Fairy Tale Spotlight: Samuel II [Book Review]

"Samuel II" is the tenth book of the "Holy Bible," and it was written by Gad and Nathan. It really should have been called the book of "David," being that it has everything to do with him and literally nothing to do with Samuel.

David is a very interesting king in that he had about 1% of the flaws that Saul had in "Samuel I." He was a strong king that trusted in God so fervently that it just about made him invincible against anything that was thrown at him. That sort of trust is remarkable if you consider how often the Israelites failed. Oh, they failed so gosh darn much!

He did mess up though. He sleeps with the wife of a man and then has him killed in a roundabout way. Basically he sends him to the forefront of a battle in order to assure his demise. When he is told that he has done wrong, David immediately takes responsibility. He is told the son he shall bare with the woman will die, and so he does. At no point does David not show regret for what he did, and he never does something like that again.

There was another, less notable, moment where David takes a census of his people. At the time, there was a rule that those who are counted in a census must pay the Lord ransom for his life at the time he is counted, and this was likely not respected. Once again, David realizes his error and takes responsibility for it by allowing a short time of pestilence afflict his people. Many died.

David also has to content with his son Absalom who momentarily takes over the throne and sends David into exile. David is a strange person who is very sentimental about certain things. He won't touch an anointed king, as with Saul, and he doesn't want to harm his own son... even if that son wants him dead. Throughout this trying time, David is protected by God, despite the fact that many people have turned against him, however Absalom ultimately is killed shortly after accidently getting stuck in a tree while riding his horse. It wasn't David who did it. I'm pretty sure David would never have actually killed his own son. He did morn his passing though.

Towards the end of the book, David shows his poetic side. It was a pretty good song. Despite the translation, it read really fluidly and was even catchy. The whole poem was pretty much about how trusting in the Lord he was and how God had been strong in him for his entire life... and this is very true. He really could boast this thing. It was very apparent that, despite his few faux pas, he really was loved by God.

I do recommend the book of "Samuel II," even though the name doesn't make much sense. It really is David's book. If you are interested in what he was like as king, then this is the one you want to check out. Enjoy.

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