[Preface] [Introduction] [Index]
Lesson 10
Psalms 3, 63, 41 & 22
READ: 2 Samuel 13-17, Psalms 3, 63, 41 & 22
1. Who was Amnon's father?
2. What was Jonadab's plan?
3. When Tamar resisted Amnon, what alternative did she suggest?
4. How did Amnon treat Tamar after he had forced her?
5. What was the relationship between Absalom, Amnon, and Tamar? (see also 2 Samuel 3:2-3, 1 Chronicles 3:1-2, 9)
6. How long did Absalom wait before avenging his sister?
7. Why did Absalom have to flee?
8. Tell of the woman from Tekoa and David's response to her story.
9. How did Absalom steal the hearts of the men of Israel?
10. Why did David have to flee Jerusalem?
11. Who was Ahithophel, and how had he been regarded by David? (15:12, 16:23)
12. Who was left behind to keep the house?
13. Who was Zadok, and what did David ask him to do?
14. Who was Hushai, and what did David ask him to do?
15. What did David ascend, and in what emotional state?
16. What was David's reaction when he was told of Ahithophel's betrayal?
17. Of whose family was Shimei?
18. If it is not accurate to say Shimei treated David with respect, how would you describe Shimei's treatment of David.
19. At the end of chapter 16, Ahithophel advised a certain course of action to Absalom. What was the purpose of this course of action, and in what way does it relate to David's sin with Bathsheba? (See 2 Samuel 12:11-12.)
| Interesting
Possibility It appears that Bathesheba may have been a
grandaughter of Ahithophel, and this might explain why
Ahithophel was willing to turn against David and side
with Absalom. The evidence suggesting she was a
grandaughter of Ahithophel is as follows: Ahithophel was
referred to as Ahithophel the Gilonite ( 2
Sam. 15:12). Among David's mighty men, specifically,
among the thirty, were both Eliam the son of
"Ahithophel the Gilonite" (2 Sam. 23:34) and
Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam. 23:39). This suggests these two
men were at least acquainted, even comrades. Is it too
much to suppose Uriah and Ahithophel's son, Eliam, were
friends? 2 Sam. 11:3 tells us that Bathsheba was the daughter of an Eliam. It seems likely that this is the same Eliam inasmuch as it is reasonable to suppose that Uriah married the daughter of his friend, Eliam. And that would mean that Bathsheba was Ahithophel's grandaughter. (Thanks to David Tant for mentioning this possibility.) |
20. At the beginning of chapter 17, Ahithophel advises Absalom on a course of action. What was the advise, and was it the kind of advice that would lead to the outcome Absalom desired?
21. Hushai offered contradictory advise. What was Hushai's advise, and what was it intended to accomplish for David?
22. Why did Absalom follow Hushai's advise rather than Ahithophel's?
23. How did Hushai get word out to David?
24. What did Ahithophel do when he saw that his advice would not be followed? Why would Ahithophel do this?
| Ps. 3:TITLE | What does the title say? |
| 3:1 | To what extent had David's adversaries increased, or in the words of the KJV, to what extent had those that troubled David increased? Give a specific verse from 2 Samuel that would answer this question. |
| 3:2 | What were others saying about David's future? |
| 3:3 | Did David concede their point? |
| 3:7 | Why are the verbs in this verse in the past tense? |
| Ps. 63:TITLE | Based on the title of this psalm, to what two periods of David's life could this psalm belong? |
| Does verse eleven suggest one of these as being more likely than the other? | |
| 63:3-8 | In a phrase, describe the state of mind suggested by these verses. |
| Contrast David's plight at this point in his life with such a state of mind. | |
| 63:9 | Was Absalom one of those who sought David's life? (See 2 Sam. 17:4, 24-26; 2 Sam. 18:33, Ps. 103:13.) |
| PSALM 41 | |
| For additional information concerning the historical events behind Psalms 41 and 22, and especially for insight into a possible explanation for Ahithophel's betrayal of David, see the lesson on 2 Sam. 15-17. | |
| 41:1 | What man is blessed? |
| 41:2 | Does this psalm affirm that the Lord will deliver the helpless (ASV and KJV-"poor"), or the one that considers the helpless? Support your answer. |
| 41:3 | Again, who will be blessed upon the earth, the helpless, or the one that considers the helpless? |
| Compare alternate readings in footnotes and various translations to determine the meaning of verse 3b. Note the meaning of the word "bed" in Exodus 21:18. | |
| 41:4-12 | In verses 4-12, is David speaking of the treatment he himself had received, or of the treatment received by the Messiah? (see verse 4) |
| Had those spoken of in verses 5-11 acted as the blessed man of verse 1? | |
| What period of David's life do these verses seem to describe and who might have been the friend mentioned in verse 9? (cf. 2 Samuel 15:12, 31) | |
| 41:13 | This psalm marks the close of what division of the book of Psalms? |
| MESSIANIC IMPORT OF PSALM 41 | |
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| PSALM 22 | |
| 22:1-2 | Does this sound like something that David might have had occasion to say? (cf. Psalm 13:1-3) |
| 22:2 | Does David conclude that God is unjust? |
| 22:4-5 | Has God demonstrated that he can be relied upon for deliverance? How? |
| 22:6 | In what sense did David speak of himself as a worm? (cf: 22:6b-7a) |
| 22:8 | Is this a sincere or sarcastic exhortation? A similar thought is found in what verse of Psalm 3? |
| 22:9-10 | Sum up the thought of these verses. |
| 22:12ff | What kind of language is David using in these verses as far as his own circumstance is concerned? |
| 22:22 | How does the tone of the psalm change with this verse? |
| What assembly (KJV-congregation) is referred to in this verse? (Note verse 23, also cf. Leviticus 4:14, 16:17) | |
| 22:27ff | When would these events be accomplished? |
| MESSIANIC IMPORT OF PSALM 22 | |
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