DANIEL

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. A divine diet.
A. Daniel’s resolution (Dan 1:1–8).
1. Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, along with other Hebrew youths, were selected by Nebuchadnezzar to prepare themselves for a life of political service.
2. He determined not to defile himself with the king’s food, probably because it was forbidden by Mosaic law and it might have been sacrificed to idols.
B. His recommendation (Dan 1:9–14).
He proposed a test, suggesting a 10–day diet of only vegetables and water. At the end of this short time his superintendent could compare Daniel and his friends with the others who ate the king’s rich food. The terms of this test were granted.
C. His rewards (Dan 1:15–20).
1. At the hand of God.
a. They were many times stronger at the end of the 10–day test.
b. They were 10 times smarter at the end of the three–year training period.
2. At the hand of Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel was appointed to a political career.
II. A statue and a stone.
A. The Babylonians’ frustration (Dan 2:1–13).
1. Nebuchadnezzar had a terrifying nightmare and called his entire cabinet to relate and interpret his dream.
2. Unable to do this, they were all condemned to death.
B. God’s revelation (Dan 2:14–30).
God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel (who apparently was not present at the original demand of the king).
C. Daniel’s interpretation.
1. A chronology of the dream—What did the king see? (Dan 2:31–35).
a. He saw a huge and powerful statue of a man. It was made up of various materials.
(1) Its head was gold.
(2) Its breast and arms were silver.
(3) Its belly and thighs were brass.
(4) Its legs were iron, and its feet part iron and part clay.
b. This statue was then utterly pulverized into small powder by a special rock, which had been supernaturally cut from a mountainside and then fell upon it.
c. The rock then grew until it filled the entire earth. (Dan 2:30–35).
2. A theology of the dream—What did this all mean? (Dan 2:36–45).
a. The statue represented four Gentile world powers:
(1) The golden head was Babylon.
(2) The silver chest and arms were Persia.
(3) The brass belly and thighs were Greece.
(4) The iron legs and iron–and–clay feet were Rome.
b. The final Gentile power (Rome) will be revived during the Tribulation and will consist of 10 nations.This is implied, for the great prophecies concerning the fourth power were not fulfilled in the history of ancient Rome.
c. In the days of the final world power, the God of heaven would shatter all earthly kingdoms through his rock (the Lord Jesus Christ) and set up an eternal kingdom (Dan 2:44–45).
D. Nebuchadnezzar’s adoration (Dan 2:46–49).
1. The king bowed down to Daniel and commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him (Dan 2:46).
2. He acknowledged the God of Daniel as “God of gods” (Dan 2:47).
3. He elevated Daniel to the highest office in Babylon, as chief magistrate in the king’s court (Dan 2:48).
4. Daniel then appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to high offices (Dan 2:49).
III. A fiery furnace.
A. The king’s command (Dan 3:1–7).
1. Nebuchadnezzar constructed a golden statue 90 feet high and nine feet wide. This was set up in the plain of Dura near Babylon.
2. On dedication day at a given musical signal, all his officials were to bow down and worship the image.
Failure to do so would result in a fiery death (Dan 3:6).
3. The officials complied with the king’s demand.
B. The Hebrews’ stand (Dan 3:8–23).
1. Jealous Babylonians informed Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow.
2. Nebuchadnezzar offered them another chance.
3. Upon their second refusal they were bound and cast into a fiery furnace, heated seven times hotter than usual.
C. The Lord’s own man (Dan 3:24–30).
1. Peering into the furnace, an amazed king saw a fourth figure.
2. The three friends then walked out of the furnace unharmed with not even the smell of smoke upon them.
3. Nebuchadnezzar issued a decree, ordering the death penalty to anyone who blasphemed the God of Israel.
IV. A tree in turmoil.
A. The tree—Nebuchadnezzar corrupted through vanity (Dan 4:1–27).
1. Nebuchadnezzar related another dream he had to Daniel (Dan 4:8–18).
a. He saw a large and leafy tree increasing in size until it reached the heavens and was viewed by all. The wild animals and birds were shaded and sheltered by its leafy branches, and the [p. 873] entire world was fed from its generous fruit supply (Dan 4:10–12).
b. Suddenly, a heavenly figure appeared and ordered the tree cut down and its fruit scattered. Only the stump was to be left, banded with a chain of iron and brass. This felled tree represented a man who would be given the mind of an animal and remain in this pitiful condition for seven years (Dan 4:13–16).
c. This all was to be done so the entire world might know that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Dan 4:17).
2. Daniel revealed the dream to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4:19–27).
a. The interpretation was so frightful that Daniel observed an hour of shocked silence (Dan 4:19).
b. He then revealed the details:
(1) The tree indeed stood for a man, and that man was Nebuchadnezzar.
(2) The king would suffer a seven–year period of insanity for his pride. During this time he would act and think like a wild animal.
(3) This affliction would end only when he realized that the powers that be are ordained of God.
(4) Daniel then begged the proud monarch to “break off thy sins” (Dan 4:27), but all to no avail.
B. The tree—Nebuchadnezzar corrected through insanity (Dan 4:28–37).
1. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride (Dan 4:28–30).
Twelve months after the dream, while the king was strolling on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, he made an arrogant boast (Dan 4:30).
2. Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment (Dan 4:31–33).
a. Even while the king spoke his proud words, God’s judgment fell from heaven and he was driven from the palace (Dan 4:31).
b. The sad results of his vanity (Dan 4:33).
3. Nebuchadnezzar’s praise (Dan 4:34–37).
Upon restoration his pride turned to praise.
V. A heavenly hand.
A. The ball (Dan 5:1).
Belshazzar the king staged a huge dinner and drinking party and invited his top 1,000 officers to attend.
B. The gall (Dan 5:2–4).
He ordered the gold and silver cups taken by his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar from the Jerusalem Temple to be brought to this feast that he might drink wine from them and praise the Babylonian gods.
C. The wall (Dan 5:5–6).
Suddenly, he saw the fingers of a man’s hand writing a mysterious message on the wall next to his table.
D. The call (Dan 5:7–29).
1. A terrified king turned to his astrologers for help and interpretation, but they could not assist him.
2. At the suggestion of the queen, he called for Daniel, offering to make the great prophet third ruler in the kingdom if he could interpret the message.
3. Daniel refused the offer but interpreted the message anyway.
a. Mene—“God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it” (Dan 5:26).
b. Tekel—“Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Dan 5:27).
c. Peres—“Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Dan 5:28).
E. The fall (Dan 5:30–31).
Belshazzar was slain that very night, and the city was ruled by a 62–year–old Mede named Darius.
VI. The lions and the lionhearted.
A. An evil plan (Dan 6:1–9).
1. The organization.
Darius the Mede immediately set about to reorganize and consolidate this fantastic new kingdom called Babylon that he now ruled. He divided the kingdom into 129 provinces, each under a prince. These princes were accountable to three presidents, with Daniel being one of the three. Daniel, now over 80, was still blessed with so much skill and ability that Darius was considering elevating him over the other two presidents (Dan 6:1–3).
2. The orchestration.
a. This so infuriated the other two presidents and the princes that they plotted against Daniel’s life (Dan 6:4).
b. Being unable to see the slightest flaw in his secular life, they determined to trap him in his religious life (Dan 6:5).
c. Darius was tricked into signing a 30–day decree, which said that all prayers during that time were to be directed to the king himself (Dan 6:6–9).
B. A kneeling man (Dan 6:10–20).
1. The fearless prophet.
Daniel learned of this and doubtless immediately saw through its clumsy effort to trap him. But the old warrior continued worshiping God as before (Dan 6:10).
a. He kept his windows opened.
b. He continued praying three times a day.
c. He knelt down.
d. He faced Jerusalem.
2. The heartless plotters.
Those vicious hunters who had set their trap now saw the prey inside and gleefully rushed to Darius to deliver the death blow. Darius realized he had been had and desperately sought to find a loophole in the immutable law of the Medes and the Persians, but all to no avail (Dan 6:11–15). Daniel was arrested and thrown into a den of hungry, man-eating lions.
3. The sleepless potentate.
a. After sealing the mouth of the den with his own signet ring, Darius returned and spent a sleepless and miserable night in the royal palace (Dan 6:17–18).
b. At daybreak the next morning he rushed to the den, ordered the capstone removed, and called out in anguish (Dan 6:20).
C. A heavenly ban.
1. Daniel’s response.
Out of the blackness of that den of doom there came a cheerful and clear voice (Dan 6:21–22).
2. Darius’s reaction.
The king’s reaction to all this was twofold; he was both glad and mad.
a. He rejoiced at Daniel’s salvation and issued a decree ordering all the citizens of his kingdom to fear Daniel’s almighty Judean God (Dan 6:23, 25–27).
b. He took immediate vengeance upon those who had tricked him in the first place and ordered them along with all their families thrown into [p. 874] this same den. Their bodies were instantly torn apart by the lions (Dan 6:24).
VII. Godless kingdoms and the kingdom of God.
A. Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian lion (Dan 7:1–4).
1. Daniel, in a vision, saw a great storm on a mighty ocean with four winds blowing from every direction and four beasts emerging from the water.
2. The first beast symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon.
a. It was like a lion.
b. It had eagles’ wings.
c. Those wings were plucked. (See Dan 4:33 and 5:31.)
B. Cyrus, the Persian bear (Dan 7:5).
1. This bear raised itself up on one side, probably referring to the stronger Persian part of the dual alliance of the Medes and Persians.
2. It had three ribs in its mouth, a reference to Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia, three nations Persia had just conquered.
3. It would devour much flesh. The Persian King Xerxes led a force of over one–and–a–half million men and 300 ships into Greece alone.
C. Alexander, the Grecian leopard (Dan 7:6).
1. This creature was like a leopard but had four wings. Alexander traveled faster and conquered more land than any other man in recorded history.
2. It had four heads. After his untimely death at 32, his kingdom fell to four of his generals.
D. The Roman monster and the little horn (Dan 7:7–28).
1. This monster “retired” to its den in AD 476 for a while to hibernate.
2. It will be awakened in the form of 10 nations during the Tribulation by the little horn, who is none other than the Antichrist.
3. The Antichrist will defeat three of these 10 kingdoms (horns) in his rise to power (Dan 7:8).
4. He will have a universal rule during the final three–and–a–half years of the Tribulation (Dan 7:25).
5. He will shed blood upon this earth in an unprecedented manner (Dan 7:7, 19).
6. He will wear out the saints of God: Israel (Dan 7:25).
7. He will attempt to change seasons and laws (Dan 7:25).
8. He will blaspheme God (Dan 7:25).
9. He will be defeated at Christ’s coming and his body given over to the flames of hell (Dan 7:11).
E. Jesus Christ, the King of kings (Dan 7:13–14).
1. He will come in the clouds to claim his rightful earthly inheritance (Dan 7:13).
2. He will be given his universal and eternal throne by his Father, the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9, 13–14).
VIII. The horns of the heathen.
A. A two-headed ram.
Persia, as represented by the example of Darius III (Dan 8:1–4; see also 8:20)
1. In this vision Daniel saw himself in the fortress of Shushan (or Susa), a city some 230 miles east of Babylon and 120 miles north of the Persian Gulf (Dan 8:2).
2. He saw a victorious ram coming from the east and pushing its way westward, northward, and to the south. This represented the Persian conquests (Dan 8:3–4).
B. A one-horned goat.
Greece, as represented by Alexander the Great (Dan 8:5–8, 21).
1. Daniel then saw a goat from the west that rushed the ram, smashed it to the ground, and stomped it to pieces.
2. Daniel then saw this powerful horn suddenly broken and its might divided into four parts. Alexander died in Babylon during a drunken orgy at the age of 32, in 323 BC. His kingdom was then divided among his four leading generals.
C. Two little-horned kings.
Syria and the revived Roman Empire as represented by Antiochus Epiphanes and the Antichrist (Dan 8:9–27). The archangel Gabriel interpreted all this to Daniel. This is the first mention of him in the Bible (Dan 8:16).
1. The historical little horn—Antiochus Epiphanes.
a. He was a Syrian.
b. He came to the throne in 175 BC and ruled until 164 BC.
c. He was anti-Semitic to the core. He assaulted Jerusalem, murdering over 40,000 in three days, and selling an equal number into cruel slavery. It is thought that he began his evil actions on September 6, 171 BC and ended them on December 25, 165 BC. This would account for the 2,300 days of Dan 8:14.
d. Daniel became physically ill upon seeing this terrible prophetical vision (Dan 8:27).
2. The prophetical little horn—the Antichrist.
The future enemy of Israel will do all his forerunner did and much more. The following comparisons can be seen between the two:
a. Both would conquer much (Dan 8:9; Rev 13:4).
b. Both would magnify themselves (Dan 8:11; Rev 13:15).
c. Both would be masters of deceit (Dan 8:25; 2 Thes 2:10).
d. Both would offer a false peace program (Dan 8:25; 1 Thes 5:2–3).
