David fulfills Abraham's land promise (again)
King David in
Jerusalem 33 years
(1003-1001 BC: 37-39 years old)
2 Samuel 8-12; 1 Chron 18-20
“I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:10–13)
"David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah...
as he went to restore his rule at the River Euphrates". (2 Sam 8:3)
David fulfills Abraham's land promise (again)
Introduction:
1. This is document is part 5 in the series on Saul and David:
a. Part 1: Saul before David
b. Part 2: David in Saul's Palace: Saul, the psychotic king who drove himself insane
c. Part 3: Saul hunts David four years
d. Part 4: David's Civil war in Jerusalem
e. Part 5: David's New Spiritual Order.
f. Part 6: David fulfills Abrahamic land promise. God made three promises to Abraham:
i. Great nation promise fulfilled physically in Egypt and spiritually in the church
ii. Land Promise Fulfilled physically by Joshua, Saul, David, Solomon etc. and spiritually in heaven
iii. Seed promise fulfilled in Christ, though whom the world has salvation.
2. Additional Detailed outlines:
a. The three promises to Abraham
b. The Biblical Border between Egypt and Israel
3. The setting:
a. With the insurrection of Saul's son, Ish-bosheth defeated, David is now able to finally take control of the kingdom as its sole monarch and defeat the enemies of Israel and take control of the entire promised land to its greatest extent.
b. The Ark of covenant is inside the Tabernacle of David in Jerusalem, while the Mosaic Tabernacle of Moses remains at Gibeon until Solomon finishes the temple. Once the temple of Solomon is built, the Tabernacle of Moses is decommissioned and stored in a room in the temple and then lost forever in history.
4. Timeline and chronology:
a. In 999 BC, David is born when Jonathan is about 27 years old and Saul is 42.
b. In 1025 BC, Saul had been king for 27 years but had failed to obey God twice and is told another will replace him. (David kills Goliath)
c. 1025- 1018 BC: David’s time in the Saul’s palace at Gibeah of Benjamin: 7 years
d. 1018-1014 BC: David’s time on the run: 4 years.
e. In 1014 Samuel dies an old man, likely 90 years old. 1 Sam 25:1. For about 4 years, Samuel can look down from Ramah where he lives and see the Tabernacle between 1018-1014 BC.
f. In 1010 BC Saul and Jonathan die. Saul was 72 years old when he died. Jonathan was 57 years old when he died.
g. David was 30 when he began to reign as king in Hebron between 1010-1003 BC
h. In 1005 BC Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, is made king by Abner, who has been out of job as army commander ever since Saul died 5 years earlier. This is the beginning of the divided kingdom period for two years when David ruled Judah and Ish-bosheth ruled the other 11 tribes.
i. In 1003 BC Abner and Ish-bosheth are killed, David then captures Jerusalem and begins his reign at age 37. He reigns in Jerusalem for 33 years.
j. Between 1003 and 1001 BC, David defeats the nations and fulfills the land promise to Abraham, possessing all the land from the River of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) and the Euphrates.
k. In 1001 BC, David commits adultery with Bathsheba and kills her husband Uriah, the Hittite, who was on David's list of "30 mighty warriors".
l. In 999 BC, Solomon is born.
