| 2 SAMUEL |
| Explanatory Footnotes |
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| 3:7 Women in Politics In David's time, women were political symbols. Abner's sleeping with Saul's concubine would have suggested that he had his eyes on becoming king himself. Later, when Absalom drove his father David out of Jerusalem, he slept with David's concubines in public, demonstrating to all eyes that he had taken over from his father (16:22). David sometimes may have married for political benefit. One wife, Absalom's mother (verse 3), was a princess from a neighboring country; the marriage undoubtedly promoted good foreign relations. David's request that Michal be returned to him (though she had remarried, verses 14-16) made political sense: an alliance with Saul's daughter would tie Saul's family to the palace. 5:6 Choosing a Capital In trying to unify the Northern and Southern tribes, David wanted a capital that offended neither side. He found it in Jerusalem, on the border between North and South and belonging to neither. Its choice can be compared to the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., a compromise between North and South. 7:16 God's Great Promise The Lord's promise to sustain David's ancestors suggested that Israel would never lack the leadership they needed. God never permanently voided this promise. Even after Israel was conquered and lost political independence, the Israelites were still looking for a king in David's line - the Messiah. 8:4 Not Ready for Chariots Chariots were as great an innovation in weaponry as were guns centuries later. However, chariots required training charioteers. Since David hamstrung all but 100 chariot horses, he may have lacked such trained personnel. Israel could defend the mountains, where chariots were of little use, but they werew not ready to take on big armies on the |