Shmuel II Chapters 1-4 1. Is there a contradiction between the account of Shaul’s death in chapter 1 and the account given in chapter 31? (Given the circumstances, was it permissible for Shaul to commit suicide)? Can this be explained as two accounts of the same story? Is there a reason for the Amaleki boy to lie? Why did specifically the people of Yavesh Gilad rescue Shaul’s bones? 2. Was the Amaleki boy Jewish? What right did David have to kill him? Do you think that David believed him? What is the irony of this story? What was the purpose of David’s Kinah? What treaty had David hoped to keep with Yonatan after Shaul’s death? (See Shmuel I 23:16-18). 3. List the steps that David takes to secure his kingdom. Explain the significance of each step, and explain David’s reasoning in taking each step. Why is David interested in the support of the people of Yavesh Gilad? Why and when does David ask Hashem for guidance? Who made Ishboshet the son of Shaul king? Why? What were his motives? 4. Why does the first battle between Avner and Yoav take place at Givon? (What other important battles took place in this area)? Is this the first civil war in Jewish History? (If not, list other civil wars that served as precedents for this civil war). 5. What is the political meaning of taking the pilagshim of the king? Name other examples of similar actions. (See Shmuel II 16:22 and Melachim I 2:15-22). List the pros and cons of Avner joining David from the viewpoints of Avner, David, and Yoav. Explain the motive of each person. If David is angry with Yoav for killing Avner, why does Yoav continue to be David’s top general? In your answer, relate to 3:35-39. 6. Compare the story in chapter 1 to that of chapter 4. (Relate to question #1). Would you say that chapter 4 ends a unit? If so, where did this unit begin and what is its main topic? How is it related to chapter 5? Chapters 5-6 7. If the elders knew all along that David was going to become the king, (as they claim), why did it take them so long to ask David to be king? How did they know about the prophecy that said that David was going to become the king? What is the meaning of the words “before God” in pasuk 3? Why was David re-anointed after being anointed in 2:4? 8. David’s first act as king over all of the tribes is the capture of Jerusalem. Read Divrei Hayamim I chapters 10-11, which parallel this story. (Locate Ir David, Emek Refaim, the river of Gai ben Hinom, etc. on the map). What was the religious and political importance of David’s capture of Jerusalem? Why did he move the capital there? (Why were the Yevusim still living in Jerusalem)? 9. Chiram is the king of Tzur (Tyre, the coastal city in Lebanon). What was the importance of his treaty with David to both David and Chiram? Why was David’s success a sign that he was chosen by Hashem to be the king? 10. Why do the Pelishtim attack right after David captures Jerusalem? Is there a precedent for such an attack from the time of Shaul? (See Shmuel I Chapter 13). Compare the two battles from the perspectives of a) a military battle and b) a battle with Divine intervention. 11. After reading chapter 6, read Divrei Hayamim chapter 13. (See pasuk 3)!! Where was the Aron kept during the reign of Shaul? Where should it have been? Why wasn’t it returned to the Mishkan? (See Zevachim 112b). What is the significance of bringing the Aron to the capital city? Explain David’s behavior in front of the Aron, and Michal’s complaint. Relate this episode to the ideal relationship between Hashem and a king. (Note who complains, and in whose home she grew up). Chapters 7-8 1. Explain why David thought that this was the proper time to build the Beit Hamikdash. Why was Natan’s first reaction positive? (Refer to Devarim 12:5-11 – note the key phrases there). Why had no one suggested this idea in the past? Is there an obligation to build the Beit Hamikdash? 2. What reason do you remember for why David couldn’t build the Mikdash? What reason is given in the chapter? (See Divrei Hayamim chapters 17 and 22). Is there a connection between the two reasons? Explain! 3. What is Hashem’s answer to David’s request (yes or no)? Why? What exactly did David request and what did Hashem promise him? What is the connection between the kingship and the Mikdash? What is David’s reaction to Hashem’s answer? (Explain his prayer). 