e. Both would hate and persecute Israel (Dan 8:25; Rev 12:13).
f. Both would profane the Temple (Dan 8:11; Matt 24:15).
g. Both would be energized by Satan (Dan 8:24; Rev 13:2).
h. Both would be active in the Middle East for about seven years (Dan 8:14; 9:27).
i. Both would speak against the Lord God (Dan 8:25).
j. Both would be utterly destroyed by God (Dan 8:25; Rev 19:19–20).
IX. The secret of the 70 sevens.
A. Daniel—the prayer of a prophet (Dan 9:1–19).
1. Reading God’s message.
This is one of the greatest chapters in all the Bible. It has a double theme, that of prayer and prophecy. At this time Daniel was about 85. He was reading from the book of Jeremiah (having probably become the official custodian of various Old Testament books after the destruction of the Temple) and was reminded that God had determined Jerusalem must lie desolate for 70 years (see Jer 25:11; 29:10).
2. Pleading God’s mercy.
He then began an intense and prolonged prayer to God, concerning both his personal sins and those national sins of Israel, which had caused her captivity in the first place. His prayer was accompanied by fasting, sackcloth, and ashes (Dan 9:1–3).
a. He reminded God of his covenants (Dan 9:4).
b. He contrasted God’s grace and goodness with Israel’s immorality and idolatry (Dan 9:5–11).
(1) Israel’s immorality and idolatry (Dan 9:5, 11).
(2) God’s grace and goodness (Dan 9:7, 9).
c. He mentioned Judah’s kings (Dan 9:8).
Two of them had been carried off into the Babylonian captivity along with the Jewish people.
d. He fully agreed that Judah had gotten just what she deserved and that God meant just what he said when he had warned them about disobedience and punishment (Dan 9:12–14). He ended his prayer by throwing both himself and his people completely upon the manifold grace of God (Dan 9:18).
B. Gabriel—the prophecy of an angel (Dan 9:20–27).
Even while Daniel was praying, God sent Gabriel the archangel to both minister to him and explain the most important, the most amazing, and the most profound single prophecy in the entire Word of God!
We shall consider this prophecy by asking and attempting to answer six key questions:
1. To whom does this prophecy refer? It refers to Israel, “thy people” (Dan 9:24).
2. What is meant by the term “seventy weeks”? The Hebrew word refers to 70 sevens of years, or a total of 490 years.
3. When was the 70-week period to begin? It was to begin with the command to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls (Dan 9:25).
4. What are the distinct time periods mentioned within the 70-week prophecy and what was to happen during each period?
a. First period—A period of seven weeks (49 years), from 445 BC to 396 BC.
The key events during this time were the building of the streets and walls of Jerusalem “even in troublous times” (Dan 9:25).
b. Second period—A period of 62 weeks (434 years), from 396 BC to AD 30.
At the end of this second period the Messiah was to be crucified. (These don’t add up to 434 years, and the same period mentioned below gives different years that also do not add up.)
c. Third period—A period of one week (seven years) from the Rapture until the Millennium.
5. Do the 70 weeks run continuously? This is to say, is there a gap somewhere between these 490 years, or do they run without pause until they are completed?
Dispensational theology teaches that these “weeks” do not run continuously, but that there has been a gap or parentheses of nearly 2,000 years between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week. This is known as the Age of the Church.
6. Does the Bible offer any other examples of time gaps in divine programs?
It does. At least three instances come to mind in which gaps of many centuries can be found in a single short paragraph (Isa 9:6–7; 61:1–2; Zech 9:9–10). Here is a final brief review of the 70 weeks:
a. The six main accomplishments of the 70 weeks:
(1) to bring to an end all human transgressions and sins, especially those of the nation Israel.
(2) to make reconciliation for iniquity.
(3) to vindicate by fulfillment all true prophets and their prophecies.
(4) to prove the inability of the devil to rightfully rule this world.
(5) to destroy him and his chief henchman, the Antichrist.
(6) to usher in the Millennium.
b. The three main time periods of the 70 weeks (490 years).
(1) First period—49 years, or seven weeks, from 445 BC to 396 BC.
(2) Second period—434 years, or 62 weeks, from 396 BC to AD 32.
(3) A time-out period—which has already lasted almost 20 centuries.
(4) Third period—seven years, or one week, from the Rapture until the Millennium.
c. The two main individuals of the 70 weeks:
(1) Messiah—the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2) “The prince that shall come” (Dan 9:26)—the Antichrist.
X. The conflict above the clouds.
A. A man in mourning (Dan 10:1–4).
Daniel had set aside a period of three weeks to be alone with God. During that time, he refrained from eating food, drinking wine, and anointing himself.
B. An angel in attendance (Dan 10:5–21).
1. His description (Dan 10:5–9).
a. Daniel immediately grew pale and weak with fright at such a dazzling sight.
b. The men with Daniel were also filled with terror, although they did not actually see the vision as did Daniel (Dan 10:7).
2. His declaration (Dan 10:10–19).
a. He had been hindered by the prince of Persia (Dan 10:13). Who was this prince?
(1) The prince was powerful.
He single-handedly blocked one of heaven’s mightiest angels for 21 days.
(2) The prince was perverted.
He withstood God’s divinely appointed messenger. Thus, he must have been a high-ranking demon assigned by Satan to Persia to control the demonic activities in that kingdom.
b. He had been helped by the archangel Michael (Dan 10:13). This is the other archangel mentioned in the Bible. This angel then proceeded to comfort, reassure, strengthen, and instruct Daniel concerning the end times.
3. His determination (Dan 10:20–21).
As he returned to God, the angel was aware that he would once again be confronted not only by the Persian demon, but also by the demon of Greece. Apparently, Satan was throwing in new support by sending into battle his future appointee over the Grecian empire. But the angel was confident, knowing he could again count on the help of Michael.
XI. A chronology of ungodly kings.
A. Alexander the Great (Dan 11:1–20) including his predecessors and successors.
1. Four Persian kings would rule after Cyrus (who was ruling when Daniel wrote this) and the fourth would be the richest of all. This happened (Dan 11:2).
2. After this, a mighty king would rule (Dan 11:3). This was Alexander the Great (336–323 BC).
3. This king would suddenly die in his prime. His kingdom would not be given to his posterity, but would be divided up by outsiders into four sections (Dan 11:4). This is what happened. Shortly after Alexander’s death, Philip, his half brother; Alexander II, his legitimate son; and Hercules, his illegitimate son, were murdered. Alexander’s four generals took over.
B. Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan 11:21–35).
1. He was the youngest son of Antiochus the Great and is immediately classified as a vile (or contemptible) person by the Word of God (Dan 11:21).
2. He was nicknamed “Epimanes,” meaning “madman,” by those who knew him best.
3. He practiced deceit and pretended to be a second–century-BC Robin Hood (1 Macc 3:29–31).
4. Antiochus had hoped to capture Egypt but was stopped cold by the mighty Romans (Dan 11:30).
5. He took out his insane rage on the city of Jerusalem (Dan 11:28–35).
C. Antichrist (Dan 11:36–45).
1. He shall do everything according to his own selfish will (Dan 11:36).
2. He shall magnify himself and malign God (Dan 11:36).
The Hebrew word translated “marvelous things” here in this verse means literally “astonishing, unbelievable.” The Antichrist will scream out unbelievable blasphemies against God—insults no one else could ever think of, or would dare say if they could.
3. He will be allowed by God to prosper (given full rope) during the Tribulation (the “indignation”) (Dan 11:36).
4. He will not regard “the God of his fathers” (Dan 11:37).
5. He will not have the desire for (or of) women (Dan 11:37).
6. His god will be the God of fortresses (Dan 11:38).
The Antichrist will spend all his resources on military programs.
7. In the latter days of the Tribulation, he shall be attacked by the king of the south (Egypt) and the king of the north (Gog, possibly Russia) (Dan 11:40).
8. After the defeat of Russia, the Antichrist will occupy Palestine. Edom and Moab will not be occupied by him (Dan 11:41).
9. Upon establishing control in Palestine, the Antichrist will march into Egypt and control that land (Dan 11:42–43).
10. While he is in Egypt, he will hear alarming rumors from the east and the north (Dan 11:44). The exact nature of these rumors is uncertain.
11. He will quickly return and in great fury destroy many (Dan 11:44). Here again the identity of those who are destroyed cannot be dogmatically stated.
12. He will apparently successfully deal with the threat and establish his worldwide headquarters on Mount Zion. Here he will remain until his total destruction by the King of kings at the end of the Tribulation (Dan 11:45).
XII. Closing conditions.
A. The ministry of Michael (Dan 12:1).
1. Michael is Israel’s guardian angel.
2. He will help deliver Israel through the worst period of human history since the creation of the world.
B. The two resurrections (Dan 12:2–3).
1. The resurrection of those to eternal life.
This will occur at the beginning of the Millennium and will include all Old Testament and martyred Tribulation saints. (See Job 19:25–26; Ps 49:15; Isa 25:8; 26:19; Hos 13:14; Heb 11:35; Rev 20:4, 6.) The reward of all righteous soul winners is mentioned in Daniel 12:3.
2. The resurrection of those to shame and everlasting contempt.
This will transpire after the Millennium, and will include all unsaved people who have ever lived (Rev 20:5). Our Lord summarized these two resurrections in John 5:28–29.
C. The two last–days prophecies (Dan 12:4).
1. An increase of knowledge.
2. An increase of speed.
D. The three time periods (Dan 12:5–13).
1. Daniel saw two other angels who had been listening to this private prophecy conference the mighty angel was conducting for the old statesman. One of the two suddenly asked how long this terrible tribulation period would last (Dan 12:6). Neither of these two angels had apparently overheard the details of the 70-week vision in 9:24–27. The mighty angel informed them that the duration of this final horrible half of the Tribulation will last as long as it takes for the pride and power of the Jews to be broken, or three–and–a–half years (Dan 12:7).
2. The 1,290 days (Dan 12:11).
This period refers to the same as mentioned above, but includes an additional 30 days.
Although we cannot be dogmatic, it would seem reasonable to conclude that an additional month will be needed here to carry out the sheep–and–goat judgment mentioned in Matthew 25:31–46.
3. The 1,335 days (Dan 12:12).
Here again a period of time is added: 45 days. What will be the need of these 45 days? It may be the time necessary for setting up the government machinery for carrying on the rule of Christ.
E. The four final conclusions.
1. The mighty angel raised both hands to heaven as he attested to the veracity of all this (Dan 12:7).
2. Many shall be delivered (saved) during the Tribulation (Dan 12:1). This includes both Jews and Gentiles (Rev 7:1–17).
3. The wicked, however, will continue their evil ways (Dan 12:10; Rev 9:20–21; 11:9–10).
4. Daniel was to carefully preserve his writings (Dan 12:4), but all their meaning would not be revealed to him until that glorious day when he stood alongside the righteous awaiting his inheritance lot (Dan 12:9, 13).
THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. Daniel’s example.
He was referred to along with Noah and Job by Ezekiel to illustrate two godly virtues.
A. The virtue of righteousness (Ezek 14:14, 20).
B. The virtue of wisdom (Ezek 28:3).
II. Daniel’s background.
A. Daniel was born in Israel from the tribe of Judah, of a royal family (Dan 1:3).
B. He was carried off by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon during the first siege of Jerusalem in 606 BC (Dan 1:1–2).
C. He was described as being handsome, without physical [p. 877] defect, quick to understand, well-informed, and showing great learning potential (Dan 1:4).
D. He possessed the divine gift of prophecy and of dream interpretation (Dan 2:29; 4:20).
III. When in captivity, without the slightest compromise, he faithfully served under the administration of three kings.
A. Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 1–4).
B. Belshazzar (Dan 5, 7–8).
C. Darius (Dan 6, 9–12).
IV. He himself was ministered to by both of heaven’s archangels.
A. Gabriel (Dan 8:16–17; 9:21).
B. Michael (Dan 10:13; 12:1).
V. The preincarnate Christ appeared to Daniel on two occasions.
A. In the lion’s den (Dan 6:22).
B. By the Tigris River (Dan 10:4–9, 16–17).
VI. The abomination of desolation.
Jesus referred to the historical “abomination of desolation” as spoken of by Daniel, and tied it in with a prophetical event (Dan 11:31; Matt 24:15).
A. The historical abomination of desolation (Dan 11:31).
1. The actor involved—Antiochus Epiphanes, a Syrian king who hated Jews.
2. The action involved.
He defiled the Holy of Holies in the second Temple by slaughtering a pig.
B. The prophetical abomination of desolation (2 Thes 2:4; Rev 13:6, 14–18).
1. The actor involved—the Antichrist.
2. The action involved.
He will pollute the Holy of Holies in the tribulational temple by placing there a statue of himself.
VII. The book of Daniel.
The unusual feature of Daniel’s book is that he wrote the central portion (Dan 2:4–7:28) in the Aramaic language.
STATISTICS
  First mention: Ezekiel 14:14
Final mention: Mark 13:14
Meaning of his name: “God is judge”
Referred to: 87 times
Biblical books mentioning him: Four books (Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew, Mark)
Occupation: Political leader and prophet (Dan 2:48–49; 5:10–12)
Place of birth: Judah (Dan 1:1–6)
Place of death: Babylon
Important fact about his life: He served as prime minister in Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar and Darius (Dan 2:48; 6:1–3).

