Samuel II (“Shmuel Bet”) is the second part of the third book of the Prophets. It begins as David hears about the deaths of Saul and his son, Jonathan. David is anointed king, first by the tribe of Judah and ultimately by all of Israel. He establishes a capital in Jerusalem and leads the nation to military victories, but his success is tempered when he sleeps with a woman named Batsheva. This sets off a series of divine punishments, including the death of the child born to Batsheva and a rebellion led by David’s son Absalom.
