2 Samuel
Second Samuel is the story of David's reign in full light and full shadow. He unites the tribes, captures Jerusalem, brings up the ark with dancing, and receives a staggering promise: his throne will endure forever. Then comes Bathsheba. Adultery and murder crack the kingdom open, and the second half of the book is a chronicle of consequences: a violated daughter, a murdered son, Absalom's rebellion, and an old king weeping over the boy who tried to take his crown. Through it all, God's covenant with David holds, sturdier than David himself.
Anonymous; likely drawing on court records and prophetic sources.
Events c. 1010–970 BC; compiled during or after the monarchy.
Israel under Davidic kings, remembering the dynasty's founding and failures.
To record David's reign and God's everlasting covenant with his house, without concealing David's sin and its bitter fruit.