In | The Sons of David – Artos Academy (BETA)
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1 and 2 Samuel: The Rise of Kingship

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of 1 and 2 Samuel (1 Samuel 1–3, 8)
    19 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Samuel and Kingship (1 Samuel 4–12)
    24 Activities
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    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    Saul’s Demise (1 Samuel 13–19, 28–31)
    25 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    David’s Rise (1 Samuel 16–27, 29–30)
    26 Activities
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    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    David's Reign (2 Samuel)
    23 Activities
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    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment
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1 and 2 Samuel explore tragedy in the lives of even the most beloved figures. David, arguably Israel’s greatest king, will be involved in some of the saddest and most wicked episodes in the Old Testament. His family dysfunction parallels that of Jacob’s family many years earlier. Some of these similarities are listed below.

In Genesis the sons of Jacob commit atrocities to avenge their sister’s rape. David’s son is responsible for the same heinous crime against his own half-sister. The first three sons of Jacob (Reuben, Simeon and Levi) lose their blessing and tribal territory. David’s first three sons (Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah) all die of violence. 

The ascent of Israel as a nation is not paralleled by a similar ascent of obedience and likeness to God. The moral attitudes of many Israelites, even in the king’s family, are as bad, if not worse, than in the time before monarchy. This is one of many reminders that the Bible’s heroes are often not moral examples.

Adapted from: Victor P. Hamilton, Handbook on the Historical Books, 2001, pp. 340-341.

Genesis 34, (NASB)2 Samuel 13, (NASB)
Jacob has one daughter who is named in the Bible: Dinah.David has one daughter who is named in the Bible: Tamar.
Dinah is raped.Tamar is raped.
When Shechem … the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. (Gen 34:2, NASB)[Prince Amnon] would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. (2 Sam 13:14, NASB)
[The men] were very angry because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done. (Gen 34:7, NASB)But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing!” (2 Sam 13:12, NASB)