2 Samuel 20:23-26

David’s administrators 20:23-26

"With Joab’s return to the king in Jerusalem, the grand symphony known as the Court History of David reaches its conclusion for all practical purposes (at least as far as the books of Samuel are concerned . . .). The last four verses of chapter 20 constitute a suitable formal coda, serving the same function for the Court History that the last four verses of chapter 8 do for the narrative of David’s powerful reign . . ." [Note: Youngblood, p. 1048.]

This list of David’s chiefs of state concludes a major section of Samuel (2 Samuel 9-20, "David’s troubles") just as a former list closed another major section (2 Samuel 2-8, "David’s triumphs"). Probably this list reflects David’s administration toward the end of his reign. The former list evidently describes David’s cabinet at an earlier time.

The "forced labor" force, the corvée, was an age-old institution (cf. Deuteronomy 20:10-11; 2 Samuel 8:2; 2 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 8:14). It consisted of prisoners of war who worked on such public construction projects as highways, temples, and palaces. Adoram (Adoniram) later became a prominent figure in the apostasy of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 12:18-19). Ira may have been a royal adviser in the same sense as David’s sons had been previously. The Hebrew word kohen ("priest," 2 Samuel 20:26) seems to have this meaning elsewhere (e.g., 2 Samuel 8:18). [Note: Cf. Goldman, pp. 236, 319.]

This long section of David’s troubles contains selected events that show that even the Lord’s anointed was not above a principle by which God deals with all people. Obedience to the revealed will of God brings blessing to the individual and makes him or her a channel of blessing to others. However, disobedience brings divine judgment in the form of curtailed blessing (fertility). Here we also see the serious effects of arrogance before God.

". . . the narrator has invited the reader to pay particular attention to the social and psychological aftermath of adultery, as well as to the obvious fulfilment [sic] of God’s judgment as pronounced by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:10-12)." [Note: Baldwin, p. 282.]

Another major lesson is that rebellion against the Lord’s Anointed cannot succeed. The parallels between David and Jesus Christ in these chapters stand out. Jesus, as David, suffered rejection at the hands of "His own," left His capital in apparent disgrace, but will return to rule and reign.

Seven sub-conflicts appear within this sixth major conflict section in Samuel. Mephibosheth and Jonathan’s line conflicts with David’s faithfulness (ch. 9). The Ammonite coalition conflicts with David (2 Samuel 10:1 to 2 Samuel 11:1). David’s unfaithfulness to the covenant conflicts with Yahweh’s faithfulness (2 Samuel 11:2 to 2 Samuel 12:25). Ammon conflicts with David (2 Samuel 12:26-31). Amnon conflicts with Absalom (chs. 13-14). Absalom conflicts with David (ch. 15-18), and Sheba conflicts with David (chs. 19-20).

God’s basic commitment to David resulted in his anointing, which guaranteed much blessing. David’s basic commitment to God, his heart for God, resulted in his never losing a battle with a foreign nation, as far as the text records. David’s occasional violation of the covenant resulted in some other losses (2 Samuel 11:2 to 2 Samuel 12:25; ch. 25).

Similarly God’s election of the believer results in much blessing for him or her. The believer’s commitment to God as lord of his or her life results in a life characterized mainly by victory and success. The believer’s occasional violation of God’s revealed will results in some defeat for him or her. Even an elect believer, such as Saul, can experience a tragic life if he or she does not commit himself or herself to following God faithfully (Romans 12:1-2).