The Murder of Ishbosheth

Introduction:

In this lesson the nation of Israel is falling apart.  Its leadership is gone and the nation is on the verge of civil war.

In following lessons, we will see how God uses David to restore Israel and Judah back into one nation.

2 Samuel 4:1-12 NLT
The Murder of Ishbosheth
^4:1 When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear. ² Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth’s raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth. The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin’s territory ³ because the original people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners.
⁴ (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.)
⁵ One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest. ⁶ The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her. ⁷ They went into the house and found Ishbosheth sleeping on his bed. They struck and killed him and cut off his head. Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the Jordan Valley through the night. ⁸ When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ishbosheth’s head to David. “Look!” they exclaimed to the king. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you. Today the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!”
⁹ But David said to Recab and Baanah, “The Lord, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness. ¹⁰ Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! ¹¹ How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?”
¹² So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 4:1-12 NLT
The Murder of Ishbosheth 

^4:1 When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage,

Ishbosheth was very much aware of his dependence on Abner.

Abner, the commander of Ishbosheth’s army, had become a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.

Abner was the one who put Ishbosheth on the throne and was the one whose power held him there.

Abner’s true power was evident in Ishbosheth’s reaction to his death.

Ishbosheth was simply a figurehead.

• Abner had been the source of strength and stability for Israel.

and all Israel became paralyzed with fear. 

A civil war between Israel and Judah was a reality and Israel was now without strong leadership.

• The news of Abner’s death caused all of Israel to become paralyzed with fear.

² Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth’s raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth.

These two Benjamite men were captains of Ishbosheth’s raiding parties.

Baanah and Recab were from the tribe of Benjamin.

Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin.

Even after Saul’s death, the tribe of Benjamin remained faithful to Saul’s house.

• People could mistakenly assume that Baanah and Recab would be loyal to Saul’s family.

This is evidence of friction within the house of Saul. 

The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin’s territory ³ because the original people of Beeroth (Gibeonites/Canaanites) fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners.

Beeroth: One of the Gibeonite cities assigned to Benjamin.

Who were the Gibeonites?

These were the people who tricked Joshua into making as treaty with them. (Joshua 9)

Saul did not honor the treaty Joshua had made with the Gibeonites and tried to annihilate them. (2 Samuel 21)

The Gibeonites fled to Gittaim.

Israelites moved into the city of Beeroth, located in Benjamin near Gibeon, after the original citizens had fled to Gittaim.

Don’t you wonder why this is included in the scriptures? 

A story within a story. 

⁴ (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.) 

Mephibosheth was too young (12 years old) to rule

and

his physical condition made it impossible for him to provide military leadership.

The following may or may not apply.

It most likely influence the people’s thinking.

Leviticus 21:16-21 NLT
¹⁶ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁷ “Give the following instructions to Aaron: In all future generations, none of your descendants who has any defect will qualify to offer food to his God. ¹⁸ No one who has a defect qualifies, whether he is blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, ¹⁹ or has a broken foot or arm, ²⁰ or is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or has a defective eye, or skin sores or scabs, or damaged testicles. ²¹ No descendant of Aaron who has a defect may approach the altar to present special gifts to the Lord. Since he has a defect, he may not approach the altar to offer food to his God.

• With the death of Ishbosheth there was no other viable claimant to the throne from the house of Saul. (From the NIV Study Bible)

• Saul’s dynasty was unable to continue-the only other heir was a young child who was crippled. (From the NLT Study Bible)

2 Samuel 9:1 NLT
^9:1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 

³ … “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”…

See also the comments after verse 7.

Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Ishbosheth (Esh-baal), Abinadab, and Malki-Shua (Malkishua) are dead.

(Saul did have two other sons from one of his concubines Rizpah (3:7 and 21:8-14)) 

⁵ One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest.

2 Samuel 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David.

Since Recab and Baanah were from Benjamin they would appear to be loyal to the family of Saul. 

⁶ The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her. ⁷ They went into the house and found Ishbosheth sleeping on his bed. They struck and killed him and cut off his head.

• Recab and Baanah assassinate Ishbosheth.

• Israel now has no king.

Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Ishbosheth (Esh-baal), Abinadab, and Malki-Shua (Malkishua) are dead.

