The Tanakh Podcast

The final chapter of Samuel gives us yet another sin of David, and another admission of guilt! And a story resonant of the Akeida. What does it all mean?

This chapter gives us David's final song - "The spirit of God spoke through me" - and David's dauntless thirty-seven warriors. Who is David - the man of war or the man of God?

David's Song "on the day God saved David from all his enemies and the hands of Saul." This would appear to be a song from an earlier period in David's life. Why is it here? How does this song relate to the other two songs in the book of Samuel: Channah's song (or prayer) and David's eulogy for saul? How does the theology of this song relate to the trials and tribulations of David's life? Music. Yo...

An ancient unrequited sin leads to a 3 year drought. The Gibeonites were slaughtered by King Saul. Now they demand that David hand over 7 of Sau's descendents. They want Revenge. Will David comply? Can a child be killed for his father's sin? 

David finds himself with another revolt on his hands.  He tries to avoid having Yoav - the man who killed his son Avshalom - lead the army. First, he appoints Amassa, but Amassa disappoints. Second he appoints Avishai. But Avishai defers to his older brother Yoav. In the end it is Yoav who puts down the revolt. Yoav is depicted here as a complex character. He is open to the moral call of the...

Avshalom is dead. The rebellion is over. Or is it? The instability continues as the tribes of Judah and Benjamin vie for prestige of leading David back to Jerusalem and tribal tensions flare leading to further volatility.

In this chapter David instructs Yoav not to kill Avshalom, where Yoav instructs the army to kill Avshalom. Who was correct?

Today we discuss two advisors: Achitophel and Hushai. Achitophel seems to be the man who's views are always correct, whose perspective is always wise and insightful. However in our story Avshalom follows Hushai's counsel and rejects Achitophel. We shall propose that Achitophel has a burning personal agenda that skews his thinking.

The mutiny continues.  Our chapter contains four scenes, four encounters. Two as David flees Jerusalem; two as Avshalom enters the city. 

Avshalom is back in Jerusalem. He wastes no time at boosting his popularity and discrediting his father, King David. Soon after, he asks for permission to sacrifice in Hebron, the city in which David was crowned, and he launches a mutiny against his father. David and his close circle abandon the city, preferring to flee rather than thrust Jerusalem into war and bloodshed. We will examine David's s...

Avshalom is in exile. But David is pining for him. Yoav orchestrates his return to Jerusalem, and then Avshalom forces his way back, using Yoav, to high society. In this chapter we witness David as a conflicted person, conflicted between his values and his parental love. We also see Avshalom's fierce resolve, a perseverance which will become dangerous in the upcoming chapter.

David's son Amnon conspires and brutally rapes his own half sister, Tamar. Then, two years later, Tamar's brother Avshalom murders Amnon. We will show that way that the style of this horrific story brings us to see this as punishment for David's crimes.

The prophet comes to David and accuses David of murder and adultery and pronounces David's punishment. David admits his sin. Batsheva's child dies.

In the stories of David there is no sin greater than David's adultery and murder in this chapter. We shall see how sin leads to complication and complication to further sin as David is tempted to use his royal power to cover his own misdeeds.

David sends a diplomatic delegation to console the ammonite king Hannun after the death of his father. However Hannun humiliates David's officials. This is in essence a declaration of war against Israel as Ammon rally an entire alliance of forces to fight David's army. Yoav and his brother Avishai show their phenomenal military prowess in their management of the battle.

David decides to show his kindness and loyalty to the House of Shaul. He seeks out any remaining descendants and discovers that Mefiboshet, Yonatan's son, a handicapped man, is still alive. Through the story we meet Tziva, the caretaker of Saul's estate, who has essentially assumed control over the assets of the former king. David honours Mefiboshet by having him eat at the royal table, and he ins...

In Chapter 2... 1. Meet Mordechai and Esther 2. The King's search for a new queen  3. The Plot of Bigtan and Teresh

The opening chapter of the Megilla describes the lavish feasts in Shushan, and the story of Vashti. But what does this have to do with the Jews and the Purim story?

David fights on every front: Philistines, Moav, Aram, Edom, Amalek, Amon, and succeeds in growing the kingdom to a veritable empire. The chapter ends with David's growing national administration. Our discussion will focus upon the military force that David is using and its justification. 

David requests to build the Temple. God says no. Why? Is it because he has blood on his hands? Our chapter offers a different reason.

David has captured Jerusalem. But how does he bring God to the city? By making a home for the Aron - the Ark of God - in Jerusalem. But a terrible accident happens as the procession makes its way - the Ark slips and Uzzah tries to save it but is killed. What is David going to do to repair the situation? And how does this relate to the argument between David and his wife, Michal bat Shaul?

In this chapter David becomes King over the entire nation and immediately sets to create a new capital city - Jerusalem. The entire chapter depicts the way that David solidifies and stabilizes his position as monarch. Why Jerusalem? How was it captured? 

Two officers of Ish-Boshet's army come into his house and murder him in broad daylight. What do they wish to achieve? What is their motivation? In this, the third of the assassination stories, we hear yet again how David does not want to rise to the throne over the death of his political rivals. we also address two other topics: 1. Ish-Boshet's strange name. And 2. The story of the tribes of Be'er...

Avner argues with the King, Ish-Boshet, and as he realizes that the northern faction led by Sauls' son, is weakening, he decides to capitalize on the moment and create a coalition with King David. However Yoav, David's general, has a vendetta with Avner (Avner had killed Yoav's brother) and he murders Avner. Now the peace deal is severely jeopardized. Will David manage to salvage the peace and reu...

David is crowned in Yehuda. But Avner crowns Saul's son, Ish-Boshet, over the Northern Tribes.  For seven years the generals - Yoav and Avner - are engaged in conflict. We witness one particularly bloody day of fighting.