4. Carefully compare psukim 6-7 to their parallel in Divrei Hayamim I 17:5-6. What does “Asher Hithalacti bichol Bnei Yisrael” mean? Could this pasuk refer to the Aron? (Bring other examples in which the Aron represents Hashem). Trace on a map (that has the boundaries of the portions of each tribe) where all the leaders of Bnei Yisrael lived from the time of the Shoftim through the time of David. Can you trace a pattern? Is this cycle coming to an end? How is the political stability of the nation reflected by whether the temple is a mikdash or a mishkan? Explain the rest of the chapter based on your answer. 5. If the kingship will be attained through inheritance from now on, what guarantees that a non-worthy person will not become king? See pasuk 14!! Using your answer, compare the selection of the nation of Israel to the selection of the kingship of David. Compare them also the selection of the tribe of Lavi and of Jerusalem. (See Yirmiyah 33:14-26). 6. Read Psukim 18-29. What is the main point of David’s prayer? What can we learn about David’s understanding of a) the kingship b) the purpose of the nation of Israel and c)the purpose of the land of Israel from this prayer? (Can you find allusions to the Brit Bein Habetarim and Brit Milah)? 7. Read Divrei Hayamim I 22:1-6. What can we learn from these psukim about David’s understanding of Hashem’s statement regarding building the Mikdash? 8. Give a title to chapter 8. (Relate to the final psukim and to Shmuel I 14:46-51). Is this the end of a unit? If so where did it begin? 9. Why was David so cruel to Moav? (See Shmuel I 22:3). Wasn’t David related to Moav? What do you think happened to David’s parents? In pasuk 4, David captures a large amount of chariots, and destroys all of them except one hundred. Why? (See Devarim 17:16). 10. In Pasuk 14, it says “And Hashem saved David” in a language that is very similar to the language used when the Torah describes Kriyat Yam Suf. How are these events similar and how are they different? Chapters 9-10 11. Are chapters 9-10 an independent unit, or are they related to the chapters preceding or following them? Is there a common theme, or are the stories unrelated? 12. How does the story in chapter 9 help us understand 19:25-31? How does chapter 10 introduce chapter 11, and how is it independent of chapter 11? Locate Aram and Amon on a map. In what way did the battle with Aram put the nation of Israel “on the map” with regard to international relations? Would David have fought Aram if not for the incident with Amon? (See Rambam Hilchot Terumot 1:3). Chapter 11-12 1. Compare the events about David in Sefer Shmuel to those is Divrei Hayamim ( Chapters 18-21). Which stories are missing? Why? Can you relate this answer to the purpose of each Sefer? Who wrote each sefer and for what reason? (See Bava Batra 15). 2. Is there a hint to the reason for David’s sin in the first pasuk in chapter 11? Did David sin? What is the peshat in Sefer Shmuel? (See Shabbat 56). Is the Gemara coming to tell us that there is nothing wrong with what David did? What was the Navi’s opinion of his actions? Are we supposed to learn from David’s sin or from his Teshuva? 3. In your opinion, was Uriah Jewish? (How would this effect the story)? Why does David first inquire about Batsheva’s family background? See psukim 5-11. Was Uriah aware of David’s sin? Explain these psukim assuming that a) Uriah was aware of David’s sin, and b) Uriah was unaware of David’s sin. Was his sin public knowledge? 4. When Yoav sends the message to David that Uriah has died, he includes a statement regarding Avimelech’s death. Can you find a deeper significance to the comparison between Avimelech and David? What type of ‘king’ was Avimelech? What type of king was David? 5. According to Natan, what was David’s sin and what is his punishment? Compare David’s reaction to Natan’s admonishment, to Shaul’s reaction in chapter 15. Relate to how long it took for each king to say “Chatati,” and to what each did after he admitted that he had sinned. (What type of teshuvah did they each do)? How can David keep his kingship after such a severe sin, considering that Shaul lost his kingship because he wanted to bring some extra sacrifices? How does this answer relate to the character of the king of Israel? 