(Saul did have two other sons from one of his concubines Rizpah (3:7 and 21:8-14))

Also, the commander of Israel’s army, Abner, had been murdered. (verse 1)

See also the comments after verse 4. 

Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the Jordan Valley through the night. 

The distance from Mahanaim to Hebron could have been close to 45 miles. ??? 

⁸ When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ishbosheth’s head to David. “Look!” they exclaimed to the king. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you.

David did not refer to Saul as his enemy.

David repeatedly referred to Saul as the Lord’s anointed one.

• Recab and Baanah presented Ishbosheth’s head to David.

Today the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!”

• These two men believed that David would welcome this news and reward them for their actions.

⁹ But David said to Recab and Baanah, “The Lord, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness. ¹⁰ Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news.

But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! ¹¹ How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?”

Saul was wounded in battle and would have been killed by the enemy.

Ishbosheth’s death was outright murder.

• David saw this as an unjustified assault on a defenseless man.

• David states that these men deserve the death penalty for killing Ishbosheth.

¹² So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron.

Note David’s inconsistency in his dealings with Ish-bosheth’s murderers and Abner’s murderer (David’s nephew Joab).

Genesis 9:5 NLT
⁵ “And I (God) will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die.

This was also a public testimony of David’s innocence in Ishbosheth’s death.

Like in our previous lesson:

David was very careful to let everyone know that Abner’s murder was Joab’s doing and not his.

If it had been David’s doing, he would have lost the support of the northern tribes.

Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

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Joab Murders Abner

Introduction:

Joab is an example of an individual following the desires of his sinful nature.

The sinful nature wants to do evil … Galatians 5:17 NLT

Note the destructive forces of sin in this story.

2 Samuel 3:22-39 NLT
Joab Murders Abner
²² But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them. ²³ When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.
²⁴ Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? ²⁵ You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!”
²⁶ Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it. ²⁷ When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.
²⁸ When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. ²⁹ Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!”
³⁰ So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner’s Death

³¹ Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. ³² They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. ³³ Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:
“Should Abner have died as fools die?
³⁴ Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered—
the victim of a wicked plot.”
All the people wept again for Abner. ³⁵ David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”
³⁶ This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! ³⁷ So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.
³⁸ Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? ³⁹ And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 3:22-39 NLT
Joab Murders Abner 

²² But just after David had sent Abner away in safety,

Previous lesson:

2 Samuel 3:20-21
²⁰ When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast. ²¹ Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way.

• David was at peace with Abner and now treated him as a friend and ally.

Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them. 

Remember: Joab was the commander of David’s army.

No details of this raid are given.  We do know, however, this is what armies did routinely.

2 Samuel 11:1 NLT
^11:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight ….

1 Chronicles 20:1 NLT
^20:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, Joab led the Israelite army in successful attacks … 

²³ When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety. 

²⁴ Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? 

• Joab was upset when he found out that David had entertained Abner with a great feast.

2 Samuel 3:20 NLT
²⁰ When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.

Joab would have viewed Abner as the enemy.

Abner was the rival commander-in-chief.

Joab wanted revenge (verse 27) not reconciliation.

Joab was upset when he found out that David had entertained Abner with a great feast.

In addition to wanting revenge for the death of his brother, Joab appears to be jealous of the attention Abner was getting from David.

(If it wasn’t jealousy, it was one of the sins listed in Galatians 5:19-21.)

Jealousy (sin) is a serious and destructive problem.

James 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Proverbs 14:30 NLT
³⁰ A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Proverbs 27:4 LT
⁴ Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
but jealousy is even more dangerous. 

²⁵ You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you

Many translations say:

came to deceive you

• Joab accused Abner of deception. 

and find out everything you’re doing!”

Joab accused Abner of being a spy.

• Joab tries to discredit Abner in David’s eyes. 

²⁶ Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah

Sirah is about 2.5 miles north of Hebron. ???  Precise location of the well is unknown. 

and brought him back,

Joab is being deceptive. 

though David knew nothing about it.  

(This will be addressed in more detail later in this lesson.) 

²⁷ When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately.

• Joab deceived Abner (refer to verse 25). 

But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.

Remember: Joab and Asahel were brothers.

1 Chronicles 2:13-16 NLT
¹³ Jesse’s … seventh was David.
¹⁶ Their sisters were named Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah had three sons named Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

Abishai was a part of this plot.

