In | A Defense of David’s Legitimacy in 1 and 2 Samuel, Part 1 - 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
    |
    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
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    David’s Reign (2 Samuel)
    23 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Offering a balanced defense of someone isn’t the same thing as propaganda. Inheriting the kingdom the way he did, David’s rule was open to criticism on a number of counts, and the author deliberately addressed these in his narrative.

Steven McKenzie has listed a number of possible criticisms and noted different places in 1 and 2 Samuel where these accusations are met or pre-empted by the author.

Source: Steven L. McKenzie, King David: A Biography, 2000, pp. 32-36.