DARIUS (1)

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. Darius and Belshazzar the king.
A. Darius was known as Darius the Mede (Dan 5:31).
B. He was the military general under Cyrus the Great who conquered Babylon and killed Belshazzar (Dan 5:30).
C. He is probably the man referred to as Gubaru in the Persian records.
D. Darius was strengthened by an angel of God during the first year of his reign (Dan 11:1).
II. Darius and Daniel the prophet.
A. An evil plan (Dan 6:1–9).
1. The organization.
Darius the Mede immediately set about to reorganize and consolidate this fantastic new kingdom called Babylon he now ruled. He divided the kingdom into 129 provinces, each under a prince. These princes were accountable to three presidents, with Daniel being one of the three. Daniel, now over 80, was still blessed with so much skill and ability that Darius was considering elevating him over the other two presidents (Dan 6:1–3).
2. The orchestration.
a. This so infuriated both the presidents and the princes that they plotted against Daniel’s life (Dan 6:4).
b. Being unable to see the slightest flaw in his secular life, they determined to trap him in his religious life (Dan 6:5).
c. Darius was tricked into signing a 30–day decree that said that all prayers during that time were to be directed to the king himself (Dan 6:6–9).
B. A kneeling man (Dan 6:10–20).
1. The fearless prophet
Daniel learned of this and doubtless immediately saw through its clumsy effort to trap him.
But the old warrior continued worshiping God as before (Dan 6:10).
a. He kept his windows opened.
b. He continued praying three times a day.
c. He knelt down.
d. He faced Jerusalem.
2. The heartless plotters.
Those vicious hunters who had set their trap now saw the prey inside and gleefully rushed to Darius to deliver the death blow. Darius realized he had been had and desperately sought to find a loophole in the immutable law of the Medes and the Persians, but all to no avail (Dan 6:11–15).
Daniel was arrested and thrown down into a den of hungry, man-eating lions.
3. The sleepless potentate.
a. After sealing the mouth of the den with his own signet ring, Darius returned and spent a sleepless and miserable night in the royal palace (Dan 6:17–18).
b. At daybreak the next morning he rushed to the den, ordered the capstone removed, and called out in anguish (Dan 6:20).
C. A heavenly ban.
1. Daniel’s response.
Out of the blackness of that den of doom there came a cheerful and clear voice (Dan 6:21–22).
2. Darius’s reaction.
The king’s reaction to all this was twofold; he was both glad and mad.
a. He rejoiced at Daniel’s salvation and issued a decree ordering all the citizens of his kingdom to consider this almighty Judean God (Dan 6:23, 25–27).
b. He took immediate vengeance upon those who had tricked him in the first place and ordered them along with all their families thrown into this same den. Their bodies were instantly torn apart by the lions (Dan 6:24).
STATISTICS
  First mention: Daniel 5:31
Final mention: Daniel 11:1
Meaning of his name: “He who upholds the good”
Referred to: Eight times
Biblical books mentioning him: One book (Daniel)
Occupation: King of the Medo-Persian empire (Dan 6:12)
Important fact about his life: He was tricked into casting Daniel into the den of lions (Dan 6:14–16).

DARIUS (2)

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. The request.
A. He was also known as Darius the Great.
B. He took over the crumbling Persian empire after the suicide of King Cambyses.
C. Darius received a letter from one of his officials named Tattenai concerning a situation in the city of Jerusalem (Ezra 5:3–17).
1. The review given by Tattenai.
He told the king he had approached the Jews in Jerusalem who were building a Temple and demanded to know, “Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?” (Ezra 5:3).
2. The reply given to Tattenai.
The Jews responded by saying they had received official permission to build their Temple from Cyrus the Great himself (Ezra 5:11–13).
3. The request coming from Tattenai.
In light of the situation, Tattenai suggested to Darius that he authorize a search in the royal archives to determine the validity of this claim.
II. The research.
The king ordered such an investigation, and discovered the original decree issued by Cyrus (Ezra 6:1–5).
III. The resolution.
Darius thereupon drafted a letter to his officials in the Holy Land (Ezra 6:6–12).
A. The wisdom of the king.
Realizing God himself had prompted Cyrus’s original decree, Darius instructed his officials not only to aid in the Temple construction, but to pay for it through local taxes.
B. The warning from the king.
Anyone disobeying this command would lose both his house and his head. The Temple was completed during the sixth year of his reign (Ezra 6:15).
STATISTICS
   First mention: Ezra 4:5
Final mention: Zechariah 7:1
Meaning of his name: “He who upholds the good”
Referred to: 16 times
Biblical books mentioning him: Three books (Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah)
Occupation: King of Persia (Ezra 4:5)
Important fact about his life: He ordered the work on the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been halted, to resume (Ezra 6:1–12).