In verse 30 we read:  So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner.

Reasons for Joab to dislike Abner included:

Abner was the rival commander-in-chief,
Abner was highly respected (cf. v. 38).
Abner was a threat to Joab’s career advancement,
Abner had killed his brother, Asahel, in battle (v. 30).

These are all possible reasons for Joab’s jealousy.

Joab was a murderer. His killing of Abner was the result of a blood feud; it was not an act of war. (blood vengeance)

Abner had killed Asahel in the course of battle.

• Joab killed Abner in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.

Romans 12:19 NLT
¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.

Note:  (This may or may not apply here.)

Hebron was a city of refuge

Joshua 21:13 NLT
¹³ The following towns with their pasturelands were given to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Hebron (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), 

2 Samuel 2:22 NLT
²² Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”

Where such revenge was not permitted. 

²⁸ When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. 

• David was very careful to let everyone know that Abner’s murder was Joab’s doing and not his.

If it had been David’s doing, he would have lost the support of the northern tribes. 

²⁹ Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

Remember, Joab was a nephew of David.

• David cursed Joab, but at this point in time Joab was not punished for murdering Abner.

³⁰ So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner’s Death

• David cursed Joab (his nephew) and mourns for Abner (a former adversary).

³¹ Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him,

“Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.”

• Joab was compelled, by David, to join the mourners. 

And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. 

Note: The writer refers to David as “King David”.

David’s public presence in the mourning procession communicated to the public that he respected Abner and had not ordered Abner’s killing.

³² They buried Abner in Hebron,

This was another indication that Abner had shifted his support from Saul to David.

 and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. 

³³ Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as fools die?

Abner had been deceived by Joab, an enemy posing as a friend.

³⁴ Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered—
the victim of a wicked plot.”

A seasoned warrior became the victim of a wicked plot.

David’s compassion and forgiving spirit toward Abner are evident here, qualities that separated him from most other men.

• David’s funeral song reflected his respect for Abner. 

All the people wept again for Abner. ³⁵ David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.” 

³⁶ This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! ³⁷ So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder. 

• Judah and Israel were gradually coming back together, 

³⁸ Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? 

Here again David shows high respect for Abner. 

³⁹ And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control.

• David admits that Joab and Abishai are too strong for his to control.

We know from previous lessons that in the northern kingdom Abner, the commander of Ishbosheth’s army, was more powerful than Ishbosheth the king.

In the same way, David, the king of Judah, had, at times, difficulty controlling Joab, the commander of his army.

Joab was a brave, competent, and skilled military leader.
Joab won many key battles for David.
Joab was able to influence David’s decisions.
At times Joab acted in his own interest.
At times Joab disregarded David’s orders.
At times Juab’s actions were ruthless.
At times David was unable to control Joab. 

So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

Even though David felt that he could not control Joab, he had faith that God would repay Joab for killing Abner. 

Note:

Joab is still in the picture when David is on his deathbed.

David’s final instructions to Solomon.

1 Kings 2:5-6 NLT
⁵ “And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. ⁶ Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.

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Abner Joins Forces with David

Previous lesson:

A disastrous civil war. (A war between citizens of the same country.)

Abner was the commander of Ishbosheth’s army.

Joab was the commander of David’s army.

David’s real rival in the North was Abner, not Ishbosheth.

Abner knew David from the time David had killed Goliath.

Abner knew Joab, Abishai, and Asahel well.

We ended our previous lesson with both armies calling for a truce and going back to their hometowns.

Today’s lesson.

Abner Joins Forces with David (Remember, Abner was the commander of Ishbosheth’s army.)

2 Samuel 3:1-21 NLT
^3:1 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.
David’s Sons Born in Hebron
² These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron:
The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
³ The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.
The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.
⁴ The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.
The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
⁵ The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.
These sons were all born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins Forces with David
⁶ As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul. ⁷ One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.
⁸ Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman? ⁹ May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him! ¹⁰ I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.” ¹¹ Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.
¹² Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”
¹³ “All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”
¹⁴ David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son: “Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of 100 Philistines.”
¹⁵ So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish. ¹⁶ Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.¹⁷ Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. ¹⁸ Now is the time! For the Lord has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’” ¹⁹ Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.
²⁰ When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast. ²¹ Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 3:1-21 NLT

^3:1 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David.

