The United Kingdom of Israel:
Saul, David & Solomon
Foreshadow Christ the King
Lesson 12 David Is Acclaimed King of Judah & King of Israel
the Second Book of Samuel 2:1—5:5
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for The United Kingdom of Israel
cross references in The United Kingdom of Israel
next lesson: David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
This material coordinates with Lesson 12 on pages 73–79 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.”
—the Second Book of Samuel 7:12–13
welcome to our in-depth study of Saul, David & Solomon
We invite interested groups and individuals to check out the sample first lesson from this 28-
lesson 
Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study. These online study pages link to our free lesson videos, as well as to a glossary and cross references in the biblical text. Other study aids include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King has been granted an imprimatur and may be purchased from our website shop. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.
open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:
Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.
let’s review—the First Book of Samuel 30:1—Second Book of Samuel 1:27
In Lesson 11 David Mourns the Deaths of Saul & Jonathan, David and his men return to Ziklag where they discover that their wives and children have been taken captive by Amalekites. After first inquiring of the LORD, David and his 600 followers set off to rescue their loved ones and recover their property. They’re successful and also obtain considerable spoil that the Amalekites had taken from other cities in Philistia and Judah. David sends gifts to friends in Judah, as well as to the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites. Meanwhile, Saul’s army is defeated by the Philistines, and he and his sons die on Mt. Gilboa. There are conflicting biblical accounts of Saul’s death. In one version, Saul falls upon his own sword when he sees that defeat is inevitable. In the other version, Saul, who has been seriously injured, asks a passing Amalekite to kill him. The Philistines defile the dead bodies of Saul and his sons and hang them on the wall at Beth-Shan. Men of Jabesh-Gilead march all night to recover the bodies, which they bury in their own city. David learns of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan from the Amalekite who claims to have killed Saul, and David has the Amalekite killed. David composes a lamentation honoring Saul and Jonathan. It repeats a sentence that continues to be quoted in the present day: “How are the mighty fallen!”
map notes—the Arabah & Mahanaim
Although the term Arabah originally referred to the entire Jordan River valley, it’s meaning has become restricted to the barren region south of the Dead Sea. The Arabah mentioned in the Second Book of Samuel 2:29 refers to this region. The Dead Sea sometimes is called the Salt Sea. Whenever the terms 
Arabah, Negev, Negeb, or Jeshimon are encountered in this study, they’re names for desert areas in that region. Most of these areas lie in the southern third of territory allotted by God to the tribe of Judah.
Mahanaim, a Levitical city in territory allotted by God to the half-tribe of Manasseh, is located at some distance from Judah and on the opposite side of the Jordan River in a region known as the Transjordan. Mahanaim provides some safety for Ish-Bosheth’s fledgling government. Ish-Bosheth’s father Saul previously operated out of his home city of Gibe-ah, which is in territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, but Gibe-ah also is adjacent to Judah and close to Hebron, where David has set up his base of operations as king of Judah. Click on the map (above right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 78 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
a king in Judah & another king in Israel (22:41)
I
n the overview for Lesson 12,” David Is Acclaimed King of Judah & King of Israel,” Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses the far-reaching implications of the Second Book of Samuel 2:4, in which members of the tribe of Judah anoint David as their king almost immediately after the death of Saul. Why do you think it is that the remaining tribes don’t immediately accept David as their king? What are some drawbacks that might occur as a result of the descendants of 
Jacob dividing their allegiance between two rulers? How does this situation reflect a religious problem for God’s people when they start being governed by an earthly king?
The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the Scripture ranges for the sets of questions in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. You can follow along as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 12, “David Is Acclaimed King of Judah & King of Israel,” on pages 73–79 in the study book.
David is politically astute
After the men of Jabesh-Gilead recover the bodies of Saul and his sons, David makes the prudent move of reaching out to Jabesh-Gilead. The people there have close ties to the tribe of Benjamin. At this point in time, only the tribe of Judah has accepted David’s return as king. Although all of the tribes seem to acknowledge that God has put David in charge, only his immediate kin support him as their ruler. This perhaps can be interpreted that the other 11 tribes aren’t very devout if they’re willing to ignore God’s wishes, or it can be seen as an indication of the power of Saul’s general Abner, who provides military backing for Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son. David’s recognition of the loyalty of the men of Jabesh-Gilead to Saul and Saul’s sons is recorded in the Second Book of Samuel 2:5–7. It sets the stage for the later alignment of the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah.
one more name that pops up in the biblical text
Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, is mentioned in passing in the Second Book of Samuel 4:4. On the video for this lesson, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses why Mephibosheth is introduced at this stage in David’s story. What reasons can you think of that might explain bringing Jonathan’s son into the story right now?
economy of grace—you could look it up in our archives
The circuitous route laid out for David to become king of all the descendants of Jacob demonstrates “economy of grace” at work. The term also is referred to as “divine economy” and means managing a household. Learn more about “economy of grace” by reading Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.
read the Catechism—how well do you know your faith?
