General Resources for 2 Samuel
(Check the Scripture Index for links and study resources pertaining to specific pericopes)

• Introductions, Overviews & General Resources:
  • 2 Samuel at Luther Seminary's Bible Tutor. Study basics about Bible books, people, dates, places, and content, and take web-based self-tests. CD-ROM of Advanced Studies also available at their site.
  • Books of Samuel, Wikipedia.
  • Books of Samuel, The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1905.
  • The Catholic Encyclopedia: First and Second Books of Samuel.
  • Introduction and Selected Bibliography for the Book of 2 Samuel, by David Malick at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  • Bible Basics (2 Samuel) by NetMinistries. (Very basic - includes .wav files with pronunciation of Biblical words)
  • 2 Samuel in the World Wide Study Bible.
  • Walking Through the Bible: 1& 2 Samuel.
  • Biblenotes summary: 2 Samuel.
• Commentary, Exegesis, Studies,etc.:
  • 2 Samuel, Geneva Study Bible, 1599.
  • 2 Samuel, Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1706.
  • 2 Samuel, Wesley's Notes, c 1760.
  • 2 Samuel, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871.
  • 2 Samuel, Scofield Reference Notes, 1917.
  • "History - The King Walks before You," Davie Napier, in From Faith to Faith: Essays on Old Testament Literature, 1955. Full text online at Religion Online.
  • Samuel - Rise of the Monarchy, Barry Bandstra, Reading the Old Testament.
  • The Book of Second Samuel, verse by verse commentary, Robert Nguyen Cramer, BibleTexts.com.
  • 2 Samuel, Expository Notes, Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Dallas Theological Seminary, 2005 edition.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
• Articles and Background:
  • "Anonymity and Character in the Books of Samuel," Adele Reinhartz, Semeia 63: Characterization in Biblical Literature, 1993.
  • "Honor and Shame in the David Narratives," Gary Stansell, Semeia 68: Honor and Shame in the World of the Bible, 1994.
  • Regal/Messianic Hope in Deuteronomy, 1, 2 Samuel and 1, 2 Kings, by Greg Herrick at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  • "David," Jewish Heritage Online Monthly's 'Topic of the Month', January, 2000.
    • "Rise and Decline of a Leader," Everett Fox
    • "How Jerusalem Became the City of David," Reuven Hammer.
    • "Why the Messiah Must Be a Scion of David," Salo Wittmayer Baron.
    • "The Legacy of the Harp," Bezalel Narkiss
    • "The Figure of David in Medieval and Renaissance Art"
    • "Young David was Lonely after He Slew Goliath," Contemporary poet Yehuda Amichai challenges the national celebration, David C. Jacobson.
    • "Does David still play before you on the golden harp?" Poet Moshe Dor on the contemporary relevance of the Bible, David C. Jacobson.
    • "Pebbles and harp strings," Two contemporary poems about David Josephine Miles and Thomas W. Shapcott.
    • "The Reconciliation of David and Absalom," Paintings by two 17th-century Dutch painters, Franz Lansberger.
  • "King David: A Biography," Steven McKenzie, Rhodes College. Bible and Interpretation.
  • "Necromancy and Cleromancy in 1 and 2 Samuel," Bill T. Arnold, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004.
  • "Israelite Sheepshearing and David's Rise to Power," Jeffrey C. Geoghegan, Biblica, 2006.

• Reviews:

  • Review: Philippe Lefebvre, Livres de Samuel et récits de résurrection. Cerf, 2004. Review by Max Rogland in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature. (Review is in English.)

  • Review: Tamás Czövek, Three Seasons of Charismatic Leadership: A Literary-Critical and Theological Interpretation of the Narrative of Saul, David and Solomon. Regnum, 2006. Review by Robin Gallaher Branch, Review of Biblical Literature, 2008.