Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Join the livestream every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Central. Watch, join the chat, or call in and explain exactly where I have misread the Bible.
David has finally become king over all Israel—but his rise to power is followed by assassinations, mutilated corpses, conquered cities, multiple wives, magical divination, and a supposedly perfectly just God killing a man for trying to keep the Ark of the Covenant from falling.
In this episode of God-Free Bible Study, we continue through 2 Samuel chapters 4–7.
Ishbaal, Saul’s surviving son and David’s former rival, is murdered in his own bed and beheaded. His assassins bring the head to David expecting a reward, only to be executed, dismembered, and publicly displayed. Is David genuinely horrified—or is he once again staging an elaborate performance to protect his political reputation?
David is then anointed king over a united Israel, conquers Jerusalem from the Jebusites, and apparently develops a special hatred for “the blind and the lame.” He takes even more wives and concubines, consults the biblical equivalent of a Magic 8 Ball before battle, and continues proving just how flexible God’s supposed “one man, one woman” marriage plan really is.
Then things get even worse.
While the Ark of the Covenant is being transported, an ox stumbles. Uzzah reaches out to steady the Ark—and Yahweh becomes angry and kills him instantly. According to the Bible, accidentally touching a sacred box deserves immediate execution from a perfectly just God.
We also examine:
• The assassination and beheading of Ishbaal
• David’s increasingly performative public mourning
• The conquest of Jerusalem and the Jebusites
• David’s hatred of the blind and disabled
• More wives, more concubines, and biblical marriage values
• Uzzah’s absurd and unjust death
• David dancing “with all his might” before the Ark
• Michal watching David humiliate himself in public
• The idea that Yahweh literally lived inside a box
• God’s covenant with David
• Why this prophecy is about David and Solomon—not Jesus
• Yet another divine promise contradicted by Israel’s actual history
The Bible presents David as a man after God’s own heart. These chapters give us a violent ruler consolidating power, seizing cities, collecting women, using religion to justify his reign, and serving a God who kills people for accidents.
Join the livestream every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Central. Watch, join the chat, or call in and explain exactly where I have misread the Bible.
David has finally become king over all Israel—but his rise to power is followed by assassinations, mutilated corpses, conquered cities, multiple wives, magical divination, and a supposedly perfectly just God killing a man for trying to keep the Ark of the Covenant from falling.
In this episode of God-Free Bible Study, we continue through 2 Samuel chapters 4–7.
Ishbaal, Saul’s surviving son and David’s former rival, is murdered in his own bed and beheaded. His assassins bring the head to David expecting a reward, only to be executed, dismembered, and publicly displayed. Is David genuinely horrified—or is he once again staging an elaborate performance to protect his political reputation?
David is then anointed king over a united Israel, conquers Jerusalem from the Jebusites, and apparently develops a special hatred for “the blind and the lame.” He takes even more wives and concubines, consults the biblical equivalent of a Magic 8 Ball before battle, and continues proving just how flexible God’s supposed “one man, one woman” marriage plan really is.
Then things get even worse.
While the Ark of the Covenant is being transported, an ox stumbles. Uzzah reaches out to steady the Ark—and Yahweh becomes angry and kills him instantly. According to the Bible, accidentally touching a sacred box deserves immediate execution from a perfectly just God.
We also examine:
• The assassination and beheading of Ishbaal
• David’s increasingly performative public mourning
• The conquest of Jerusalem and the Jebusites
• David’s hatred of the blind and disabled
• More wives, more concubines, and biblical marriage values
• Uzzah’s absurd and unjust death
• David dancing “with all his might” before the Ark
• Michal watching David humiliate himself in public
• The idea that Yahweh literally lived inside a box
• God’s covenant with David
• Why this prophecy is about David and Solomon—not Jesus
• Yet another divine promise contradicted by Israel’s actual history
The Bible presents David as a man after God’s own heart. These chapters give us a violent ruler consolidating power, seizing cities, collecting women, using religion to justify his reign, and serving a God who kills people for accidents.
