House of David Season 2 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis
- Kevin Keating
- 7 hours ago
- 17 min read
David once lamented how, “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” (Psalm 12:2, ESV). In Episode 3 of House of David Season 2 ("The Middle Path"), we start to see where his bleak view of humanity comes from. While David and Mychal deal with the aftermath of the unexpected offer of Saul’s other daughter, Mirab, to David in marriage (1 Samuel 18:17-18), Eshbaal tries to regain Saul’s favor by offering to marry Dinah, the daughter of Yahir, the chief of Dan, the girl he was accused of defiling, leading to his exile in Episode 4 of Season 1. Meanwhile, Queen Ahinoam’s chickens come home to roost, as she’s forced to deal with some of her past misdeeds. Also: hints at the identity of Eshbaal’s captor. Below I'll offer an in-depth recap of the plot (SPOILER WARNING), my opinion of the episode, and an analysis of its key themes. You can also find a video discussion of House of David Season 2 Episode 3 here on YouTube.
How to watch House of David Season 2
To watch Season 2 of House of David, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial of the new Wonder Project subscription (affiliate link). After the trial, the subscription costs an additional $8.99/month on top of the cost of Prime Video.
More House of David Resources
What Happens in House of David Season 2 Episode 3 (The Middle Path)?
Again, be warned, this recap includes SPOILERS.
Eshbaal in House of David Season 2 Episode 3
Episode 3 opens with a flashback to the capture of Eshbaal by the mysterious hooded men. After being brought to a hilltop palace, his mysterious captor reveals that he sees much more in the young prince than his father Saul does. Unimpressed, Eshbaal refuses to befriend the pagan and his idols (which, if you look closely, are inscribed with Akkadian). Amused, his captor has him tortured for a while. Eventually, Eshbaal appears to break and promises to do anything. His captor explains that Eshbaal has been mentally trained not to resist, much like a young elephant, but insists he has potential to be more. Grabbing a dagger, Eshbaal insists that he is loyal to his father’s house.
Jumping to the present, Eshbaal finishes telling the story of his imprisonment to his father, insisting that he never broken and eventually killed his captor, set the other prisoners free, and escaped. To prove his loyalty, he reveals how Ahinoam had him crowned, insisting that they only did it because they thought Saul had been killed. Saul has already heard whispers of this and questions why Eshbaal didn’t tell him sooner. Eshbaal insists he trusted the timing to Ahinoam but promises to redeem his failures. To begin, he promises to marry Dinah, the woman he defiled and refused to marry, leading to his exile in Episode 4 of Season 1.
With Jonathan and David as his escort, Saul sends Eshbaal to Dan to seek Dinah’s hand from Yahir. They find Yahir hunting a wild boar and Eshbaal hopes to prove his bravery by killing it himself. Instead, Dinah appears and defeats the beast, though her father claims the kill for himself. Later at camp, while Yahir negotiates with David and Jonathan, Eshbaal finds Dinah outside and apologizes for shaming her. Initially, Dinah has no interest in his offer of marriage, but he pitches it to her as an opportunity to escape from the grip of her abusive and to have a chance at freedom. Intrigued at this idea, Dinah finally consents, but only with the understanding that she will not bear Eshbaal an heir and wants to be free to hunt.
On the return home, the convoy is ambushed by Eshbaal’s former captors, with whom he clearly seems to be collaborating. Yahir is killed, but Eshbaal saves Dinah, and the escort hurries back to Gibeah. When they arrive, Mirab welcomes Dinah and adorns her with Ahinoam’s jewelry in anticipation of her encounter with Eshbaal. With Yahir dead, there’s no longer any external pressure for Eshbaal to marry Dinah and she also reveals that they didn’t actually have sex (he passed out in a drunken stupor when they lay together). Nevertheless, Eshbaal insists on getting married so that they can become more than what their fathers expected.
Mychal, Mirab, & David in House of David Season 2 Episode 3
After Saul’s public offer of Mirab to David in Episode 2, Mychal finds David reading the story of Joshua (specifically Genesis 50:20). The two don’t know why Saul offered Mirab instead of Mychal, but David has hope that the Lord will work good. He plans on talking to Saul, a task that Mychal foresees will be more difficult than defeating a giant.