The Church often refers to the divine economy. Can you answer the following question without looking at the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
What distinguishes the divine economy from theology, and how are the two related to God’s revelation about himself? To learn what the Church teaches, refer to paragraph 236 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Ish-Bosheth goes by several names
Parallel accounts of the events described in the First and Second Books of Samuel can be found in the First and Second Books of the Chronicles, but those can be difficult to compare because many of the 
names of key figures are spelled differently—and sometimes the spellings are quite unlike. Brief definitions of all the proper names in this lesson can be found in the online glossary. In the First Book of the Chronicles 8:33, for example, Ish-Bosheth is referred to as Eshbaal. Some translations spell this Ash-Baal. In either case, the word Baal that forms part of the name of Saul’s son also is the name for one of the gods worshiped by the Canaanaites. The name Eshbaal and its derivatives mean “man of the lord.” In this case lord is a reference to Baal as master. It’s probable that those compiling the First and Second Books of Samuel couldn’t bring themselves to pronounce the name of a heathen god, and so renamed Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth, which means “man of shame.” What was shameful about Ish-Bosheth was that his given name tied him to pagan worship. This says more about the mindset of the compilers of these biblical texts and about Saul—who certainly signed off on the name given to his son—than it does about Ish-Bosheth.
don’t miss Zeruiah’s relationship to David
Because Zeruiah is identified only as the parent of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, it’s easy to miss that the biblical text is referring to a woman. In general, whenever you see “son of …” in Scripture, the reference is to the person’s father. Not only is Zeruiah a woman, she’s also David’s sister—something we can learn in the genealogy in the First Book of the Chronicles 2:13–17—or from the online glossary. This explains why Zeruiah is identified as a parent of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Zeruiah’s sons are David’s nephews, which colors how we view their strong devotion to David’s kingship and how we view David’s responses to some of their more violent actions. In the same passage from the First Book of the Chronicles, we learn that another of David’s sisters is named Abigail, and this clears up any confusion about why the compilers of the First and Second Books of Samuel felt it necessary always to identify David’s wife Abigail as the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
biblical vocabulary—arise & play
It’s Abner the Benjaminite and not Joab the Judahite who suggests the young men “arise and play,” a euphemism for “fight.” Things won’t turn out well for the Benjaminites. Abner slays Asahel, and the original clash escalates into a civil war, eventually claiming the lives of both Abner and Ish-Bosheth.
something to watch for later
In the Second Book of Samuel 2:23, people stop and stand still when they encounter the slain body of Asahel. Because something similar shows up in a later lesson, it’s fair to assume this was a normal human reaction at the time. What do you think would be the reaction of a person coming upon a murder victim in the present day? Would standing still be a realistic response?
WHAT DO YOU THINK is going on with Abner?
When Ish-Bosheth accuses Abner of having improper relations with Saul’s concubine Rizpah, the biblical text records that Abner strongly objects. It could be significant that he doesn’t deny the accusation, however.
? What is Abner’s relationship to Ish-Bosheth? If necessary, refer to the online glossary.
? Do you think it more likely that Abner is guilty of having relations with Rizpah or more likely that he’s innocent?
? What difference do you think this makes to Ish-Bosheth?
? What’s going on politically that might motivate Abner to use the occasion of being accused of a fault with a woman to break ranks with Ish-Bosheth?
? What’s suggested by the fact that David insists on having his wife Michal returned to him before he’ll participate in Abner’s plan to unite the remaining tribes of Israel with the tribe of Judah?
? Consider why David asks Ish-Bosheth to see to it that Michal is returned to him instead of relying on Abner to arrange this?
? What might motivate Ish-Bosheth to comply with David’s request?
? What reason might Abner have for speaking separately to the elders of the tribe of Benjamin, to which he belongs, about abandoning Ish-Bosheth and throwing their support behind David?
it’s not a bloodless coup
Not only does Joab murder Abner, two of Ish-Bosheth’s own captains then murder Ish-Bosheth, clearing the way for David to become king over all of the descendants of Jacob. The most important point of this lesson comes at the end, in the Second Book of Samuel 5:1–5, which describes David being anointed king over all of the tribes. This anointing is significant because it reinforces that David has been chosen by God. Do you remember what character trait David possesses that led to the LORD choosing him?
WHAT DO YOU THINK about David’s response to Abner’s death?
After Joab slays Abner, David takes steps to distance himself from this act of violence, and the biblical text is clear that David had no part in Abner’s murder.
? What specific things does David do that demonstrate he had no part in Abner’s death?
? David seems determined to prove himself innocent of Abner’s murder. What might explain why David doesn’t have Joab killed?
? How does the fast that David undertakes after Abner’s death differ from the fast that Saul previously imposed on the people? If necessary, refer to the fourteenth chapter in the First Book of Samuel.
? Consider why David has Abner buried at Hebron in territory allotted to the tribe of Judah instead of in territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, of which Abner is a member.
? Based on your previous knowledge of Scripture, who else of significance to the descendants of Jacob is buried at Hebron?
