on me in the day of my calamity,but the LORD was my support.
20 - He also brought me out into a large place.He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21 - The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness.He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
22 - For I have kept The LORD's ways,and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 - For all his ordinances were before me.As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24 - I was also perfect toward him.I kept myself from my iniquity.
25 - Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
26 - With the merciful you will show yourself merciful.With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect.
27 - With the pure you will show yourself pure.With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
28 - You will save the afflicted people,But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.
29 - For you are my lamp, The LORD.The LORD will light up my darkness.
30 - For by you, I run against a troop.By my God, I leap over a wall.
31 - As for God, his way is perfect.The LORD's word is tested.He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
32 - For who is God, besides The LORD?Who is a rock, besides our God?
33 - God is my strong fortress.He makes my way perfect.
34 - He makes his feet like hinds' feet,and sets me on my high places.
35 - He teaches my hands to war,so that my arms bend a bow of brass.
36 - You have also given me the shield of your salvation.Your gentleness has made me great.
37 - You have enlarged my steps under me.My feet have not slipped.
38 - I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them.I didn't turn again until they were consumed.
39 - I have consumed them,and struck them through,so that they can't arise.Yes, they have fallen under my feet.
40 - For you have armed me with strength for the battle.You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
41 - You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,that I might cut off those who hate me.
42 - They looked, but there was no one to save;even to The LORD, but he didn't answer them.
43 - Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth.I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad.
44 - You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people.You have kept me to be the head of the nations.A people whom I have not known will serve me.
45 - The foreigners will submit themselves to me.As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
46 - The foreigners will fade away,and will come trembling out of their close places.
47 - The LORD lives!Blessed be my rock!Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
48 - even the God who executes vengeance for me,who brings down peoples under me,
49 - who brings me away from my enemies.Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me.You deliver me from the violent man.
50 - Therefore I will give thanks to you, The LORD, among the nations,and will sing praises to your name.
51 - He gives great deliverance to his king,and shows loving kindness to his anointed,to David and to his offspring, forever more."
2 Samuel Images and Notes

The Books of Samuel

2 Samuel 7:12 - And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2 Samuel 7:13 - He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2 samuel 7:14 - I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
2 Samuel 7:15 - But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took [it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
2 Samuel 7:16 - And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

The Old Testament - A Brief Overview

Bible Survery - Samuel
Hebrew Name - Shemuel "asked of God"
Greek Name - Samoeul (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author - Samuel (According to Tradition)
Date - From 1171-1015 BC Approximately
Theme of 1 Samuel - The beginning of the kingdom
Theme of 2 Samuel - David, God's chosen king
Types and Shadows - In Samuel Jesus is God's anointed King

Quick Reference Map
Map of Zion and the City of David
Map of Zion and the City of David (Click to Enlarge)

Summary of The Books of Samuel

The original ancient Hebrew manuscripts recorded the books of Samuel as only one book. The first time these books were divided was in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures, and they were referred to as the First and Second Books of Kingdoms. 1 and 2 Kings were referred to as the Third and  Fourth Books of Kingdoms. When looking closely at the King James version of the Bible the titles are still arranged in this way.

Samuel is the name of the books in the ancient Hebrew text, because he was the author and the main character in the early portions in the first book, and because of his role as a prophet of God known from Dan to Beersheba, who had anointed and had the biggest influence on the lives of  King Saul and King David. The Lord raised up the prophet Samuel at a time in the history of Israel when they were disunited as a people and very determined to have a king reign over them. God made Samuel a great man, he was a Judge (1 Samuel 7:6, 15-17), and a Prophet (1 Samuel 3:20) and became  God's chosen link between the periods of the Judges and the United Kingdom.

According to Jewish tradition the books were written by Samuel himself. They deal with the period in Jewish history from the time of  Othniel the Judge through the reign of King David in the 11th and 10th centuries BC. This is of course one of the most important and significant times in the history of Israel, because their government changed from a system of tribes and judges to a kingdom by which the king would rule according to God's laws.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Ark Relief at Capernaum Synagogue

Close up of the Sculptured Block of the Ark at Capernaum

The ancient Ark of the covenant of Israel is one the most famous items in all of antiquity. There is no trace of the Ark of the covenant, yet it is memorialized by this Scripture block at the synagogue of Capernaum, created in Greco-Roman style. In the Bible the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines, and later returned because of sudden plagues that happened upon their lands. Through the valley of sorek it was taken back to Israel to Beth-shemesh.