Interrupting Saul in the middle of official matters, David insists that there’s been a mistake and that he cannot marry Mirab because he loves Mychal. Enraged, Saul takes the opportunity to remind David that men go to war and die because of his choices and that no one should dare to question him. Taking David aside, Abner warns against choking on Saul’s gratitude.
Meanwhile, Mychal confides her frustrations in Mirab, oblivious to her role in changing Saul’s mind. When Mychal asks her sister to help her change Saul’s mind, Mirab quickly shuts the idea down and suggests that Saul may fear that marrying David to Mychal will make him soft-hearted.
When David and her brothers set off for Dan, Mychal hugs Jonathan and is surprised to see Mirab trying to cozy up to David, promising to make arrangements for the marriage upon his return. David, for his part, is respectful but cold to his betrothed.
Approaching Saul on her own, Mychal tries to reason with him, insisting that she can make David happy. But Saul isn’t interested in making David happy – he’s interested in shaping David to his own purposes. As he explains this to her, he accidentally reveals that Mirab asked for this – a discovery that infuriates Mychal. Storming into Mirab’s room, Mychal slaps her and denounces her sister for using their relationship as a ladder for her own ambition.
The next meal is predictably awkward, with the two sisters staring daggers at one another. When Mirab asks Kazia to refill her cup of wine, Mychal vindictively grabs the pitcher and pours it all into her own cup, to the point of overflow. As Mirab flees the room, Ahinoam enters and urges Mychal to submit to her obligations.
Upon David’s return, he approaches Saul and offers a new request. Instead of asking to marry Mychal, he simply asks for time to seek his father’s blessing and for the two sisters to work through their feelings. Recognizing that Saul is a great king, David points out that compassion and fairness are part of greatness. Saul concedes, but warns David that he still has much to learn.
But a new threat to David and Mychal’s romance emerges at the end of the episode when Adriel arrives in Gibeah. After convincing Joab that he has important information, he is brought before the King and reveals that he has information about the identity of the man that Samuel anointed to replace Saul.
Saul, Abner, & Ahinoam in House of David Season 2 Episode 3
Following Samuel’s escape in Episode 2, Saul and Abner ponder how to find him, while Jonathan objects to being kept in the dark and even more so to the idea of threatening the prophet.
Later, as David trains, Saul proudly touts the boy’s natural potential to Ahinoam, but she expresses worry that David may be blinding the King, questioning why Saul brought chaos into the house by offering Mirab without consulting her. Annoyed, Saul reveals what he knows about Eshbaal’s coronation. Although he accepts her apology, he warns Ahinoam never to lie to him again.
As she watches Eshbaal and his escort depart, Ahinoam thanks Besai, the witch, for her services, but insists that she must depart from Gibeah for the safety of both of them. Welcoming Ahinoam to call on her the next time she needs her, Besai agrees to leave. But their meeting is observed by Abner – and Joab.
Returning to her room, Ahinoam catches her servant eying the special necklace that Saul gave her, broke, and only recently repaired. Annoyed and suspecting Kazia of spying for Saul, Ahinoam makes a barely veiled threat and dismisses her servant.
Following Ahinoam’s direction, Besai is on her way out of Gibeah when she encounters Abner. At first, Abner is ready to kill her but he ultimately has pity on account of his mother, warning her never to return. After she departs, however, Abner hears a scuffle and finds her dead at the feet of Joab.
Meanwhile, Kazia is present as Mychal and Ahinoam argue and overhears how Ahinoam stole Saul’s ring and changed the laws so she could use her witch. Although Ahinoam dismisses her from the room and warns Mychal never to speak of the matter again, it’s too late. The next morning, as Kazia watches, Saul reveals that he’s learned of Ahinoam’s betrayal. Furious at how she too has become a danger to him, he forbids her from accompanying him to the Tabernacle for the upcoming Day of Atonement.
Jonathan & David in House of David Season 2 Episode 3
Unable to convince Saul to change his mind, David throws himself into physical training, with help from his brother, Abinidab, as well as Jonathan, Uriah (yep, that one), and Oaz, even as Achish trains back in Gath. Later, Saul assigns Jonathan and David to escort Eshbaal to Dan and to help negotiate in a wise and respectful way, noting that this too is a part of David’s training.