I. The land promise to Abraham:
A. Prophecies of the land promised to Israel through Abraham:
a. “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,” (Genesis 15:18)
b. “I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates; for I will hand over to you the inhabitants of the land, and you shall drive them out before you.” (Exodus 23:31)
c. “Resume your journey, and go into the hill country of the Amorites as well as into the neighboring regions—the Arabah, the hill country, the Shephelah, the Negeb, and the seacoast—the land of the Canaanites and the Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.” (Deuteronomy 1:7)
d. “Every place on which you set foot shall be yours; your territory shall extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the Western Sea.” (Deuteronomy 11:24)
B. Geography of the land promise: River of Egypt to Euphrates River
a. The river of Egypt was the border between Israel and Egypt: Biblical Border between Egypt and Israel
b. David and Solomon clearly ruled the entire area promised to Abraham in Gen 15:18
C. The major Bible texts of the three promises
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#1 Great Nation |
#2 Land |
#3 Seed |
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Gen 12:1-7 |
I will make you a great nation |
To your descendants I will give this land |
in you all families of the earth shall be blessed |
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Gen 13:14-17 |
V16 I will make your descendants as dust of earth |
V15 all the land you see, I will give it to you and your descendants forever V17 I will give it to you |
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Gen 15:5-21 |
V5 descendants like stars |
V7 To give you this land V21 to descendants I have given land |
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Gen 17:2-8 |
V2 I will multiply you exceedingly V7 exceedingly fruitful, make nations and kings from you |
V8 I will give to you and your descendants after you all the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession |
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Gen 18:18 |
surely become a great and mighty nation |
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in him all nations of earth will be blessed |
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Gen 22:17-18 |
Greatly multiply your seed as the stars and sand |
your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies |
in your seed all nations will be blessed |
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Gen 24:7 |
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to your descendants I will give land |
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Gen 26:3-4 |
V4 I will multiply Isaac's descendants as stars |
V3 to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, V4 give your descendants land |
v4 by your descendants all nations of earth will be blessed |
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Gen 28:4 |
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give to Isaac's and your descendants to possess the land which God Gave Abraham |
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Gen 28:13-14 |
v14 Isaac's descendants like dust |
v13 I will give it to you and descendants |
v14 in you and descendants shall all families of earth be blessed |
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Gen 35:12 |
the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to Jacob, and I will give the land to your descendants after you |
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Gen 46:3 |
In Egypt, I will make Jacob a great nation there |
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Gen 48:4 |
I will make Jacob fruitful and numerous |
give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession |
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Ex 6:2-8 |
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v4 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned v8 I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession |
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Exod 12:25 |
when you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, that you shall observe this rite |
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Exod 13:5 |
when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall observe this rite in this month |
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Ex 23:31 |
And I will fix your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates |
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Exod 32:13 |
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom Thou didst swear by Thyself, and didst say to them, `I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, |
and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever |
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Exod 33:1 |
Depart, go up from here, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, `To your descendants I will give it |
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Fulfilled |
Gen 46:3 do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. Deut 10:22 "Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the Lord has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven. |
Josh 21:43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. Deut 30:5 God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. |
Gal 3:29 if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. Heb 6:11-13;19-20 full assurance of hope...inherit the promises...God made the promise to Abraham...this hope we have as ...one which enters within the veil (heaven), where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us Acts 13:32-33,38 we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to us their children in that He raised up Jesus...that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you |
II. Israel possessed the entire land promise to Abraham: Joshua, Saul, David, Solomon, Jeroboam II.
A. Joshua: Plain Bible passages say that Israel got all the land promised Abraham:
- "So the Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. " (Joshua 21:43-45)
- "Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. "It shall come about that just as all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. " (Joshua 23:14-15)
- Josh 24:28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance.
- Neh 9:8 And Thou didst find Abraham's heart faithful before Thee, and didst make a covenant with him to give him the land of the Canaanite, of the Hittite and the Amorite, of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite-- to give it to his descendants. And Thou hast fulfilled Thy promise, for Thou art righteous.
- The 6 cities of Refuge prove the land promise was fulfilled:
i. For example, God said that if Israel got all the land promised, then they would have six cities of refuge.
ii. "Therefore, I command you, saying, 'You shall set aside three cities for yourself.' "If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, just as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which He promised to give your fathers— if you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three." (Deuteronomy 19:7-9)
iii. Joshua 20:7-9 lists six cities of refuge - Kadesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.
iv. Therefore God gave them all the land and premillennialism is utterly refuted!
B. Saul: Plain Bible passages say that Israel got all the land promised Abraham:
a. “Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment. He acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.” (1 Samuel 14:47–48)
C. David: Plain Bible passages say that Israel got all the land promised Abraham:
- 2 Sam 8:3 David defeated Hadadezer...as he went to restore his rule at the River [Euphrates].
b. “David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his rule to the Euphrates River.” (1 Chronicles 18:3)
c. “I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:10–13)
D. Solomon: Plain Bible passages say that Israel got all the land promised Abraham:
- 2 Chr 9:26 And he (Solomon) was the ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River even to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt.
