Sometime between 997 BC and 980 BC10 The chapter begins with a new chronological notice (21:1) that also serves to separate this final section of 2 Samuel (chapters 21–24) from the previous one (9:1–20:26). From 9:1 to 20:22 the material is arranged in chronological order,11 with 20:23–26 serving as an appendix. The chronological information in 21:1 takes the reader back in time to some unspecified three-year period during David’s reign. The author emphasizes that
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