Departing from Gibeah, they journey toward Dan along with Eliab and several other soldiers. As they travel, Eshbaal notices the tension between David and Eliab and chides David for trying so hard to seek his brother’s approval. Arriving at the gateway into the region, they are directed to find Yahir hunting boar nearby.
Yahir initially has no interest in negotiating a marriage with Eshbaal but is interested in the famed giant slayer, inviting him to join in the hunt. Although David refuses to help hunt an unclean animal (even if the meat will be traded for metal, not eaten), he agrees to accompany Yahir and sees Dinah kill the beast. Afterward, Jonathan urges Yahir to take the proposal, pointing to the potential advantages for both sides and warning that there may be consequences for his failure to join the battle against the Philistines. Yahir is unmoved, until David steps in and empathizes with how he was disrespected by Ahinoam. Pointing to his own experience of finding strength to rise above disrespect, David urges Yahir to show strength by accepting the offering and allowing the profit to heal his grudge with Saul. Impressed, Yahir finally concedes.
As they return from Dan, Jonathan praises David for finding a middle path that would allow Yahir to retain dignity while still giving in to the King’s requests. He notes that David’s integrity and conviction will enable him to lead soldiers into hell itself.
Approaching the gateway out of Dan, David and Jonathan notice that the guards are no longer present. As they draw near to investigate, an assassin slips a noose around Jonathan’s neck, while a band of cloaked warriors (like those who kidnapped Eshbaal) swarm to attack. David eventually saves Jonathan from the noose, but Yahir is killed, along with several of their soldiers.
Returning back to Gibeah, they report the ambush and Saul vows to find the assassins, lest Yahir’s friends suspect him of being behind the ambush. Meanwhile, Jonathan’s healer, Sara, finishes helping the wounded and finds Jonathan. As they banter, Sara reveals that Eshbaal has been sending gifts to draw her to the palace but insists that she’s ultimately come out of a desire to check on him. Jonathan concedes that his wounds (meaning not just the physical arrow wound but also the emotional wound of Naomi’s death) are mostly healed but he may need constant care (from Sara) to keep well.
Doeg in House of David Season 2 Episode 3
Doeg gets only a single brief scene in the middle of the episode, in which he recalls his experience in the dark spiritual realm, being eaten alive by carrion. Scribbling a message, he ties it to a carrier pigeon and sends it on.
Review of House of David Season 2 Episode 3 (The Middle Path)
Episode 3 continues to build the momentum of House of David Season 2 with several strong elements:
Production Value, Costumes, Cinematography, Choreography: House of David continues to maintain the quality of a mainstream historical/fantasy epic. Pretty much everything looks top notch.
Relational Dynamics: Episode 3 really showcases how each of the characters in House of David interact with one another in unique ways that feel realistic and are interesting to watch. Saul’s relationships with Eshbaal, Jonathan, Abner, David, Ahinoam, Mychal, and Mirab all feel distinct and appropriate given his character and role. The same could be said for all of Mychal or Ahinoam or Eshbaal’s relationships. The writers have crafted dynamic, complicated figures and have connected each of those characters together in ways that feel authentic and layered. Moreover, the cast members all deliver stellar performances that add an additional layer of authenticity and realism.
David’s Holistic Formation & Character: Most portrayals of David only have the time to establish his prowess in battle, his devotion, and perhaps his musical talent, but I applaud HoD for taking the time to establish David’s political skills as well. As Saul himself points out, there’s a lot more to being a King than fighting. On paper, the story of marriage negotiations might not seem as exciting as showing David leading in another battle, I’m glad the writers took the time to show another aspect of his formation and character.
Eshbaal’s Plot: I wasn’t so sure about Eshbaal’s plot at the end of Season 1. I’m not a big fan of stories that keep the audience in the dark about the plans and motivations of key characters for long periods of time, and so I’m glad that House of David is starting to offer clearer hints concerning Eshbaal’s plans. While we still don’t know exactly who his benefactor is, it appears to be a neighboring pagan nation (most likely not the Philistines) that wants to assassinate Jonathan and place him on the throne as a kind of client king who can influence the Israelites. With that understanding in mind, even if I don’t understand all of Eshbaal’s tactics, I can begin to suspect his general strategy and aims (sowing chaos in order to clear the way for his ascent to the throne). At the same time, the show hasn’t turned him into an obvious villain – an inattentive viewer might miss the red flags we’re being given and assume that his fine-sounding words to Mirab, Jonathan, Saul, and David are all in good faith. I like that ambiguity and Sam Otto does a great job in delivering a performance that keeps us guessing.