- 1 Kings 4:21 Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon
c. “So Solomon observed the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days.” (1 Kings 8:65)
E. Jeroboam II (793–753 B.C.): Plain Bible passages say that Israel got all the land promised Abraham:
a. “He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.” (2 Kings 14:25)
III. Israel lost the land promise to Abraham for wickedness: A warning to the USA
- God choses every world leader including Obama, Stephen Harper, Hitler, King David etc.
- “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” (Romans 13:1–4)
- “He changes times and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:21)
- “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’” (Daniel 4:30–32)
- ““He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.” (Daniel 5:21)
- “Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”” (John 19:11)
B. God used the Assyrians to destroy Israel in 722 BC because of they had left God:
a. Hosea (745-722 BC): “Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear. Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity. And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.” (Hosea 4:1–9)
- Amos: (760-722 BC): “Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel: Fallen, no more to rise, is maiden Israel; forsaken on her land, with no one to raise her up. For thus says the Lord GOD: The city that marched out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which marched out a hundred shall have ten left. For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: Seek me and live; but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing. Seek the LORD and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground! The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name, who makes destruction flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress. They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord: In all the squares there shall be wailing; and in all the streets they shall say, “Alas! alas!” They shall call the farmers to mourning, and those skilled in lamentation, to wailing; in all the vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through the midst of you, says the LORD. Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sakkuth your king, and Kaiwan your star-god, your images, which you made for yourselves; therefore I will take you into exile beyond Damascus, says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.” (Amos 5)
C. God used the Babylonians to destroy Judah in 586 BC because of they had left God:
- Jeremiah (641–575 B.C) Here Israel is losing the land they possessed according to the promise of Abraham: "in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day." Then I answered and said, "Amen, O LORD." … “They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.” Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them. “Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they surely will not save them in the time of their disaster. “For your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.” (Jeremiah 11:5, 10–14)
b. Habakkuk (620 - 568 BC): Babylon chosen to punish Israel for Idolatry: “I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us.” (Habakkuk 3:16)
- God has a long history of using wicked world leaders to punish the sinful nations in order to lovingly bring them to repentance and salvation.
a. “for if God did not spare the natural branches (Israel), He will not spare you (USA), either.” (Romans 11:21)
b. America practices idolatry for which God will punish: “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
c. The re-election of Barack Obama is believed by millions to result in destruction upon the world through economic disaster for fornication, abortion, gay marriage, material greed, etc.
E. When the righteous can see that God is going to destroy a wicked prideful nation like the USA that thinks it is the "greatest nation on earth" and as unsinkable as the Titanic, here is how the righteous should conduct themselves:
- The righteous remain silent, knowing there is nothing they can do:
i. Amos: (760-730 BC): “Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.” (Amos 5:13)
ii. “I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us.” (Habakkuk 3:16)
iii. Five days ago, Obama was re-elected as President of the Unites States of America. Those who were politically and economically informed were utterly shocked when they realized Talk Show appearances, giving away cell phones, "presidential executive orders" granting citizenship to children of illegal immigrants and offering to pay for the cost of birth control for the unmarried harlot youth beat over the fact that Obama's stated policies would bring about almost immediate economic disaster and the total collapse of the USA and world economies.
iv. A surprising detail was that 3 million less white ultra conservative Christians voted in 2012, than they had in 2008. In other words, 3 million Christians would not vote for Romney siting the fact he is not a true conservative and is a member of the Satanic cult of Mormonism that trashes the Bible as strongly as Islam. Obama only won by 2.4 million votes and had Christians voted, Romney would have been president and the USA would have been saved from destruction. So God used his people who voted for Obama with their absence and the delusional misinformed majority who voted for Obama. While I would have voted for Romney in a heartbeat, given the alternative is Obama, it is clear that God was working in the larger background to manipulate current events to punish the world for their abandonment of Christianity over the last 40 years and rampant sin and immorality. So it can be accurately said that these morally principled Christians determined the outcome of the election and are responsible for electing Obama who proceeded to destroy the USA as an economic world power. Historically, all great empires last an average of 250 years, well the USA was founded in 1776 and will be 250 years old in 2025. It is also noted that these nations always collapse from internal moral decay, exactly what we see happening today in the USA.
