2 Samuel Resources

This website provides a ton of different translations of the Bible—in many other languages to boot.

The Brick Testament is a hipster art project—an attempt to tell the whole Bible story in the form of Lego dioramas. This particular set of photos depicts Absalom's attempt to overthrow David.

This online Jewish Encyclopedia is actually copied from a print edition from, like, 1906—but it still has interesting and up-to-date info on Talmudic and Rabbinic stories and ideas about David (those things have a tendency to stay the same).

This Hasidic Jewish super-organization provides a plethora of information all relating to King David.

Before starring in the classic Biblically-inspired horror movie The Omen, Gregory Peck did this less scary movie about the David and Bathsheba love affair.

Richard Gere stars as David in this biopic from the '80s. Hmm…he looks thoughtful. Or something…

The Catholic Church Father and Biblical super-commenter (was Biblical Commentary sort of the Reddit of its day? Yeah… no.) included these ruminations on David in his classic The City of God. He gets pretty deep into allegory and hidden levels of meaning.

These Talmudic passages shine a little light on the different Rabbinic traditions about David. For example, Satan comes in the form of a bird and gets him to see Bathsheba naked (Islamic tradition apparently picked up on this story.)

Protestant theologian Matthew Henry gives his take on the events in 2 Samuel. He likes to give practical moral advice—like Veggie Tales.

This LA Times Book Reviewer talks about a recent non-fiction work he wrote on King David.

The Hasidic Reggae superstar raps a bit about Messianic hopes, alludes to the spiritual example of David… and more.

Here's the most famous version of Leonard Cohen's song—the one that really blew up thanks to being featured in Shrek (though they had to use the Rufus Wainwright version in the soundtrack).

Accompanied by a single electric guitar, Buckley performs another classic, transcendent version of Cohen's song.

This 20th Century Swiss composer wrote this oratorio or "dramatic psalm", telling the whole story of David's life in twenty seven sections.

Bernini's David looks pretty miffed. Of course, this technically draws from 1 Samuel —since David's winding up to smack a stone into Goliath's skull. But, it's a famous enough depiction of a fairly adult looking David to include it here. (Oh, it's from the 17th Century, it's a sculpture, and Bernini was Italian).

This 15th Century Italian Renaissance sculpture portrays David as a youth (again with Goliath's head at his feet, but—hey, it's David in warrior mode, and therefore relevant).

The Italian Renaissance artist, not the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, did this classic sculpture. It's not quite as famous as that other Teen Turtle's David (meaning Michelangelo's)—but still in the pantheon of sculptural dopeness.

The great French illustrator shows Absalom's death in a fairly eerie light. Joab rears up on his horse with three spears while Absalom remains a barely visible shadow hanging in a tree, the shadow of what seems to be a small deer below him.

By common consent, one of the greatest sculptures ever to be sculpted since cavemen first chiseled on stones. David does his best blue steel. But seriously, this is one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance, people.

The Dutch genius portrays Bathsheba bathing in a somewhat shadowy space, a servant washing her feet.