Biblical Foreshadowing: Episode 3 foreshadows a lot of what’s to come in the Book of Samuel (and beyond). The introduction of Uriah at this point in the story is not a mistake. Once Saul begins to suspect David of betrayal, his first move will be to send David on a suicide mission (1 Samuel 18:20-28), which is exactly what David will do to Uriah after he impregnates Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:14-21). Oaz appears to be an alternate spelling of Uzzah, the man who will reach out to steady the Ark on its way to Jerusalem, only to get struck down by the Lord (2 Samuel 6:5-9). Although David is shown to be attentive to Scripture at present, the story of Uzzah foreshadows the disastrous consequences that will come when his devotion to Scripture is less keen. There’s also foreshadowing in the murder of Besai by Joab – Abner himself will one day find himself a victim of Joab’s ruthless violence (2 Samuel 3). Perhaps most significantly, I suspect the coopting of Eshbaal by a pagan neighbor of Israel is meant to foreshadow how foreign neighbors like the Sidonians will coopt the kings of Israel to spread Baal worship and other forms of idolatry (e.g. 1 Kings 16:29-34). Oh, and on the positive side of things, David’s quotation of Genesis 50:20 foreshadows how God is ultimately going to use all the human scheming in the episode for his purposes.
For all of its strengths, I do have a couple quibbles with Episode 3:
Contrived Moments: The show doesn’t really provide a good reason for why Adriel has waited so long to reveal what he knows about David and so it’s hard not to see it as a contrivance to fit the writer’s outline. If Adriel is so ambitious, surely he would want to act before David gets too enmeshed in the House of Saul. After all, if David was on board with marrying Mirab, they could have already tied the knot by the time Adriel shows up. It wouldn’t have taken much to justify a delay. For example, Adriel could have lost a son in the battle (he has plenty to spare) and needed to perform mourning rituals first. It’s a small thing that most viewers won’t mind, but it bothered me a little. Sara’s sudden arrival also feels a little contrived – how did she arrive at the same time as Jonathan and company? It’s not like they had cell phones – there’s no way word could have reached her. It would have made more sense to have had her only show up for the later scene between her and Jonathan – then she could say something like, “I came as soon as I heard…”
Random Asides & Recycled Footage: I get that the show wants us to keep Doeg and Achish in mind, but I’m not a fan of how it randomly throws in a scene for each of them without much explanation. Doeg’s scene is difficult to decipher, while Achish’s scene appears to include footage recycled from the last episode.
Key Themes of House of David Season 2 Episode 3
Episode 3 of House of David Season 2 has a few key themes that I found very interesting:
Worth, Freedom, & Judgment
Eshbaal’s captor claims that he sees more value in him than his father does and he insists that he can give Eshbaal the mental power he needs to break free from the metaphorical rope that he’s been trained to not resist (just like an elephant). Eshbaa echoes this same existential narrative on multiple occasions. In Episode 2, he tells Mirab that she’s been trained to think that she’s not worthy of better things and needs to learn how to take what she wants. Likewise, in this episode when David is struggling with Eliab’s disapproval, Eshbaal urges him not to concern himself with seeking worth in his brother’s eyes. And in his proposal to Dinah, Eshbaal paints a picture of how she can be set free from her father and become more than anyone expected her to become.
On the surface, the words of Eshbaal (and his captor) seem sensible. All the characters who hear this “gospel” (Eshbaal, Mirab, Dinah, and David) have all been abused by figures with parental authority (Saul, Yahir, and Eliab) and have internalized a feeling of low self-worth. Indeed, in a secular show/film, breaking free of the perception and power of others by asserting one's own value and desires would be the “good” solution. But in the theological worldview of House of David, what makes Eshbaal’s “gospel” problematic is that it centers the self, not God as the locus of worth and the source of freedom. Like a true serpent, Eshbaal and his captor speak in half-truths, not full lies. Esbaal, Mirab, Dinah, and David should overcome their low self-worth and lack of freedom not by judging what seems good in their own eyes like Eve (Genesis 3:6) but by submitting themselves to the judgment and mercy of their merciful Father in heaven. Unfortunately, none of the characters is at a point where they can see this.