- The righteous are told not pray for a wicked nation:
i. “As for you, do not pray for this people, do not raise a cry or prayer on their behalf, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.” (Jeremiah 7:16)
ii. “The LORD said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people.” (Jeremiah 14:11)
- In a type of God approved "Gnosticism" Christians have secret wisdom and insight that the world rejects. Like the prophets of old, Christians predict destruction, while non-Christians mock them in delusional, godless blindness.
i. “Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.” (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
ii. "Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us.” (Habakkuk 3:16)
- Knowing the USA will some day be destroyed for their sin, would naturally bring the Christian to sadness, but instead we are instructed to rejoice in God and his judgement, even sing about them ad Habakkuk did:
i. “Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.” (Habakkuk 3:18–19)
IV. David restores the land Promised to Abraham: 2 Samuel 8; 1 Chron 18
A. The sequence of battles:
a. Captures Gath, the chief city of the Philistine Pentapolis.
b. Defeats Moab, killing 2/3's of the men by "measuring line". This is where all the men lay down on the ground in rows as long as a fixed length of rope. Two of every three rows of men were executed. So if the line was 100 men long, there would be three lines of 100 men. 200 would be killed in the first two lines and the third line was permitted to live.
c. Defeats Zobah when he captures the city of Berothai, kills 21,700 and defeats Hadadezer, king of Zobah (the son of Rehob)
d. Kills 22,000 Aramean mercenaries who came to aid of Zobah.
e. Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Defeats Edom in the Salt Sea valley and kills 18,000 Aramean mercenaries helping Edom. David writes Psalm 60 about the event. “For the choir director; according to Mikhtam of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt." … “For the choir director; according to Mikhtam of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. O God, You have rejected us. You have broken us; You have been angry; O, restore us. You have made the land quake, You have split it open; Heal its breaches, for it totters. You have made Your people experience hardship; You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger. You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.Selah. That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and answer us! God has spoken in His holiness: “I will exult, I will portion out Shechem and measure out the valley of Succoth. “Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet of My head; Judah is My scepter. “Moab is My washbowl; Over Edom I shall throw My shoe; Shout loud, O Philistia, because of Me!” Who will bring me into the besieged city? Who will lead me to Edom? Have not You Yourself, O God, rejected us? And will You not go forth with our armies, O God? O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.” (Psalm 60)
f. Toi king of Hamath willingly submits to David, bringing him greetings and gifts.
g. David uses all the silver and gold he plundered in the temple.
h. Philistia was an ally to David because Tyre supplied the materials and skilled labour to build his house and the temple.
i. King of Ammon defeated: Nahash king of Ammon had died and his son ruled in his place. Nahash was an ally of David and did not overthrow Ammon until his son disrespected David by shaving half the beard off David's servants and cutting half their pants off. David defeated them and killed 40,700 Aramean soldiers. The Ammonites were not fully defeated until after the birth of Solomon when Joab captured Rabbah (modern Amman, Jordan)
i. David takes the crown of the King of Rabbah.
ii. David executes the men of Rabbah and all the other Ammonite cities by
j. While Joab is battling the Ammonites, David sleeps with Bathsheba and kills Uriah the Hittite by sending him to fight in Ammon at the wall or gate of the city of Rabbah.