DAVID

(See also United Kingdom)

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. The former years.
A. The shepherd.
1. His provision for the sheep (1 Sam 16:11; 17:15; 2 Sam 7:8; Ps 78:70–71).
2. His protection of the sheep (1 Sam 17:34–36).
B. The selected (1 Sam 16:1–13).
1. The rejection of Jesse’s older sons.
a. The command.
At God’s order, Samuel the prophet visited the home of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint one of his sons, who would replace the rejected Saul as Israel’s next king.
b. The confusion.
Impressed by his appearance, Samuel mistakenly concluded that Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, would be God’s choice (1 Sam 16:6).
c. The correction (1 Sam 16:7).
2. The selection of Jesse’s youngest son (1 Sam 16:10–13).
C. The singer (1 Sam 16:14–23; 17:15).
1. The problem (1 Sam 16:14).
2. The performance.
a. At the suggestion of his servants, Saul requested that David be invited to play his harp in the royal palace.
b. When David played, the evil spirit left Saul.
c. During this time David also served as Saul’s armor bearer.
d. He thus traveled to and fro from the palace to the pasture, serving as both singer and shepherd.
D. The soldier (1 Sam 17:1–58).
1. The criticism (David and Eliab).
a. At his father Jesse’s instruction, David carried some food supplies to his three older brothers, who were in Saul’s army fighting the Philistines (1 Sam 17:13, 17).
b. Upon arriving at the battle scene, David gazed upon a Philistine giant named Goliath (1 Sam 17:23).
c. For 40 days this huge warrior (nearly 10 feet tall) had defied both Israel and God (1 Sam 17:16).
d. During this time he had demanded that Saul send a soldier to fight him with the agreement that the entire army of the one defeated would surrender (1 Sam 17:8–10).
e. The Israelite army, however, was terrified at such a proposal (1 Sam 17:11, 24).
f. David wondered out loud why the defiance of this pagan giant was allowed to go unchallenged (1 Sam 17:26).
g. Eliab, David’s oldest brother, rebuked him for his bold statements.
(1) The rebuke (1 Sam 17:28).
(2) The reply (1 Sam 17:29).
2. The concern (David and Saul).
a. David met with Saul and volunteered to fight Goliath himself (1 Sam 17:32).
(1) Saul’s objection.
“You’re only a boy and Goliath is a seasoned and professional killing machine.”
(2) David’s answer.
(a) “In the past I had protected my father’s sheep from a lion and a bear.”
(b) “When either animal turned on me, I killed it.”
(c) “The same God who delivered me from those animals will deliver me from this one.”
b. Saul then dressed David with the king’s own coat of armor and brass helmet (1 Sam 17:38).
c. David, however, decided against wearing this strange and untested equipment (1 Sam 17:39).
d. Instead, choosing five smooth stones from the stream, he marched out to meet the giant with his sling (1 Sam 17:40).
3. The contempt (David and Goliath).
a. David was despised and cursed by Goliath, who vowed to give his flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field (1 Sam 17:41–44).
b. His answer to this hostile warrior was both concise and confident (1 Sam 17:45–47).
(1) He would come against Goliath by the power of God.
(2) He would kill the giant, cut off his head, and feed his flesh to the birds and beasts.
(3) By this, all men would know that the battle was the Lord’s.
4. The conquest (David and God).
a. David killed Goliath by striking the warrior in his forehead with a stone hurled from his sling (1 Sam 17:48–50).
b. He then cut off the Philistine’s head with the giant’s own sword (1 Sam 17:51).
c. With Goliath’s head in his hand, David stood before Saul (1 Sam 17:57).
II. The frustrating years.
A. The sought.
1. The persecution by Saul.
a. The background.
(1) Following the battle, Saul commanded David to live with him in the king’s court (1 Sam 18:2).
(2) Whatever he was sent to do, David did it so successfully that Saul soon gave him a high rank in the army (1 Sam 18:5).
b. The basis.
Saul soon turned against David, prompted by two factors (1 Sam 18:6–10, 12).
(1) A victory song.
The women of Israel had composed a song to celebrate the victory of David and Israel over the Philistines (1 Sam 18:8).
(2) A vicious spirit.
At this time, the demon that David had once driven from Saul through his music (1 Sam 16:14, 23) now returned to plague him (1 Sam 18:10).
c. The bungling.
On numerous occasions the wicked king attempted to kill David, but failed every time.
(1) On at least three occasions, Saul tried to kill David by hurling a javelin at him (1 Sam 18:10–11; 19:9–10).
(2) He offered his youngest daughter, Michal, to David in marriage (1 Sam 18:25). To Saul’s amazement and anger, David presented him with the foreskins of 200 Philistines and thus qualified to become the king’s son–in–law (1 Sam 18:27).
(3) Saul sent soldiers to kill David in his own home, but Michal saved her husband by lowering him down through a bedroom window (1 Sam 19:11–17).
d. The blessing.
Through all these trying events, God’s hand continued to rest upon David, causing his fame to increase.
(1) On the home front (1 Sam 18:14, 16).
(2) On the battlefront (1 Sam 19:8).
e. The befriending.
(1) The great love and friendship between David and Jonathan (Saul’s son) had begun when David killed Goliath (1 Sam 18:1, 3–4).
(2) David was warned by Jonathan concerning his father’s murderous intents (1 Sam 19:1–3).
(3) After cautioning Saul against his hatred of David, Jonathan persuaded his father to declare a truce (1 Sam 19:4–7).
(4) David secretly met with Jonathan (1 Sam 20:1–23).
(a) Jonathan had concluded (sincerely but incorrectly) that his father had finally given up plans to kill David.
(b) Fearing the worst, David was reassured by Jonathan, who proposed a test to reveal Saul’s true motives.
(c) He would absent himself from the new moon festival at the royal palace.
(d) If Saul showed anger over his absence, this would mean he was still planning to kill him.
(e) Following the banquet, Jonathan would let David know the true situation.
(5) Upon learning of David’s absence at the banquet table, Saul became furious (1 Sam 20:24–34).
(a) He cursed his own son Jonathan for befriending David.
(b) He actually attempted to kill Jonathan with a spear.
(6) The following morning, as agreed upon, David was warned by Jonathan (1 Sam 20:35–41).
(7) Both reaffirmed their loyalty to each other (1 Sam 20:42).
(8) During this time, David had visited the city of Ramah and told Samuel the prophet all that Saul had done to him (1 Sam 19:18).
2. The flight from Saul.
a. David at Nob (1 Sam 21:1–9).
He fled to Nob, where the Tabernacle was located, and lied to Ahimelech, the high priest.
(1) The falsehood of David.
(a) That he was on a secret mission for King Saul.
(b) That it was therefore Ahimelech’s duty to provide him with food and weapons.
(2) The faithfulness of Ahimelech.
The old priest gave David bread and Goliath’s sword, which was wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.
b. David at Gath (1 Sam 21:10–15).
(1) Leaving Nob, David went to Gath, a city in Philistia and the former home of Goliath.
(2) David was immediately recognized by the servants of Achish, king of Gath.
(3) David, however, successfully faked insanity before the king and was allowed to leave the city.
c. David at Adullam.
(1) Leaving Gath, David established temporary headquarters in a cave called Adullam, located near a Canaanite city halfway between Lachish and Jerusalem (1 Sam 22:1).
(2) Here he was joined by his brothers, and his father’s household, plus many in distress, [p. 880] in debt, or discontented. His followers now numbered about 400 (1 Sam 22:1–2).
(3) These followers were men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, who pledged their allegiance to David, realizing he was God’s chosen one (1 Chr 12:16–18).
d. David at Moab (1 Sam 22:3–5).
(1) David asked and received permission from the king of Moab to move his father and mother there.
(2) He was then ordered by the Lord through the prophet Gad to return to Judah.
e. David in the forest of Hareth (1 Sam 22:5–23).
(1) Here he learned from Abiathar (a son of the high priest Ahimelech) the horrible news concerning a massacre at the city of Nob.
(2) Saul had executed the high priest plus 85 other priests for befriending David.
(3) The murderous king had then put the entire city to the sword.
f. David at Keilah (1 Sam 23:1–13).
(1) At God’s command, David defeated the Philistines, who had been robbing the threshing floors of the Israelite city Keilah.
(2) Upon learning of David’s whereabouts, Saul sent an army to Keilah.
(3) God warned David to flee Keilah, for its fickle citizens were planning to hand him over to Saul.
g. David in the wilderness of Ziph (1 Sam 23:14–18).
(1) At this time his army numbered some 600 men. These 600 men were highly skilled, being able to shoot arrows and sling stones both with their right and left hands (1 Chr 12:1–7).
(2) He once again met briefly with Jonathan (1 Sam 23:16–18).
(3) This would be the final meeting of these close friends.
h. David at Carmel (1 Sam 25:1–44).
Following the death of Samuel, David met and married Abigail, the widow of a wealthy but doltish sheepherder named Nabal.
(1) Nabal had both refused and ridiculed David’s modest request for a small amount of food.
(2) An angry David had prepared to do battle against Nabal.
(3) Learning of this, Abigail rode off to meet David with a large food gift.
(4) David’s wrath subsided and he spared Nabal’s life.
(5) Sometime later the drunken Nabal was struck dead by God.
(6) David then sent for Abigail and she became his wife.
(7) Saul had given David’s first wife, Michal, to another man.
3. The kindness to Saul.
On two separate occasions David spared the life of his mortal enemy Saul.
a. The episode in a cave (1 Sam 24:1–22).
(1) The restraint (1 Sam 24:1–7).
(a) David established his headquarters in a cave near the Dead Sea in the wilderness of En-gedi.
(b) Upon learning that David was in that area, Saul led an army of 3,000 chosen men to capture him.
(c) Totally unaware, Saul entered David’s cave to relieve himself.
(d) David refused to grant his men’s request to kill Saul, but he secretly cut off a corner of the king’s robe.
(e) Afterward, however, David’s heart “smote him” because he had shown disrespect toward the king.
(2) The reprimand (1 Sam 24:8–15).
(a) After Saul had left the cave, David called out to him.
(b) He pointed out how easily he could have slain the king, showing Saul the piece that had been cut from his robe.
(c) He then demanded to know why Saul was trying to kill him, for he was innocent of any wrongdoing or rebellion.
(3) The remorse (1 Sam 24:16–22).
(a) Saul acknowledged David’s righteousness in not killing him when he could have done so.
(b) He said he knew David would soon become king over Israel.
(c) Saul asked for and received David’s promise that he would not cut off his descendants or wipe out his name when he did become king.
b. The episode on a hill (1 Sam 26:1–25).
(1) David and Abishai—the courage involved (1 Sam 26:1–12).
(a) Saul once again led an army of 3,000 chosen troops against David, hoping to capture him in the southeast part of the Judean desert.
(b) Spotting the king first, David and Abishai secretly entered his camp one night and removed from the sleeping monarch his water jug and spear.
(c) Again, David refused to kill Saul.
(d) God had caused the army to sleep deeply.
(2) David and Abner—the contempt involved (1 Sam 26:13–16).
(a) From a nearby hill David cried out and made his presence known.
(b) He then heaped contempt upon Saul’s general, Abner, who had slept through everything (1 Sam 26:15–16).
(3) David and Saul—the confession involved (1 Sam 26:17–25).
(a) Saul tried to reestablish his friendship with David (1 Sam 26:17–18, 21).
(b) David wisely decided to go his way with his men.
B. David, the sidetracked (1 Sam 27:1–28:2; 29:1–30:31; 2 Sam 1:1–27).
1. His backsliding (1 Sam 27:1).