6. Was is proper for David to keep Batsheva as his wife after this incident? Wasn’t she a constant reminder of his sin? How does David’s behavior change from this time on? What does he worry about, and why? Does the prophecy of 12:10-11 come true? If so, when? 7. Why did Natan change Shlomo’s name to Yedidyah? (See Divrei Hayamim I 22:9 and Devarim 33:12). Was it clear from his birth that Shlomo was going to be David’s heir? Chapters 13-14 8. How were Avshalom, Amnon and Tamar related? (Who were their mothers and who was older)? How do these facts help us understand these chapters? How would you describe David’s behavior in this entire incident? Does David behave in the same way that he behaved before chapter 11? Explain 13:30. Was David expecting such terrible news? 9. Why does Avshalom run away to the King of Gashur? (Are there family ties)? Why does Yoav become so involved with reuniting David and Avshalom? Does he have something to gain? Why doesn’t Yoav simply suggest to David that he bring Avshalom back? Why is the woman from Tekoa able to convince David by using her parable? 10. How does this affair effect the country? Is there a problem with the leadership? Who is leading the country? How do the events in these psukim relate to the rebellion of Avshalom? How do they relate to chapter 12? Chapters 15-20: Avshalom’s rebellion 1. List the events that led to Avshalom’s rebellion. Why did Avshalom wait every morning at the ‘sha’ar?’ Why did this make him popular? Did David also judge the people? (Compare this chapter with Devarim chapter 17)! Who do the forty years mentioned in pasuk 7 relate to? (See the commentaries). 2. Why does Avshalom begin his revolt in Chevron? Why did some of David’s closest supporters leave him? Why do others remain loyal to him? How is this revolt connected to David’s sin with Batsheva? How would you describe David’s reaction to the revolt? Is David’s behavior now similar to his behavior before chapter 11? Explain. 3. Read 15:24-26. Why does Evyatar want to take the Aron with him? Why does David want the Aron to stay in Jerusalem? Why do Tzadok, Evyatar, and Chushay stay in Jerusalem? What is David’s plan? 4. Read 16:5-13. Relate these psukim to the background of the revolt and to previous arguments between David and the sons of Tzruyah. (See Megilah 12b at the bottom of the page). How did Chazal judge David’s reaction? 5. What is the significance of taking the King’s pilagshim? Bring other examples of such an action. (Use this answer to explain Bereishit 35:22)! 6. Explain the strategies of Chushay and Achitofel. Describe the positive and negative aspects of each strategy. In your opinion, whose advice was better? Compare these strategies to David’s strategy against Sheva ben Bichri in chapter 20. Why does David flee to the other side of the Jordan? Where does the battle take place and why? Why is David so worried about his son? Who takes over the leadership? 7. What was David’s strategy to re-unite the kingdom? (See 19:10-16). Why did it backfire? Refer to 19:43 – 20:2. Explain psukim 1-2. What is the attitude of the people to the kingship? Why? 8. Why did David choose Amasa to lead the army? Is he angry with Yoav or is this another attempt to unite the people? Why is Amasa unable to organize the army in time? How did Yoav solve the problem? Was is permissible for the people of Avel Beit Maacha to kill Sheva ben Bichri? 9. Read 20:23-26. Do these psukim end a unit? If so, why? Where does the unit start? What would you title it? (Use a common theme). How many children has David lost since his sin with Batsheva? How has his sin effected his behavior in this unit? Which Navi do you think wrote these chapters? Chapters 21-24 10. Read Divrei Hayamim I 20-21. Try to organize the last four chapters of Sefer Shmuel in a more logical order. (Note 24:1). When do you think these events occurred? If they happened before Avshalom’s rebellion, why are they at the end of the Sefer? Which Navi wrote them down? What does appear that Shaul has done to the Givonim? Why? (Look up the distance between Givon and Givat Shaul on a map). 11. What is the theme of Shirat David? Is a miracle ever recorded in relation to David’s battles? How are most of David’s battles fought? Try to distinguish between the psukim prior to and after pasuk 30. What ideal has David fulfilled? Why is he considered the ‘Mashiach Hashem?’ 12. Chapters 22-23 seem to be a nice ending to Sefer Shmuel. Do you think that chapter 24 historically occurred last, or do you think that it was chosen to end Sefer Shmuel for a different reason? (See Divrei Hayamim I 21:26). What site has been chosen for the mizbeach? Relate this to Shmuel I chapter 4.