Although there are a few repetitive content and accounts a clear outline is difficult, the contents of the two books may be outlined as follows:

Outline of the Books of Samuel

I. The Life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1-15)

1) The prayer of Hannah for a son, the granting of the request and the subsequent dedication of the child Samuel to the service of the Lord (1 Samuel 1:1-2: 10).
2) The sin of the sons of Eli which resulted in their death and the loss of the priesthood to the descendants of Eli (1 Samuel 2:12-36).
3) Samuel's vision concerning the house of Eli (1 Samuel 3).
4) The defeat of the Israelites and capture of the Ark by the Philistines and the death of Eli (1 Samuel 4).
5) The Ark in Philistine territory (1 Samuel 5:1-7 :4).
6) The return of the Ark and the establishment of Samuel as a judge over Israel (1 Samuel 7).
7) The appointment of Samuel's sons as judges and the consequent request for a king. Samuel warns the Israelites of the perils of being ruled over by a king (1 Samuel 8).
8) Saul's meeting with Samuel (1 Samuel 9).
9) The anointing and election of Saul as king (1 Samuel 10-11).
10) Samuel's address to the people, in which he defends his own record and exhorts them to walk in the way of the Lord (1 Samuel 12). From this time forward, he serves as an adviser to the king.

II. The Reign of Saul (1 Samuel 13 - 2 Samuel 1)

1) The offering of sacrifice by Saul in Samuel's absence. This constituted disobedience and resulted in God's disfavor toward Saul (1 Samuel 13).
2) Jonathan's rout of the Philistine army and his innocent breaking of Saul's foolish vow (1 Samuel 14).
3) Saul's disobedience in sparing some of the Amalekites and their cattle (1 Samuel 15). Samuel's reply to Saul's feeble excuse was the familiar "to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22 ).
4) The anointing of David to be Saul's successor (1 Samuel 16).
5) David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
6) The love of Jonathan and David and the marriage of the latter to the daughter of Saul (1 Samuel 18). Also included in this chapter is the first attempt of the jealous Saul to kill David.
7) Saul's second attempt on David's life (1 Samuel 19).
8) The parting of Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 20).
9) David's exile (1 Samuel 20-24).
10) The death of Samuel and the marriage of David to Abigail after the death of her churlish husband, Nabal (1 Samuel 25).
11) The gradual eclipse of Saul's power as he futilely sought to destroy David and protect his kingdom at the same time (1 Samuel 26-30).

III. The Reign of David (2 Samuel 2-25)

1) The proclamation of David as king at Hebron and his reign over Judah from that place.
2) The removal of the capital to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5).
3) The bringing of the ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6).
4) David's victories (2 Samuel 7-11:1).
5) David's sin with Bathsheba and the rebuke by Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel 11-12).
6) The rape of Tamar by Amnon, the revenge of Absalom and Amnon's murder; the flight of Absalom (2 Samuel 13).
7) Absalom's return, his efforts to usurp the throne of David and his death (2 Samuel 14-18).
8) David's return and Sheba's revolt (2 Samuel 19-20 ).
9) The famine and the victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 21).
10) David's thanksgiving and last words (2 Samuel 22-23:7).
11) The names and exploits of David's "mighty men" (2 Samuel 23:8-39).
12) The census and the resultant plague (2 Samuel 24).

Quick Reference Maps - 2 Samuel

Hebron
Mahanaim
Zion and the City of David
The Kidron Valley and David's City

The First Day. Light.

2 Samuel Resources

The Judges
Samuel the Prophet
Saul, Israel's First King
King David

More About the Book of 1 Samuel
More About the Book of 2 Samuel
1 Samuel in the Picture Study Bible
2 Samuel in the Picture Study Bible
Timeline of the Ancient World
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