a. Thus, in time of discouragement, David and his 600 men, for fear of Saul, left Judah and settled in the Philistine city of Ziklag, given to David by Achish the king. Here he would live for 16 months (1 Sam 27:1–7).
b. During this time David went out and raided many Canaanite cities, but deceived Achish [p. 881] into believing they were Israelite settlements (1 Sam 27:8–12).
c. After a while, King Achish prepared to do battle with Israel and requested that David and his men assist in the attack (1 Sam 28:1–2).
d. Just before the battle, however, the Philistine military commanders, over the objections of Achish, refused to allow David to join their attack, fearing he would betray them (1 Sam 29:1–11). 2. His bravery (1 Sam 30:1–31).
a. Upon returning to Ziklag, David learned the Amalekites had attacked and burned the city and carried away into slavery all the wives and families of both David and his men.
b. David’s men, for some unrecorded reason, blamed him for their misfortune and threatened to stone him (1 Sam 30:6).
c. God commanded David to pursue the Amalekites, assuring his servant of total victory.
d. The Lord kept his promise, and David utterly routed the enemy (1 Sam 30:9–20).
(1) A captured slave agreed to lead David to the location of the Amalekite camp.
(2) Finding them drinking and reveling over the destruction of Ziklag, David fell upon them, killing all but some young men who rode off on camels and escaped.
(3) He then recovered all that the enemy had taken, including every single hostage.
e. For some reason 200 of David’s 600 soldiers were too exhausted to fight and were placed in charge of the supplies as the remaining 400 rode into battle (1 Sam 30:21).
f. Following the victory, the 400 soldiers did not want to share the spoils of war with the 200 men.
g. David, however, overruled this objection (1 Sam 30:23–25).
h. David later sent some of the war plunder to his friends who were elders in Judah (1 Sam 30:26–31).
3. His bereavement (2 Sam 1:1–27).
a. The reason for this bereavement.
While in Ziklag, David learned that both Saul and Jonathan had been killed in the battle against the Philistines.
b. The reaction to this bereavement.
(1) David ordered the execution of an Amalekite man who claimed he had personally killed the mortally wounded Saul.
(2) He then composed and cried out a lament for Saul and Jonathan.
(a) He ordered that the news of their deaths not be spread abroad, lest God’s enemies rejoice.
(b) He called for a divine judgment of drought and failing crops upon Mount Gilboa where Saul fell.
c. He offered the highest praise for Saul and Jonathan, saying:
(1) They were the glory of Israel.
(2) In life they were loved and gracious.
(3) In death they were not parted.
(4) They were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.
d. He commanded all Israel to join him in lamenting their deaths, pointing out that:
(1) Saul would be remembered as the one who had met Israel’s physical needs.
(2) Jonathan would be remembered as being David’s dearest and closest friend.
III. The finest years.
A. David the sovereign, at Hebron, his first capital.
1. Anointed king over one tribe.
a. At God’s command, David left Ziklag at the death of Saul and moved to the city of Hebron (2 Sam 2:1–3).
b. The men of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David as their king.
c. He would reign over this tribe for seven–and–a–half years (2 Sam 2:4, 11).
d. He commended the men of Jabesh-gilead for recovering Saul’s body, which the Philistines had fastened to a wall. The body was then given a decent burial (compare 1 Sam 31:8–13 with 2 Sam 2:4–7).
e. David entered into an agreement with Abner, former military commander under Saul (2 Sam 3:12–21).
(1) Abner promised to bring the remaining 10 tribes of Israel under David’s control.
(2) At David’s request, Abner arranged to have Michal, the king’s first wife, returned to him.
f. Later, David was furious upon learning that Abner had been murdered by Joab, the king’s military commander, who had doubtless viewed Abner as a potential rival (2 Sam 3:22–38).
g. Six of David’s many sons were born during his reign in Hebron (2 Sam 3:2–5); three of these would later cause him much grief.
(1) Amnon would rape his own half sister, Tamar.
(2) Absalom would murder Amnon for this and later lead a revolt against David.
(3) Adonijah would attempt to steal the throne from Solomon, even as David lay on his deathbed.
2. Anointed king over 12 tribes.
a. David was presented with the head of Ish-bosheth (2 Sam 4:1–12).
(1) Ish-bosheth was Saul’s son whom Abner had made king over 11 of Israel’s tribes following his father’s death.
(2) David, however, ordered the deaths of the two military men who murdered him.
b. David was anointed at Hebron by all 12 tribes of Israel (2 Sam 5:1–3; 1 Chr 11:1–3; 12:8–15, 23–40).
(1) They acknowledged that even when Saul was king, it was really David who provided inspiration and led them to victory.
(2) A total of 336,100 soldiers from all 12 tribes celebrated this great event for three days.
(3) Troops from three tribes are especially noted by the sacred account:
(a) Gad, of whom it was said they were men of valor, trained for war with the strength of lions and the swiftness of roes (1 Chr 12:8).
(b) Issachar, of whom it was said they had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do (1 Chr 12:32).
(c) Zebulun, of whom it was said they were men of single heart (1 Chr 12:33).
c. David was 371?2 years old at this time (2 Sam 5:4–5).
d. This marked David’s third and final anointing.
B. David the sovereign, at Jerusalem, his final capital.
1. The city of God.
David captured Jerusalem and made it his permanent headquarters (2 Sam 5:6–12; 1 Chr 11:4–9; 14:1–2).
a. The Jebusites, pagan defenders of Jerusalem, had ridiculed David’s plan to take the city.
b. David promised that the first Israelite soldier to enter the city would become his military leader.
c. Joab, David’s nephew, accomplished this and assumed the position of army commander.
d. Upon taking the city, David began to enlarge it.
e. He then contracted with Hiram, King of Tyre, to build him a house.
2. The Ark of God (2 Sam 6:1–23; 1 Chr 13:1–14; 15:1–29; 16:1–3).
a. The journey of the Ark, part one.
(1) The transportation.
(a) At the king’s invitation, some 30,000 representatives from all over Israel accompanied him to the city of Kirjath-jearim (also called Baale of Judah) where the Ark of the Covenant was resting at the home of Abinadab (2 Sam 6:1–4; 1 Chr 13:1–7).
(b) It was placed on a new cart, driven by Abinadab’s two sons, Uzzah and Ahio (2 Sam 6:3–4; 1 Chr 13:7).
(c) David and a multitude of worshipers ran before the cart, praising God with songs and musical instruments (2 Sam 6:5; 1 Chr 13:8).
(2) The tragedy.
(a) Disaster struck when Uzzah’s unwise handling of the Ark brought down the judgment of death from God (2 Sam 6:6–7; 1 Chr 13:9–10).
(b) Fearful to continue his trip, David placed the Ark in the house of a man named Obed-edom where it would reside for three months (2 Sam 6:8–12; 1 Chr 13:11–14).
(3) The transference.
Realizing his problem resulted in the way the Ark was being transported, David discarded the cart and transferred the Ark to 762 Levitical priests, ordering them to carry it on their shoulders, as God had originally commanded Moses (1 Chr 15:1–15).
b. The journey of the Ark, part two.
(1) The celebration.
(a) David began the final part of the trip by offering up animal sacrifices to God (2 Sam 6:13).
(b) Amid joyful shouting, singing, and the playing of musical instruments, David, the Levites, and the accompanying congregation entered the city of Jerusalem with the Ark (2 Sam 6:15; 1 Chr 15:16, 25–28).
(c) David himself danced before the Ark with all his might (2 Sam 6:14).
(d) The Ark was then placed inside the Tabernacle (2 Sam 6:17; 1 Chr 16:1).
(e) David then assigned the priests a very important task (1 Chr 16:4).
(2) The criticism (2 Sam 6:16, 20–23; 1 Chr 15:29).
(a) Upon returning home to bless his family, David received a crushing blow.
(b) His wife Michal both ridiculed and rebuked him for displaying such zeal and praise to God.
(c) As a result of this, David and Michal no longer lived together as husband and wife.
3. The covenant of God (2 Sam 7:1–17; 1 Chr 17:1–15).
a. David’s request—to build a house for God.
(1) After defeating all his enemies, David proposed to build a Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chr 17:1).
(2) Nathan the prophet encouraged David to do this (2 Sam 7:3; 1 Chr 17:2).
(3) However, that very night God revealed to Nathan in a vision that it was not his will for David to build the Temple because he had shed much blood in war (2 Sam 7:4–7; 1 Chr 17:3–6; 22:8–9).
b. God’s response—to build a house for David.
(1) To the contrary, God would construct a house (dynasty) for David (2 Sam 7:11; 1 Chr 17:25).
(2) This “house covenant” (known as the Davidic covenant) had three key promises attached to it (2 Sam 7:8–17; 1 Chr 17:7–15).
(a) God would make David’s name great.
(b) His son Solomon would succeed him and build the Temple.
(c) David’s kingdom would be established forever.
4. The worship of God.
During this time in his life, David worshiped God by offering up three thanksgiving prayers.
a. Thanking and worshiping God for his presence.
(1) This had to do with the Ark of the Covenant, over which dwelt the glory of God (1 Chr 16:7–36).
(2) The words in this hymn of praise would later be included in Psalms 96, 105, and 106.
b. Thanking and worshiping God for his promise.
This had to do with the features in the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:18–29; 1 Chr 17:16–27).
c. Thanking and worshiping God for his power. This had to do with the great military victories God had given David (2 Sam 22:1–51). Much of this material is later repeated in Psalm 18.
5. The blessings of God.
As has been previously noted, God empowered David to defeat his various enemies.
a. His military conquests.
(1) Against the Philistines.
David conducted six successful military campaigns against the Philistines.
(a) First campaign (2 Sam 5:17–21; 23:13–17; 1 Chr 11:15–19; 14:8–12).
[1] On this occasion, David expressed his longing for a drink of water [p. 883] from the well in Bethlehem, which was occupied by the Philistines at the time.
[2] Risking their own lives, three of David’s mighty men crept into the enemy area and secured a container of water for him.
[3] Unwilling to drink this water, which was obtained under such selfless and dangerous conditions, David poured it out as an offering to God.
[4] He was then commanded by God to attack and defeat the Philistines, which he did.
(b) Second campaign (2 Sam 5:22–25; 1 Chr 14:13–17).
[1] David was instructed by God to encircle the attacking Philistines, stationing his men in the midst of some mulberry trees.
[2] When he heard a sound like the marching of troops coming from the tops of the trees, he was to attack, for this would be God’s signal for victory.
(c) Third campaign (2 Sam 21:15–17).
[1] During this battle a huge Philistine giant named Ishbi-benob attacked David with a ponderous sword, which apparently unnerved the king.
[2] But one of David’s warriors, Abishai, stepped in and killed the Philistine.
[3] After the narrow escape, David’s soldiers prevented him from exposing his life in battle, lest their beloved and irreplaceable king be taken from them.
(d) Fourth campaign (2 Sam 21:18; 1 Chr 20:4).
During this battle another Philistine giant known both as Saph and Sippai was killed.
(e) Fifth campaign (2 Sam 21:19; 1 Chr 20:5).
Lahmi, the brother of the Philistine giant Goliath, was killed by an Israelite soldier from Bethlehem named Elhanan.
(f) Sixth campaign (2 Sam 21:20–22; 1 Chr 20:6–8).
[1] This final battle was fought in the Philistine city of Gath.
[2] A relative of David named Jonathan killed an especially fierce and blasphemous giant who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.
(2) Against the Moabites (2 Sam 8:2; 1 Chr 18:2).
(a) David devastated the land of Moab.
(b) He divided his victims by making them lie down side by side in rows.
(c) Two-thirds of each row were then executed and the remaining one-third became his servants.
