Answer
The book of 2 Samuel narrates the story of David’s reign as king of Israel. His kingship was an important era in Israel’s history, bringing military success, geographical expansion, and political unity. Significantly, it was also characterized by Israel’s increased devotion to God. Although the authorship of 2 Samuel is anonymous, the book refers to certain historical events during and after David’s reign, and those references provide clues as to the time of its composition.
It’s important to know that 1 and 2 Samuel originally consisted of one book in the Hebrew Bible called “Samuel.” Understanding its historical context helps establish when 2 Samuel was written. While the book of 1 Samuel describes David’s anointing as king (1 Samuel 16:1–13) and the subsequent opposition to his appointment (1 Samuel 18—27), 2 Samuel records his ascendancy and rule. David reigns over Judah and then eventually over all of Israel (chapters 1—10). As king, he conquers external threats such as the Philistines (e.g., 2 Samuel 5:17–25). In the second part of 2 Samuel, David faces internal challenges of his own making that largely resulted from his adultery with Bathsheba (chapters 11—20). The final section of the book (chapters 21—24) includes additional stories of David’s successes and failures as king, along with some of his reflections on the goodness of God.
The approximate timelines for the events recorded in 1 and 2 Samuel are well established. First Samuel takes place over approximately 110 years, from Samuel’s birth around 1120 BC to Saul’s death around 1011 BC. Following that era, the events of 2 Samuel occur over a 40-year period covering David’s reign as king, from approximately 1011 to 971 BC.
Furthermore, since 1 and 2 Samuel reference the divided kingdom (e.g., 1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 5:5), they must have been composed after the split in 931 BC. For example, 2 Samuel 12:8 references the northern and southern kingdoms: “And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah” (ESV). Moreover, since the events in 2 Samuel follow those in 1 Samuel, it was logically written afterward.
Although the evidence suggests that 2 Samuel was written after 931 BC, there is little indication of how narrow the timeframe for its composition should be. Because the Hebrew of 1 and 2 Samuel is similar to that of other books composed prior to Israel’s exile in 722 BC, some scholars posit that the book was written before that event. In summary, the best evidence suggests that 2 Samuel was written between 931 BC and 722 BC, partly using records from David’s reign.
Knowing 2 Samuel’s narrative context provides a foundation for understanding its important theological message. In 2 Samuel 7:1–17, God made a historical covenant with David, declaring, “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16, ESV). Despite David’s shortcomings, and those of the nation of Israel as a whole, 2 Samuel reflects that God kept His promises to ancient Israel just as He does today.
