Author Archives: Joseph Malekani

2 Samuel 21 CommentaryYou would wish this chapter didn’t exist in the scripture. It’s a difficult chapter!A couple of pointers are important. The first one is that the LORD revealed to Israel what the problem was, but never sanctioned the course of action. The revelation was that the three-year drought was a consequence of Israel’sContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 21 Commentary”

2 Samuel 20 CommentaryTrouble wasn’t far from Israel. We are coming from a civil war only to run straight into another one. This time, it’s the troublemaker Sheba who initiates the insurrection.Israel was either fighting the Philistines or fighting amongst themselves. Today, Joab assassinates the newly appointed army commander, Amasa. Later, Sheba would be killedContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 20 Commentary”

2 Samuel 19 CommentaryMephibosheth shows up again. David had wrongly judged him because of what we strongly suspect were lies by Ziba. It is an embarrassing moment for the King. David had held a court session without the accused and passed judgment with the accuser as the only witness. As we can see here, itContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 19 Commentary”

2 Samuel 18 Commentary The story of Absalom ends today, and so ends the mutiny that temporarily dethroned David. The ungodly Absalom dies in battle against his own father. Of course, politicians can learn a great deal from his patience, timing, and strategies. He took 2 years to plan the murder of his brother Amnon.ContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 18 Commentary”

2 Samuel 17 Commentary “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12. Yesterday, we saw Absalom publicly dishonor his father. Today, we see two wise men helping Absalom with plans to terminate David’s life. We don’t need any remindingContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 17 Commentary”

2 Samuel 16 Commentary According to the word of the LORD through the prophet Nathan, Absalom desecrated his father’s marriage bed by sleeping with David’s wives. Terrible. Horrible. We have one errant but repentant camp fleeing the palace. This is the godly camp. We have another camp entering the palace, Absalom’s camp, which is extremelyContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 16 Commentary”

2 Samuel 15 Commentary Trouble continues for David. He is forced to flee from his palace by Absalom’s conspiracy. For his part, Absalom is an impressive and patient political operator, but he is wicked.By his good looks and deception, he gains popularity. He takes four years to plan and execute an operation that takes DavidContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 15 Commentary”

2 Samuel 14 Commentary We have a very difficult situation at the palace. David wants Absalom back, but he cannot say it. Joab senses that the king wants to have Absalom back and devises a plan to initiate the process. Absalom is finally brought back to Jerusalem, but the King doesn’t want to see hisContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 14 Commentary”

2 Samuel 13 Commentary When the grace lifts, evil reigns. It is very difficult for us to divorce the events in this chapter from events in Chapter 11. In Chapter 11, David commits adultery with Bathsheba and murders Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.Absalom’s beautiful sister Tamar is raped by Amnon. Amnon is Absalom’s half-brother, and both areContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 13 Commentary”

2 Samuel 12 Commentary Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely! We have seen it in David! Lust, adultery, treachery, murder, manipulation, pretense, and arrogance. Abuse of authority. Greediness. Read chapters 11 and 12 again, and you will see more! And this is our hero, David! Probably not so heroic this time! By the time theContinueContinue reading “2 Samuel 12 Commentary”