(3) Against the Aramaeans (2 Sam 8:3–4; 1 Chr 18:3–4).
(a) He destroyed the forces of King Hadadezer in a battle at the Euphrates River.
(b) David captured 1,700 cavalry and 20,000 infantry.
(c) He then lamed all of the chariot horses except for 100 teams.
(4) Against the Edomites (2 Sam 8:13–14; 1 Chr 18:12–13).
(a) He destroyed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
(b) He then placed garrisons throughout Edom and forced the entire nation to pay tribute to Israel.
(5) Against the Ammonites.
(a) First campaign (2 Sam 10:1–14; 1 Chr 19:1–15).
[1] Upon learning of the death of his friend Nahash, the king of Ammon, David sent ambassadors to comfort his son Hanun.
[2] Hanun, however, rejected and ridiculed these messengers, foolishly and falsely concluding they had been sent to spy out his land.
[3] The beards and clothes of the ambassadors were mutilated by Hanun.
[4] Later, realizing his stupid actions had aroused David’s wrath, Hanun hired a Syrian army to help him attack Israel.
[5] The alliance was, however, totally routed by Israel under the command of Joab, David’s nephew.
(b) Second campaign (2 Sam 12:26–31; 1 Chr 20:1–3).
[1] David captured Rabbah, the capital of Ammon.
[2] Tremendous amounts of loot were carried back to Jerusalem, and David took the crown of the king of Rabbah—a $50,000 treasure made from solid gold set with gems—and placed it on his own head.
[3] He then made slaves of the people of the city.
(6) Against the Syrians.
(a) First campaign (2 Sam 8:5–8; 1 Chr 18:5–8).
[1] He killed 22,000 Syrians from Damascus.
[2] He then placed several army garrisons in Damascus and imposed tribute upon its people.
(b) Second campaign (2 Sam 10:15–19; 1 Chr 19:16–19).
b. His military champions.
Having considered David’s military conquests, here is a list of his mighty men.
(1) Elhanan.
He killed Lahmi, the giant brother of Goliath (2 Sam 21:19; 1 Chr 20:5).
(2) Jashobeam.
He slew 300 enemy troops (1 Chr 11:11).
(3) Adino.
He killed 800 enemy troops (2 Sam 23:8).
(4) Eleazar.
He smote the enemy until his hand clave to his sword (2 Sam 23:9–10; 1 Chr 11:12).
(5) Shammah.
He stood in a barley field and killed many Philistines (2 Sam 23:11–12; 1 Chr 11:13–14).
(6) Abishai.
He killed 300 enemy troops and saved David’s life by killing a huge Philistine warrior (2 Sam 21:15–17; 23:18–19; 1 Chr 11:20–21).
(7) Benaiah.
He killed a lion in a pit in the snow. He also, armed only with a staff, slew a huge seven–and–a–half–foot-tall Egyptian warrior with his enemy’s own enormous spear (2 Sam 23:20–23; 1 Chr 11:22–25).
6. The type of God (2 Sam 9:1–13).
a. After securing his throne, David sought a descendant of Saul to show kindness to (2 Sam 9:1).
b. He learned from Ziba, a former servant of Saul, that Jonathan had a crippled son living in Israel named Mephibosheth.
c. Upon finding him, David promised to show kindness to him (2 Sam 9:7).
d. David then commanded the 15 sons and 20 servants of Ziba to wait upon Mephibosheth.
e. Through all this David became a beautiful type of the heavenly Father.
(1) The heavenly Father seeks to show kindness to poor, lost, crippled sinners.
(2) He does this for Jesus’ sake.
(3) Upon finding them, they are “accepted in the beloved” and invited to feast upon the riches of his grace (Eph 1:6–7, 18).
IV. The frightful years.
A. David, the sinner (2 Sam 11:1–27).
1. His sin of adultery (2 Sam 11:1–5).
a. Instead of leading his troops, who were at that time fighting against the Ammonites, David was indulging himself in Jerusalem.
b. One night, unable to sleep, he went for a stroll on the roof of the palace.
c. Looking out over the city, he saw a beautiful woman taking her evening bath.
d. Upon learning her name was Bath-sheba, David sent for her, even though he also knew she was married to Uriah, one of his soldiers.
e. David lay with her and was soon told by her that she had become pregnant.
2. His sin of deceit (2 Sam 11:6–13).
a. David brought Uriah home from the front lines, hoping he would sleep with his wife and later assume the unborn child to be his.
b. But Uriah refused (probably realizing the truth) to cooperate with the king’s deceitful plan.
c. When asked by David why he did not spend the night with Bath-sheba, Uriah replied in words that must have been a stinging slap to the king (2 Sam 11:11).
3. His sin of murder (2 Sam 11:14–27).
a. Realizing Uriah could not be compromised, David sent him back to the war with a sealed letter instructing Joab, Israel’s military commander, to arrange for him to be killed in battle.
b. David soon received the message that Uriah had been slain in the fighting.
c. David eventually married Bath-sheba, and their child, a boy, was born.
B. David, the sorrowful (2 Sam 11:27).
1. The confrontation by the prophet.
David was soundly rebuked by Nathan the prophet for his terrible sins of adultery, deceit, and murder (2 Sam 12:1–9).
a. The illustration.
Nathan related a story of how a rich farmer owning many flocks took from a poor farmer his only pet ewe lamb and served it up at a banquet.
b. The indignation.
A furious David vowed the rich man would be forced to restore fourfold to the poor farmer and then forfeit his life.
c. The identification (2 Sam 12:7, 9).
2. The chastisement from the Lord (2 Sam 12:10–12, 14).
3. The confession of the king (Ps 51:1–4; see also Ps 32:5).
C. David, the submissive.
David’s first reaction to Nathan’s parable was the demand that the guilty man first make a fourfold payment to the poor farmer and then be put to death. Apparently, God imposed upon David the king’s own sentence. While he would not die, David would nevertheless pay back fourfold for his sin against Uriah. The brokenhearted monarch now humbly submitted to the chastening hand of the Lord.
1. Sickness and death (2 Sam 12:15–25).
a. The departure of Bath-sheba’s first son.
(1) David’s travail (2 Sam 12:15–16).
(2) David’s testimony.
Upon hearing from his servant that his son had died, the king responded, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Sam 12:22–23).
b. The arrival of Bath-sheba’s second son (2 Sam 12:24).
2. Incest (2 Sam 13:1–21).
a. Amnon deceived his half sister Tamar.
(1) Amnon, son of David and half brother to Tamar, David’s daughter, burned in his lust toward her.
(2) Acting upon the advice of a crafty friend, Amnon feigned sickness and requested from David that Tamar be sent to nurse him.
b. Amnon defiled his half sister Tamar.
(1) When they were alone, Amnon raped Tamar.
(2) He then compounded his vicious crime by refusing to marry her.
(3) Instead, he literally had her thrown out of his bedroom.
(4) David was furious upon hearing this, but did not punish Amnon for it.
3. Murder (2 Sam 13:22–39).
a. After planning for two full years, Absalom, David’s son and Tamar’s full brother, arranged to have his half brother Amnon murdered.
b. Absalom then fled to the land of Geshur, where he remained for three years.
c. Again, David seemed helpless, and could do nothing but mourn the loss of one son and the absence of another.
4. Rebellion (2 Sam 14–20).
a. The reconciliation (2 Sam 14:1–33).
(1) A mother, sent by Joab, tricked David into bringing back Absalom from exile.
(2) She sought the king’s favor, pretending she had two sons, one of whom had killed the other.
(3) David reassured her that upon his return the rebellious son would not be punished.
(4) The woman then immediately applied the lesson parable to David.
(5) Absalom was allowed to return, but for two long years his father refused to see him.
(6) Finally, after Absalom burned Joab’s barley field to get attention, David agreed to meet his son.
(7) The king and Absalom were reconciled.
b. The revolt (2 Sam 15:1–12).
(1) The politics leading to the revolt (2 Sam 15:1–6).
(2) The place of this revolt.
After a four–year period of preparation, Absalom went to the city of Hebron, blew a trumpet, and declared the revolt against his father.
c. The retreat (2 Sam 15:13–17).
d. The resolve.
At the edge of the city, David suddenly noticed that his foreign friend Ittai, who had been visiting Jerusalem from the Philistine city of Gath, was accompanying the king along with the 600 Gittite warriors who served under him (2 Sam 15:18–22).
(1) David’s advice (2 Sam 15:19–20).
(2) Ittai’s answer (2 Sam 15:21).
e. The reviled.
(1) Shimei, a member of Saul’s family, encountered David and hurled both curses and rocks at the king.
(2) Abishai, one of David’s soldiers, sought permission to kill Shimei for his insults.
(a) The request (2 Sam 16:9).
(b) The refusal (2 Sam 16:11–12).
f. The rout (2 Sam 18:1–8).
David’s seasoned troops met Absalom’s inexperienced soldiers at the battle in the forest of Ephraim.
(1) The concern prior to the battle.
(a) The people’s concern for their king (2 Sam 18:2–3).
(b) The king’s concern for his son (2 Sam 18:5).
(2) The casualties resulting from the battle.
(a) David’s men killed 20,000 of Absalom’s soldiers.
(b) Even more than this number died of hunger, exposure, and exhaustion as a result of being scattered throughout the desolate and hostile countryside of Ephraim.
g. The reprisal (2 Sam 18:9–18).
In spite of David’s plan concerning his son, Joab found Absalom caught by his hair in the thick boughs of a great tree and killed him by thrusting three daggers into his heart.
h. The reprimands (2 Sam 18:19–19:7).
(1) David’s anguish (2 Sam 18:33).
(2) Joab’s anger (2 Sam 19:5–7).
i. The return (2 Sam 19:8–20:26).
(1) The king on the east bank of the Jordan (2 Sam 19:8–43).
(a) David and Zadok.
Both Zadok and Abiathar the priests were sent to the elders and Judah so that they might create some interest for the king’s return. It seemed all the other tribes except his very own wanted this to happen.
(b) David and Amasa.
David appointed his nephew Amasa to replace Joab as military commander–in–chief. Amasa thereupon convinced Judah’s elders to urge David’s return.
(c) David and Shimei.
David spared the life of Shimei, who now met him and begged for forgiveness.
(d) David and Mephibosheth.
Jonathan’s lame son explained to David that Ziba had slandered him, falsely accusing him of treason. David, apparently not quite sure who to believe, divided Mephibosheth’s estate equally, giving half to the lame son and half to Ziba.
(e) David and Barzillai.
David urged this 80–year–old Gileadite who had previously befriended him to come to Jerusalem and live in the king’s palace. But the old friend respectfully declined, pleading old age.
(f) David and the men of Judah.
The king was met by those from his own tribe who accompanied him across the Jordan River. (2) The king at Jerusalem.
At long last David had returned home. But two more bloody events would occur before peaceful conditions prevailed.
(a) Amasa’s murder.
Joab brutally and deceitfully murdered Amasa with a dagger, thus eliminating a future rival (2 Sam 20:4–10).
(b) Sheba’s malcontent.
A Benjamite named Sheba organized a brief revolt against David. At first, all the tribes but Judah followed him, deserting their king. But the revolt was short-lived, for Joab trapped Sheba in the city of Abel. He then demanded and received from its citizens the head of Sheba (2 Sam 20:1–3, 14–22).
V. The final years.
A. David, the statesman (2 Sam 21:1–14).
1. He surveyed a problem.
a. There was a famine that lasted for three years and David spent much time in prayer about it.
b. Finally, God told him the famine was a divine judgment upon Israel because of past sins committed against the Gibeonites.
c. In Joshua 9, Israel had made a covenant with these pagan people that they would not be harmed, but Saul and his family had murdered many of them.
2. He solved the problem.
a. David negotiated with the Gibeonite leaders, and they determined that justice could be done only by allowing them to execute seven of Saul’s sons, all of whom probably participated in the former Gibeonite massacre.
b. This was done and the plague was stayed.
c. The life of Mephibosheth was, however, spared.