Hidden Scorpions
Episode 3 conveys the sense of constant surveillance and suspicion that one would experience in a royal house like Saul’s. Now that Saul is back in his right mind, we can understand why biblical characters would often compare the knowledge of kings to that of “the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth” (2 Samuel 14:20). Ahinoam’s actions behind Saul’s back are ratted out first by Eshbaal and then by Kazia, who she accuses of being a scorpion hiding in a corner, ready to sting. Ahinoam is also under the surveillance of Abner and Joab, who both mark her conversation with Besai and set out to execute her in the middle of the night. Adriel’s appearance at the end of the episode also reinforces the sense that there are hidden scorpions just waiting to catch the (perceived) misdeeds of members of the royal house (like David).
That being said, the episode also makes it quite clear that Saul isn’t actually as far-seeing as an angel of God. While his spies may be knowledgeable, he’s in the dark about what actually happened to Eshbaal during his captivity, as he’s forced to rely entirely on Eshbaal’s own (unreliable) testimony. On the surface, Eshbaal’s recent actions within the House of Saul have seemed blameless, but we’ve received enough hints to recognize that he’s actually a scorpion whose ultimate goal is to sting his own father when he has a chance.
Leadership, Peace-Making, & The Middle Path
Saul is correct in recognizing that true leaders aren’t just good at fighting – they know what makes for peace. Ironically, Saul doesn’t show himself to be a particularly great leader in this regard. Because he’s so focused on maintaining his own power and dignity, he’s unable to listen and empathize with the concerns of others. This is why he berates David for making known his desire to marry Mychal and not Mirab, the daughter Saul offered. Although Saul comes up with a justification for his decision in a later conversation with Mychal, it’s pretty flimsy and seems post hoc. The real reason Saul isn’t budging is because he doesn’t want his will to be questioned or to experience shame for making the wrong choice.
By contrast, David is already equipped with the instincts he needs to become a strong leader and a true peace-maker. When Yahir resists Eshbaal’s initial marriage offer, Jonathan (being trained by his father) jumps straight to carrots (it could be profitable) and sticks (there could be consequence for your failure to join the fight against the Philistines). David, on the other hand, focuses first on empathizing with how Yahir has been shamed and disrespected. He recognizes that what Yahir really wants is to protect his own honor. That’s why trying to force his hand through threats and intimidation will only make Yahir resist more – because giving in would only bring him more shame. David’s genius is seen in his ability to reframe the situation as an opportunity for Yahir to gain honor and demonstrate strength. David’s ability to find this middle path (between forcing Yahir’s hand and giving in to his resistance) is a result of his inner integrity and conviction, which is what will make him a far more powerful leader than Saul in the long run.
Human Intent vs. God’s Purpose
Like classroom scenes in contemporary films/shows, in House of David, Bible reading scenes are meant to point viewers to an important theme or idea. David and Mychal’s discussion of Joseph and how his brothers meant him evil but God used their actions for good (Genesis 50:20) is a pretty conspicuous example. There are a lot of schemers who mean evil for David or Mychal (Eshbaal, his captor, Adriel, Mirab, Doeg, Achish, to name a few). It’s not yet clear how God intends to use those schemes for good (just like it wasn’t immediately clear to Joseph when he got sold into slavery). But House of David wants us to keep our eyes open, so that we’ll be ready to see how God uses all of these evil schemes for his greater purposes.
Stay tuned for more content on House of David Season 2. Also be sure to check out my blog review, recap, and analysis of Episode 1 and Episode 2 as well my discussion of Episode 3 on YouTube.
Supporting The Bible Artist
Have my resources helped you explore and enjoy House of David? My resources are used by thousands of Christians like you, as well as church communities and ministries across the globe. You can help my work continue through a one-time gift or recurring support*.
*Members who contribute $5/monthly or $50/annually receive access to exclusive content, including monthly blogs and pdf versions of my Bible study/discussion guides, as well as free gifts and other perks.
Further Reading
An adaptation like House of David isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. Some of the biblical advisors for House of David have published a series of interactive Bible studies that are meant to explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired the show and help viewers apply them to everyday life. If you're looking for additional resources, you might want to check them out!
FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here for my affiliation policy.