? What curse does David impose on the sons of Zeruiah?
? What’s unusual about the attitude that David expresses toward the sons of Zeruiah?
pray with the Psalms—divine splendor
The beginnings of David’s kingship are described in the Second Book of Samuel 2:1–4 and 5:1–5. 
David’s reign is understood as a type of ideal kingship instituted by Christ. Psalm 21 celebrates the king’s relationship with God, and Psalm 21:1 expresses great joy: “In thy strength the king rejoices, O LORD; and in thy help how greatly he exalts!” Psalm 21:2–5 celebrates God’s gifts to the sovereign king. The LORD has set a crown of gold upon the king’s head. The kings’ splendor relates to divine light that was believed to enfold him like a protective mantle. Prayed at Monday Vespers (Week I), Psalm 21 is included as part of 
Lesson 5 Who May Abide in the LORD’s Tent? in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers.
WHAT DO YOU THINK about this interpretation?
Some scholars interpret Psalm 45:7 as addressing the king as God. This is defended by saying that because the king is consecrated to God, he in a certain sense therefore belongs to the sphere of the divine.
? Does this interpretation make sense to you?
? Why or why not?
? How do you as a Christian interpret Psalm 45:7, which is prayed at Wednesday Vespers (Week I) and is included as part of Lesson 9 An Overflowing Heart in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers?
the popes inspire us—considering the king as a son of God
Pope St. John Paul II, in a general audience March 17, 2004, sees evidence in Psalm 2:7 that people in the ancient Near East believed that kings were encircled by a luminous halo that testified to their participation in the very essence of divinity. The saint explains: “Of course, in Psalm 2:7 the sovereign is indeed a ‘son’ of God, but only in the metaphorical and adoptive sense. Thus, he must be the lieutenant of the LORD who safeguards justice. It is for this very mission that God surrounds him with his beneficial light and blessing.” Christians, of course, interpret the same words to apply to Jesus Christ as the only-begotten Son of God. Psalm 2 is prayed at Sunday Vigils (Week I) and will be included as part of Lesson 1 He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, which is scheduled for publication in late summer of 2025.
Q&A—primary authorship
A participant in this Bible study has asked a question about the order in which the authors’ names are listed in the bylines for Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies.
Q: Why isn’t Matthew’s name listed first on the byline for this study?
A: Most people who don’t work in publishing are unaware of byline etiquette. It’s true that listing a person’s name first in a work with multiple authors may indicate that person is responsible for the lion’s share of the writing. It’s impossible to apply that thinking in cases where the names of multiple authors appear in the byline in alphabetical order by their last names, as do our bylines on all Turning to God’s Word Bible studies. In fact, it’s standard editing practice outside of academic circles to avoid using bylines to impose value judgments about which author may have contributed the most to a finished work.
In terms of Turning to God’s Word Bible studies, Matthew and I view our contributions as 
equal. In addition to this study, we have co-written studies on the book of Revelation, the Letter to the Hebrews, the books of Genesis and Exodus, and a two-volume overview of the Old Testament prophets. It’s safe to say that without collaboration, none of those works would exist. In addition, I wrote our study of Scripture & the Rosary with Tami Palladino. Tami contributed to our study of the Gospel According to John, and that study includes 
Matthew’s name on a triple byline. I’m the sole author of our Psalms study and of our Lenten study, Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering, and I’ve written two books about religious art—Art of Prayer: The Stained Glass Windows of St. Augustin Catholic Church and Harmony in Art: The Bueronese Murals of Conception Abbey. We expect that most of our future adult studies will be co-authored by Matthew and me. Tami is in the long-term process of considering development of a teen Bible study. She also has created the illustrations for our 
Revelation, Psalms and Genesis studies, and some illustrations for our Exodus study. We anticipate seeing more of Tami’s work as her schedule permits.
the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however, including the passage in this lesson from the Second Book of Samuel 2:1—5:5.
ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing extra information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun that appears in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant 
cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.
eex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. 
This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.
wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to a reading from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical text. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
the Second Book of Samuel 2:1—5:5 (NIV)
close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the 
scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following prayer based on the biblical text in this lesson in the study book The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.
O God, early Church fathers taught
that you created the world for the sake of the Church.
Nurture in your faithful people a love for unity
in order that all peoples may see in our love for each other
the love that you and your Son have for humanity.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
who was willing to die to establish his Church
in order to bring about the possibility of salvation for all people. Amen.
Lesson 13 David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem—the Second Book of Samuel 5:6—6:23
Lesson 11 David Mourns the Deaths of Saul & Jonathan—the First Book of Samuel 30:1—Second Book of Samuel 1:27
you also may like our study of the book of Exodus
You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus, a 28-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, provides an in-depth look at how significant events in biblical history that occurred thousands of years ago to descendants of Jacob remain relevant and even critical for present-day Christians to understand. The deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and the giving of Ten Commandments are examined along with the development of Moses’ relationship to God. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.
start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. 
Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer questions. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer
*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?
Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online study pages for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.
The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.
Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.
You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.