d. Later, David ordered a decent burial to be given to two of these sons, upon learning that their mother had watched over their bodies during the entire harvest season, driving away the vultures and wild animals.
B. David, the statistician (2 Sam 24; 1 Chr 21).
1. The project.
David commanded Joab, his military commander, to conduct a census throughout the land so that he might know the population of Israel.
2. The protest.
a. Joab objected to the project, but David insisted it be carried out.
b. At the end of nine months and 20 days, Joab gave David the figures (2 Sam 24:8).
3. The perception.
Soon, David realized this census was (for some unrecorded reason) highly displeasing to God.
4. The plea (2 Sam 24:10).
5. The punishment.
God allowed David to choose one of three possible punishments.
a. A period of famine.
b. Ninety days of retreat before his enemies.
c. A three–day pestilence.
6. The plague.
David chose the third punishment (2 Sam 24:14–15).
7. The pardon (2 Sam 24:16).
8. The purchase.
a. David was commanded to build an altar at the place where the plague stopped. David was able to see the angel.
b. David built the altar, but not before buying the threshing floor of Araunah (also called Oman) the Jebusite.
c. It was upon this spot that Abraham had once offered Isaac (Gen 22:2), and on it the Temple of Solomon would later be built (2 Chr 3:1).
d. God approved of David’s offering by sending down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice (1 Chr 21:26).
C. David, the sponsor (1 Chr 22–29).
1. The background involved.
David was now nearly 70. When he was but 37, he had determined to build a Temple for God but was forbidden to do so (1 Chr 22:7–10).
2. The purpose involved.
It was to provide a home for the Ark of God (1 Chr 22:19) and the other vessels from a temporary Tabernacle, which was located at Gibeon (1 Chr 21:29). The original Tabernacle of Moses had been set up at Shiloh (Josh 18:1; 19:51; Judg 18:31; 1 Sam 1:9; 3:3) but was destroyed along with the city of Shiloh by the Philistines (see Ps 78:60; Jer 7:12, 14; 26:6) in 1 Samuel 4.
3. The cost involved (1 Chr 22:14, 16).
a. It took 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, plus untold tons of bronze, iron, and timber to build the Temple. This would equal several billion dollars by today’s standards.
b. David himself contributed millions to the project (1 Chr 29:3–5).
4. The workers involved.
David appointed 38,000 Levites for the Temple construction (1 Chr 23:3–5): 24,000 workers; 6,000 to function as officers and judges; 4,000 Temple guards.
5. The music involved.
a. There were 4,000 singers and musicians (1 Chr 23:5).
b. To this number David then appointed 288 special master musicians (1 Chr 25:7–8).
6. The priests involved.
At this time David divided the priesthood into 24 divisions (1 Chr 23:6; 24:1–3; compare 1 Chr 24:10 with Luke 1:5).
7. The army involved.
David had an army of 288,000 men, consisting of 12 divisions of 24,000 warriors (1 Chr 27:1–15).
8. The blueprints involved.
David gave Solomon the Temple building plans that God had given him (1 Chr 28:11–12, 19).
9. The challenge involved (given by David).
a. The recipients of his challenge.
(1) Solomon (1 Chr 22:11–13; 28:9–10, 20).
(2) The resident aliens in Israel (1 Chr 22:2).
(3) The religious, military, political, and financial leaders in Israel (1 Chr 22:17–19; 28:1–8).
b. The results of his challenge (1 Chr 29:6–9, 20–21).
(1) Concerning the princes of Israel (1 Chr 29:6).
(2) Concerning the people of Israel (1 Chr 29:9).
10. The prayer involved (1 Chr 29:10–19).
a. David’s description of God (1 Chr 29:10–16).
b. David’s desire from God (1 Chr 29:19).
D. David, the sinking.
1. His final work.
a. The insurrection of Adonijah.
On his deathbed David was visited by Bath-sheba and Nathan the prophet, who informed the king of the rebellion led by Adonijah (his oldest son) against Solomon (1 Kgs 1:15–27).
b. The instruction of David.
The dying king quickly instructed Zadok the high priest and Nathan the prophet to do the following (1 Kgs 1:32–40):
(1) To place Solomon on the king’s personal mule.
(2) To anoint Solomon (by Zadok).
(3) To publicly crown Solomon amid the blowing of trumpets.
(4) To have Solomon ride to the palace and sit upon David’s throne.
2. His final words.
a. About his Savior (2 Sam 23:1–7).
b. To his son (1 Kgs 2:1–9).
E. David, the scribe (concerning the psalms that David wrote).
1. The number of his psalms.
David authored at least 75 of the 150 psalms.
a. Of these, 73 are ascribed to him in the Old Testament. These are: 3–9, 11–32, 34–41, 51–65, 68–70, 86, 101, 103, 108–110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138–145.
b. Two of the psalms are ascribed to him in the New Testament. These are:
(1) Psalm 2 (Acts 4:25).
(2) Psalm 95 (Heb 4:7).
2. The nature of his psalms.
The historical background for some of David’s psalms is as follows:
a. Psalm 8—written after his victory over Goliath (1 Sam 17).
b. Psalm 11—written while he was still living in Saul’s court (1 Sam 18).
c. Psalm 59—written after his wife Michal saved him from Saul (1 Sam 19).
d. Psalms 63, 143—written when fleeing from Saul (1 Sam 19–31).
e. Psalms 34, 56—written after escaping from Achish, the Philistine king of Gath (1 Sam 21).
f. Psalm 52—written upon learning of the slaughter of the priests at Nob by the cruel Doeg (1 Sam 22).
g. Psalms 57, 142—written while he was living in the cave of Adullam (1 Sam 22).
h. Psalm 54—written after being betrayed by the citizens of Ziph (1 Sam 23).
i. Psalm 18—written after Saul had given up trying to kill him (1 Sam 26:21).
j. Psalms 19, 101—written to celebrate the capture of Jerusalem (2 Sam 5).
k. Psalms 15, 24, 68, 132—written when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem (2 Sam 6).
l. Psalm 89—written after receiving the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7).
m. Psalm 60—written to celebrate Joab’s victory over the Edomites (2 Sam 8).
n. Psalm 21—written after his kingdom was established (2 Sam 8).
o. Psalms 32, 51—written in regard to his sin of adultery and murder.
(1) Psalm 32 describes the terrible guilt he experienced before his confession (2 Sam 11).
(2) Psalm 51 describes the prayer he offered during his confession (2 Sam 12).
p. Psalms 3, 4, 35, 41—written during his flight from Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam 15–18).
q. Psalm 30—written at the end of a divine plague caused by a census he took (2 Sam 24).
r. Psalm 72—written as a prayer for his son Solomon (1 Chr 29).
THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY 
  I. David and God.
A. God’s evaluation of David.
1. He was one who walked in God’s ways, obeying divine statutes and commands (1 Kgs 3:14; 11:38).
2. He was a man possessing integrity and uprightness (1 Kgs 9:4; 14:8; 15:5).
3. He was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22).
B. God’s promises to David.
1. That he would be given an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam 7:16).
2. That Jerusalem would be the capital of the kingdom (1 Kgs 11:36; 15:4).
3. That the Messiah from the house of David would someday rule over the everlasting kingdom (Isa 9:6–7; 16:5; Jer 23:5; 33:15–17).
4. That David would serve as vice regent under the Messiah during the Millennium (Jer 30:9; Ezek 34:24; 37:24–25; Hos 3:5).
II. David and Israel.
Israel and Judah were often saved from their enemies by God for David’s sake. This happened during the reigns of:
A. Solomon (1 Kgs 11:12).
B. Joram (2 Kgs 8:19).
C. Hezekiah (2 Kgs 19:34; 20:6).
D. Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 17:3).
III. David and Israel’s kings.
David became the standard and role model for Israel’s kings. God used him to measure and evaluate the following monarchs:
A. Solomon (1 Kgs 3:14; 11:4, 6).
B. Jeroboam (1 Kgs 14:8).
C. Abijah (1 Kgs 15:3).
D. Asa (1 Kgs 15:11).
E. Ahaz (2 Kgs 16:2).
F. Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:3).
G. Josiah (2 Kgs 22:2).
IV. David and Israel’s cities.
Two of the nation’s most important cities were known as the city of David.
A. Bethlehem (Luke 2:4, 11).
B. Jerusalem (1 Kgs 2:10; 2 Chr 12:16; 14:1; 16:14; 21:1, 20; 24:16, 25; 27:9).
V. David and Gabriel.
The angel of the Lord referred to David in his announcement to Mary concerning the virgin birth of Christ (Luke 1:29–33).
VI. David and Zechariah.
The old priest referred to David during his prophecy concerning his infant son, John the Baptist (Luke 1:69).
VII. David and Jesus.
A. Jesus referred to an event in David’s life to defend his disciples, who were criticized for plucking grain on the Sabbath (Matt 12:3–4; Mark 2:25–26).
B. He mentioned David during his attempts to convince the wicked Pharisees of his own deity (Matt 22:41–45).
C. Christ was referred to as the son of David during his earthly ministry and after his death:
1. By Matthew (Matt 1:1).
2. By two blind men (Matt 9:27).
3. By a crowd when he healed a blind and mute demon-possessed man (Matt 12:23).
4. By a Canaanite mother (Matt 15:22).
5. By two blind men in Jericho (Matt 20:30–31).
6. By the crowd at his triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt 21:9, 15).
7. By the Pharisees (Matt 22:41–42).
8. By Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46–48).
9. By Paul (Rom 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8).
10. By one of heaven’s elders (Rev 5:5).
11. By Jesus himself (Rev 22:16).
VIII. David and Peter.
Peter referred to those prophetical psalms of David that predicted at least four key events in the life of Christ.
A. His betrayal—Psalms 41, 69, 109 (Acts 1:16–20).
B. His resurrection—Psalm 16 (Acts 2:25–29).
C. His ascension—Psalm 110 (Acts 2:34–35).
D. His millennial reign—Psalm 2 (Acts 4:25–26).
IX. David and Paul.
A. Paul said Christ was from the seed of David (Acts 13:23; Rom 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8).
B. He referred to the selection of David by God (Acts 13:22).
C. He referred to David’s Psalm 16, which predicted the resurrection of Christ (Acts 13:35–37).
D. He used David to illustrate how God saves people by grace, apart from works (Rom 4:6–8).
E. He mentioned David to explain Israel’s present–day spiritual blindness. According to David’s prophecy (Ps 69:22), this blindness was a divinely imposed judgment because of Israel’s sin (Rom 11:8–10).
X. David and Stephen.
Stephen referred to David during his defense before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:45).
XI. David and James.
James referred to David during the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:16).
XII. David and the book of Hebrews.
A. The author quoted from David’s Psalm 95, using it as an example of warning about unbelief (Heb 4:7–11).
1. The historical example given by David.
It was the sin of unbelief that once kept Moses’ generation out of the Promised Land.
2. The present–day warning.
It is the sin of unbelief that will keep us out of the promised land, that is, the perfect will of God.
B. The author referred to David as a role model for faith (Heb 11:32).
STATISTICS
  Father: Jesse (Ruth 4:17, 21)
Spouses: Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, and Bath-sheba (1 Sam 18:27; 2 Sam 3:2–5; 11:27; 1 Chr 3:1–8)
Sons: Amnon, Chileab (also called Daniel), Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet (2 Sam 3:2–5; 5:13–16; 1 Chr 3:1–8; 14:3–5)
Brothers: Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem (1 Sam 17:12–13; 1 Chr 2:13–15); one unnamed
Sisters: Zeruiah and Abigail (1 Chr 2:16)
First mention: Ruth 4:17
Final mention: Revelation 22:16
Meaning of his name: “Beloved”
Referred to: 1,118 times
Biblical books mentioning him: 28 books (Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Zechariah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 2 Timothy, Hebrews, Revelation)
Occupation: Shepherd, soldier, king of Judah, king of all Israel (1 Sam 16:11; 18:5; 2 Sam 2:1–7; 5:1–5)
Place of birth: Bethlehem (Ruth; 1 Sam 16:1)
Place of death: Jerusalem (1 Kgs 2:10–11)
Age at death: 70 (2 Sam 5:4–5)
Important fact about his life: He was Israel’s greatest king and author of at least half the Psalms.

