David finding his feet

Chapter 6.  David’s “sm[iting] of the Philistines” had freed the Ark of God from Philistine possession.  This ark seems to have been treated as somewhat of a magic thing.  I find its history rather blurry.  David’s wife Michal, Saul’s daughter,  seems to have been despised by him, and he believed that God had prevented his blood and Saul’s from being mingled because she was never to bear a child; a fact he cherished.

Chapter 7 seems to prefigure the building of the temple, something which would not be accomplished by David, but by his son Solomon. The prophet Nathan appears in the story.  We recall him from the story of David and Bathsheba (coming up in chapters 11 and 12). He told David “like it was”: told him when he had done the wrong thing.  There is another Nathan in the account – David’s son.

Much “slewing” in chapter 8.  But “…the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went”  (verse 14).

In Chapter 9 we find David locating Mehibosheth, Jonathan’s son, and restoring to him all of Saul’s land.  I found this a bit puzzling.  How much land did Saul have?  One would think it was quite large.  I found no explanation.  The lame Mehibosheth (both his feet) was appointed to eat at David’s table, while Saul’s servant would manage the land and provide an income.

Chapter 10.  David’s efforts to be friends with the Ammonites doesn’t go well.  Perhaps David’s motives were somehow awry.  More fighting; Syrians enter the scene, but the chapter ends with, “So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.”

A case of “Mind your own business,” perhaps.

Joyce Voysey