i. Notice that the story of Bathsheba and Uriah happened when David stayed home during this battle against Ammon:
ii. “Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and overthrew it.” (1 Chronicles 20:1)
iii. David instructed Joab: “He had written in the letter [to Joab], saying, “Place Uriah in the front line of the fiercest battle and withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and die.” So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he put Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men.” (2 Samuel 11:15–16)
iv. We can be certain then, that Uriah was killed at the wall or gate of the city of Rabbath: “The messenger said to David, “The men prevailed against us and came out against us in the field, but we pressed them as far as the entrance of the gate. “Moreover, the archers shot at your servants from the wall; so some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”” (2 Samuel 11:23–24)
k. In 1001 BC, the final defeat of the Philistines is seen in a series of battles at Gezer and Gath, that conclude the full acquisition of the land promised to Abraham: “Now it came about after this, that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued. And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.” (1 Chronicles 20:4–8).
l. Solomon born in 999 BC.
B. The number of enemies killed: 101,700 listed, but this doesn’t include the Philistines, Moabites or the Ammonites killed in battle.
C. War has always been brutal and inhumane. It is the process of killing a man by destroying the body:
a. David to the men of Rabbah:
i. “Then he took the crown of their king from his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in great amounts. He also brought out the people who were in it, and set them under saws, sharp iron instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brick kiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 12:30–31)
ii. “He brought out the people who were in it, and cut them with saws and with sharp instruments and with axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.” (1 Chronicles 20:3)
b. In 1052 BC, Saul defeated Nahash: “But Nahash the Ammonite said to them [Jabesh-Gilead], “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, namely that I gouge out everyone’s right eye, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel.”” (1 Samuel 11:2)
c. In 1406 BC: “They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” So they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.” (Judges 1:5–7)
d. Later, 760-722 BC the Ammonites appear to have a reputation for brutal war crimes and David merely returned to them in like manner of their own doing: “Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.” (Amos 1:13)
e. Joshua in 1406 BC destroyed Ai: “Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. The men in ambush rose quickly from their place, and when he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it, and they quickly set the city on fire. When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the sky, and they had no place to flee this way or that, for the people who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned against the pursuers. When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and slew the men of Ai. The others came out from the city to encounter them, so that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side; and they slew them until no one was left of those who survived or escaped. But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua. Now when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field in the wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them were fallen by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed, then all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. All who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000—all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which He had commanded Joshua. So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day. He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening; and at sunset Joshua gave command and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the city gate, and raised over it a great heap of stones that stands to this day.” (Joshua 8:18–29)
f. In 1019 BC, Saul had spared Agag of the Amelekites and Samuel killed him: “But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.” (1 Samuel 15:33)
g. In 997 BC executed those who murdered Ish-bosheth. “Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.” (2 Samuel 4:12)
V. There is no future Biblical promise of Israel returning to their land and possessing it:
A. Premillennialists, dispensationalists and rapturists, all discard the clear Bible passages that Israel physically got all the land promised to them:
1. "God unconditionally promised Abraham's descendants a literal world-wide kingdom over which they would rule through their Messiah who would reign upon King David's throne...Even the animals and reptiles will lose their ferocity and no longer be carnivorous," (The Late Great Planet Earth, Hal Lindsay, p 165) False, God never promised any land outside Israel. Abraham was only promised the land between the River of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) and the Euphrates.
2. "The nature of the blessings are earthly, territorial, and national, and have nothing to do with a spiritual church to which none of these blessings has been promised ...Christ is not now on the throne of David bringing blessings to Israel as the prophets predicted, but He is rather on His Father's throne waiting for the coming earthly kingdom and interceding for His own who form the church," (The Millennial Kingdom: A Basic Text in Premillennial Theology, John F. Walvoord, p 205, 1983 AD) False: Abraham was only promised the land of Israel.
3. "The foundation of the state of Israel in recent years has been a part of the predicted regathering of scattered Israel back to their ancient land...The present partial possession of the land is a token. The complete possession awaits the coming of Israel's Redeemer" (The Millennial Kingdom: A Basic Text in Premillennial Theology, John F. Walvoord, p 185, 1983 AD) False: the land promise was fulfilled in 1406 BC.
B. The Bible clearly states that Israel occupied all the land promised through Abraham from the time of Joshua in 1406 BC. Additionally, Saul, David, Solomon and even Jeroboam II all controlled and occupied the entire Promised Land.
