Bible Stories for Adults

David Becomes King

1 Samuel 28 - 2 Samuel 12

Next Week - Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:30-56; John 18:1-11)
Bible Words to Remember:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end. Luke 1:32-33

What did Saul do when the Philistines assembled at Shunem?
1 Samuel 28:4-6 = Gathered Israelite troops & inquired of the Lord
Why didn't God answer Saul's inquiry? = God rejected Saul
1 Samuel 15:10-11, 26-29 = Saul disobeyed & didn't destroy Amalekites

Since God didn't reply to Saul, how did Saul try to force an answer?
1 Samuel 28:7-8, 11 = He consulted a medium to bring up Samuel
Why was the witch afraid of granting Saul's request?
1 Samuel 28:3, 9-10, 12 = Saul banished mediums, she could be punished with death

What did Saul learn from Samuel?
1 Samuel 28:15-19 = Israel would lose; Saul & sons would be killed
Did Saul believe what he had heard?
1 Samuel 28:20 = He knew Samuel spoke truth, he fell on ground in fear
How well did Saul follow through with a fast to the Lord?
1 Samuel 28:23-25 = Like always, Saul was swayed by others

What happened in battle the next day on Mount Gilboa?
1 Samuel 31:1-3 = Israel defeated, Saul's sons killed, Saul wounded
What did Saul do to make sure a Philistine wouldn't kill him?
1 Samuel 31:4-6 = Asked armor-bearer to kill him, then tried suicide

What was the outcome of the battle for Israel?
1 Samuel 31:7 = Israelites in area fled, Philistines took towns
How did the Philistines respond to the news that Saul was dead?
1 Samuel 31:8-10 = Thrilled, cut off Saul's head, hung body on wall of Beth Shan

What did the men of Jabesh Gilead do out of respect for Saul?
1 Samuel 31:11-13 = Snuck into Beth Shan, removed bodies & buried them
How was Jabesh Gilead also important at the start of Saul's reign?
1 Samuel 11:1, 6, 8, 11, 15 = Saul saved JG from Ammonites, was accepted as king

How did David learn of Saul's death?
2 Samuel 1:1-10 = Man who killed Saul brought word, crown & arm band
How did David respond to the news that the man trying to kill him was dead?
2 Samuel 1:11-12 = Deeply saddened, mourned, wept & fasted

How did David reward the man who killed Saul?
2 Samuel 1:13-16 = Had him killed
Why did David respond that way? = Saul was the Lord's anointed (chosen by God)
1 Samuel 24:5-6 = David was conscience-stricken for cutting Sauls robe
1 Samuel 26:16 = David rebuked Abner for not guarding the Lord's anointed (took spear & jug)

How did David respond to the men of Jabesh Gilead?
2 Samuel 2:4b-6 = He praised them for burying Saul's body

What did David do before moving from Philistia to Judah?
2 Samuel 2:1 = He inquired of the Lord if & where he should move
What happened when David and his men settled in Hebron?
2 Samuel 2:3-4a = He was anointed king over Judah

Why wasn't David made king over all of Israel?
2 Samuel 2:8-9 = Abner (Saul's army commander) made Ish-Bosheth (Saul's son) king
What happened when the armies of Israel and Judah met at Gibeon?
2 Samuel 2:12-13, 17, 30-31 = God gave Judah victory over Israel
2 Samuel 3:1 = War lasted a long time, David grew stronger, Saul's house grew weaker

What happened that turned Abner's support away from Ish-Bosheth?
2 Samuel 3:6-8 = Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of taking Saul's concubine
What did Abner decide to do in response?
2 Samuel 3:9-11 = Transfer Israel to David as God had promised

Did Abner follow through with his intentions?
2 Samuel 3:17-19 = He spoke with Israel's elders & went to tell David
How did David accept the visit from the commander of Israel's army?
2 Samuel 3:20-21 = He gave a feast and let Abner go in peace

How did Joab, David's army commander, respond to David's handling of Abner?
2 Samuel 3:24-25 = He was upset that Abner had come to spy

How did Joab handle the threat he felt from Abner?
2 Samuel 3:26-27 = Killed him in cold blood
How did David respond to Abner's death?
2 Samuel 3:28-32, 35 = Claimed innocence, cursed Joab, mourned & had people mourn, fasted
Did the people believe David was innocent or just acting?
2 Samuel 3:36-37 = They knew David was innocent, people were pleased
Why didn't David have Joab punished?
2 Samuel 3:38-39 = Joab is too strong for me, but not for the Lord

What happened to Ish-Bosheth after Abner died?
2 Samuel 4:5-8 = Recab & Baanah killed him in bed, took head to David
How did David respond to Ish-Bosheth's death?
2 Samuel 4:9-12 = Had them killed & put bodies on display

How did David treat the last member of Saul's family?
2 Samuel 9:3, 6-7 = He took Mephibosheth into home to show kindness

Where did Israel turn after their king was killed?
2 Samuel 5:1-3 = Elders came to David at Hebron & anointed him king over Israel

Where did David find a neutral place to rule (rather than Hebron in Judah)?
2 Samuel 5:7 = Jerusalem, on the Judah/Benjamin border
How did David establish the political capital in Jerusalem?
2 Samuel 5:9-12 = He built his palace in Jerusalem

How did David establish the religious capital in Jerusalem?
2 Samuel 6:17-19 = He moved the ark to a tent in Jerusalem

Why didn't David build a temple instead of just a tent?
2 Samuel 7:1-7 = He wanted to, but God said he wasn't the one
How did God respond to David's request with a blessing?
2 Samuel 7:12-16 = Promised eternal dynasty, promised the Messiah
How was this promise fulfilled?
Luke 1:31-33 = Your son, Jesus, will be given throne of his father David forever

What range of land did God promise to Abraham?
Genesis 15:18 = From the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates
How did God fulfill this promise through David?
1 Samuel 30:1-20 = David conquered the Amalekites (Explain, don't read)
2 Samuel 8:1 (5:17-25) = David subdued the Philistines
2 Samuel 8:2 = Moabites became subject to David
2 Samuel 8:3-8 (10:1-19) = Arameans became subject to David
2 Samuel 8:13-14 = Edomites became subject to David
2 Samuel 12:29-31 = David conquered the Ammonites
Did David claim responsibility for his success as Saul had?
2 Samuel 22:48-51 = Gave all credit and praise to God

What was David's greatest mistake?
2 Samuel 12:9-10 = Killed Urriah the Hittite to get his wife Bathsheba
Did David apologize like Saul or truly confess his sin?
2 Samuel 12:13-14 = He confessed and accepted his punishment
What son did David have through Bathsheba who lived?
2 Samuel 12:24 = Solomon (Note: David had many other sons older than Solomon)