DEBORAH

(See also Judges)

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. Her court.
A. She was a prophetess in the days of the judges (Judg 4:4).
B. She was a mother (Judg 5:7).
C. She was either from the tribe of Ephraim (Judg 4:5) or of Issachar (Judg 5:15).
D. Deborah held court under the palm tree of Deborah between the cities of Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim (Judg 4:5).
II. Her command.
A. The revelation.
She instructed a soldier named Barak that God wanted him to mobilize an army of 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun upon Mount Tabor and defeat the Canaanite oppressors (Judg 4:6–7).
B. The reluctance.
1. Barak refused to do this unless Deborah accompanied him (Judg 4:8).
2. She agreed, but warned him that the credit for the victory would not go to him but to a woman (Judg 4:9).
III. Her celebration.
A. At Deborah’s order, Barak’s army charged the Canaanites and totally routed them (Judg 4:14–17).
B. Following the battle, she and Barak composed and sang a victory song (Judg 5:1–31).
STATISTICS
    Spouse: Lapidoth (Judg 4:4)
First mention: Judges 4:4
Final mention: Judges 5:15
Meaning of her name: “Bee, wasp”
Referred to: Nine times
Biblical books mentioning her: One book (Judges)
Occupation: Prophetess, judge (Judg 4:4)
Important fact about her life: She aided Barak in defeating Israel’s enemies (Judg 4:8–9).

DELILAH

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. Delilah and the Philistines—the bribe.
A. She was probably a Philistine prostitute.
B. She lived in the Sorek valley (Judg 16:4).
C. She was hired by the Philistines to discover the source of Samson’s great strength (Judg 16:5).
II. Delilah and Samson—the betrayal.
A. The testing.
1. Samson loved Delilah (Judg 16:4).
2. She was unsuccessful after her first three attempts to pry the answer from him (Judg 16:6–14).
B. The tears.
She then demanded the right answer, accusing Samson of not loving her if he refused (Judg 16:15).
C. The treachery.
1. She learned that Samson’s strength was in his hair, which had never been cut (Judg 16:17).
2. Having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair (Judg 16:19).
3. Delilah then awakened him and watched as the Philistines seized the helpless ex-strong man, gouged out his eyes, and carried him down to the city of Gaza (Judg 16:20–21).
STATISTICS
  First mention: Judges 16:4
Final mention: Judges 16:18
Meaning of her name: “Languishing”
Referred to: Six times
Biblical books mentioning her: One book (Judges)
Occupation: Probably prostitution
Important fact about her life: She betrayed Samson to the Philistines (Judg 16:5, 18).

DINAH

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. The seduction.
A. Dinah was the only recorded daughter of Jacob. Her mother was Leah (Gen 30:21).
B. She was seduced by a pagan named Shechem, son of Hamor, a Hivite ruler (Gen 34:2).
II. The slaughter.
A. Deceiving the Shechemites.
1. Realizing his son loved Dinah, Hamor proposed a marriage alliance to Jacob and his sons (Gen 34:3–12).
2. The deceitful sons of Jacob pretended to concur with the marriage and other possible future marriages between the two peoples, but only if the pagans agreed to circumcise themselves (Gen 34:13–24).
B. Destroying the Shechemites.
1. However, after three days, when the Shechemites were rendered helpless because of the pain and swelling, two of Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, attacked the city and slaughtered every male (Gen 34:25–29).
2. Dinah was then taken back to the home of Jacob (Gen 34:26).
STATISTICS
  Father: Jacob (Gen 30:19–21)
Mother: Leah (Gen 30:19–21)
Brothers: Full brothers: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun (Gen 29:31–35; 30:17–20); half brothers: Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher (1 Chr 2:2)
First mention: Genesis 30:21
Final mention: Genesis 46:15
Meaning of her name: “Judged, avenged”
Referred to: Eight times
Biblical books mentioning her: One book (Genesis)
Important fact about her life: She was seduced by a pagan chief’s son, precipitating the massacre of a town by two of her brothers (Gen 34).

DOEG

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
    I. Slandering the priest of God.
A. Doeg was an Edomite and head shepherd for King Saul (1 Sam 21:7; 22:9).
B. He betrayed Ahimelech the high priest to Saul, causing the jealous king to conclude that the man of God had sold out to David (1 Sam 22:9–10).
II. Slaughtering the people of God.
A. At Saul’s command, the brutal and bloodthirsty Doeg slew with the sword:
1. Ahimelech the high priest (1 Sam 22:18).
2. Eighty-five other priests (1 Sam 22:18).
3. The men, women, children, babies, and animals living in the city of Nob where Ahimelech resided (1 Sam 22:19).
B. David composed Psalm 52 upon learning of the horrible massacre.
STATISTICS
  First mention: 1 Samuel 21:7
Final mention: Psalm 52 (in the introduction)
Meaning of his name: “Fearful”
Referred to: Six times
Biblical books mentioning him: Two books (1 Samuel, Psalms)
Occupation: Shepherd (1 Sam 21:7)
Important fact about his life: He killed 85 priests by order of King Saul (1 Sam 22:18).

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