VI. David, Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite and Nathan the prophet:
A. One of the most famous stories in the Bible is that of David committing adultery with Bathsheba, then murdering her husband, marrying the pretty girl who gave birth to Solomon who was in the direct bloodline lineage of Jesus Christ.
1. Although David had 8 wives at this time, God said: if you wanted more women, I would have given them to you if you asked me!!! Notice: "‘I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these!" (2 Samuel 12:8).
2. Why would God chose Bathsheba to be the mother in the bloodline of Christ? It has happened before, when Rahab, the prostitute married Salmon, the great, great grandmother of David.
3. Why would God sanction and bless a marriage that began with adultery between David and Bathsheba?
4. Why would God sanction and bless polygamy in allowing David to marry Bathsheba at all, given David already had many wives? (David ended up with 8 wives and at least 10 concubines for a total of 18 woman he could sleep with whenever he wanted with the full sanction of God.)
B. Uriah the Hittite was on the list of David's "Second Rank" of "The Thirty mighty men"(2 Samuel 23:8-39)
1. Uriah was killed in 1001 BC. Ammon was the second last nation (there was a final battle with the Philistines after Ammon was defeated) David conquered in order to fully rule over the land promised to Abraham. “Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 11:1)
2. Ammon was the second last nation, because Nahash, king of Ammon, was an ally and the grandfather of Joab, David's army commander. But when after Nahash died, Hanun the son of Nahash broke the covenant, causing David to attack.
3. The story of the battle against Ammon is fragmented with the insertion of the Bathsheba story because they happened at the same time. Early on in the battle, David had stayed in Jerusalem while Joab fought Transjordan. “But David stayed at Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 11:1)
4. It is not clear if Uriah was already on the list when David had him killed, or if David posthumously put him on the list when he came to repentance out of guilt for a man who was better than himself in many areas.
5. Our guess, is that David posthumously put him on the list because he did not know Bathseba was Uriah's wife. Surely he would have met and already noticed the pretty girl if Uriah was already one of David's mighty men.
C. The judgement of God was upon David: “‘Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. ‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’ ”” (2 Samuel 12:9–12)
1. It is not clear if "taken his wife to be your wife" means it was unlawful for David to marry Bathsheba after her husband died, or if it refers to the initial act of adultery. Either way, David got to keep his latest trophy wife.
2. "give them [wives] to your companion [Absalom], and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight."
i. This was fulfilled when Absalom usurped the throne: “Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.” (2 Samuel 16:21–23)
ii. Ahithophel was a trusted but traitorous counselor of David who joined Absalom's insurrection. His advice to "take possession" of David's wives was a common practice that symbolized the new king had replaced the old.
D. The child died and David clearly believes in conscious life after death: “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23)
1. Jehovah's Witnesses are false teachers who reject the bible doctrine of conscious life after death. Instead they teach a doctrine called, "extinction" where man is wholly physical. They define the spirit and soul as mere "air we breathe" instead of a non-physical "spiritual" entity of the same "kind of stuff" that God himself is composed of.
2. Conscious life after death passages: Lk 16:31ff
3. See this outline: Conscious life after death
Conclusion:
A. David and Solomon ruled all the land promised to Israel through Abraham.
1. The land promise is fulfilled, there is no future land promise left for Israel.
2. Israel becoming a nation in 1947 has nothing to do with fulfilling in part or whole, any Bible prophecy.
B. Peace only comes through Christ and the spiritual land promise is fulfilled in Christ, in the church, in heaven:
1. “I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:10–13)
2. After the resurrection of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the only hope of the Jews is to become a Christian by believing in Christ, repenting of their sins, confessing Jesus as the risen Lord and being immersed in water for the remission of their sins.
3. This message of salvation was preached by Paul and he said it was the hope of Israel, not some future land promise as Mosaic Jews: “For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” (Acts 28:20)
C. Detailed outlines:
1. The three promises to Abraham
2. The Biblical Border between Egypt and Israel
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
