Tuesday 13 March

2 Samuel 1:1-16
Where does David go after battle with the Amalekites? Who comes to him? What news does he bring? Is his story true? What proof does he have that Saul is dead? How do David and his men react to this news? Why does he punish the man who brings the news?

1:17-27
Where else is this lamentation recorded? (This is the first actual poetry that we are told David wrote.)

2:1-11
Where does the Lord tell David to go after Saul's death? What do the men of Judah do when they meet David? (Remember that David is from the house of Judah) What do they tell David about Jabesh-Gilead? What quality of theirs does David praise them for? Who does Abner make king of the rest of Israel? Why? How long does he reign? How long is David king of Judah? Where is his capital?

2:12-32
Who are the leaders of the conflict between David and Ish-Bosheth? What does Abner suggest the men do? What happens? Who wins the initial battle? Who pursues Abner? Which of the two is the better warrior? Why does Joab stop pursuing Abner? How many of David's men were killed? How many of Abner's?

3:1-5
What happens to each of the two houses during the long civil war? What has David been doing? Why?

3:6-21
What does Ish-Bosheth accuse Abner of? Why is Abner angry? What oath does he swear? What offer does he make to David? What else does David demand? Why? Who else comes to Hebron with Michal? Why does he return home? To what tribe does Abner speak specifically to convince them to accept David? Where is Abner about to go?

3:22-39
Why is Joab angry with David? Why does he claim that Abner has come? What does Joab do to Abner? Why? How does David react to this news? Why? What curse does he call upon Joab's house? Why doesn't he just kill Joab, like he killed the Amalekite in chapter 1? What does he do for Abner?