• A long war began between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David.

The truce called by Joab and Abner was short-lived.

2 Samuel 2:26-28 NLT
²⁶ Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”
²⁷ Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” ²⁸ So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.

The civil war occurred during the time David was the ruler of Judah (This civil war lasted between 2-7 years).

The supporters of Saul’s family wanted to limit David’s reign to Judah.

Those of David’s dynasty were convinced that it was time for David to become the ruler of the entire nation of Israel. 

As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

• As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

• One way David’s dynasty became stronger was by David marrying more wives and having more sons.

David’s Sons Born in Hebron

² These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron:
The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
³ The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.

Daniel is Kilead in Hebrew.

Chileab is the name used in many translations. 

The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

Geshur is a small Canaanite Kingdom located east of the Jordan River, north of the Sea of Galilee.

Talmai, king of Geshur, would be an ally to David on Ishbosheth’ northern border.

Marrying into neighboring royal families to create political alliances was a common practice in the ancient Near East.

Solomon carried out this practice and it led to his downfall.

• Marrying into neighboring royal families to create political alliances was a common practice in the ancient Near East.

⁴ The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.
The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
⁵ The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.
These sons were all born to David in Hebron.

More about these sons in future lessons.

Abner Joins Forces with David

⁶ As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul. 

Abner, the commander of Ishbosheth’s army, became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.

Abner was the one who put Ishbosheth on the throne and whose power held him there.

Ishbosheth was simply a figurehead.

• As time passed Abner began to make his own move to take the throne.

See verse 10:
I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David.

⁷ One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.

• Conflict breaks out between Ishbosheth and Abner. (This won’t be good for Ishbosheth.)

Great significance was attached to taking the concubine of a former king.

It is unclear whether Abner actually did so.

Taking a king’s wife or concubine was often a usurper’s attempt to replace the king.

Going in to the king’s concubine was a statement of power and rightful claim to the throne.

If a royal concubine had a son, this son, according to custom, could become king one day.

This could be considered an act of treason (attempting to overthrow the government).

This happened with ten of David’s concubines and David’s son Absalom.

2 Samuel 16:21 NLT Ahithophel Advises Absalom
²¹ Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.”

• Going in to the king’s concubine was a statement of power and rightful claim to the throne.

⁸ Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman? 

Abner was furious with Ishbosheth.

Remember, Abner had control over the life and death of Saul’s son.

• Abner was furious with Ishbosheth. 

⁹ May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him! 

• It is clear that Abner had “political” ambitions. He wasn’t about to let Ishbosheth get in his way.

• Abner was aware of God’s plan for David.

If Abner was aware of God’s plans for David, then many other people throughout Israel also must have known it.

1 Samuel 13:13-14 NLT
¹³ “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed (to Saul). “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

• Abner was committing himself to help David become the King of all of Israel. 

¹⁰ I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.” 

Abner was a very powerful man.  (As stated before, Abner was the real power in the Northern kingdom.)

Abner was committing to help establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah.

This sounds like God’s plan for David. 

¹¹ Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.

Ishbosheth knew that Abner was the real power behind the throne.

Ishbosheth did not dare go against Abner’s wishes. 

¹² Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”

Being aware of God’s plan for David, Abner was setting himself up for a leadership position in David’s kingdom.

• Abner wants assurance that he will not face reprisals for his past loyalty to the house of Saul.

Abner wanted to be on the winning side and to be honored as the one who brought all the people under David’s rule. 

¹³ “All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”

David demanded that Abner restore, as a sign of his good faith, his long-separated wife, Michal to him.

¹⁴ David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son: “Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of 100 Philistines.”

• David felt that Michal legally belonged to him since he had paid the “bride price” for her.

• David wanted Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, not Abner to give Michal back to David. This would make the act more official.

• Also, in the minds of the people (the northern elders), the reunion of David and Michal would strengthen David’s claim to the throne as a legitimate son-in-law of Saul. 

¹⁵ So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish. ¹⁶ Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned. 

¹⁷ Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. 

More political maneuvers on the part of Abner.

• Apparently, the elders of Israel had begun supporting the idea of making David king over Israel.

(There has been no mention of this support up to this time.)

¹⁸ Now is the time! For the Lord has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’” 

By this time, it appears that Samuel’s anointing of David had become common knowledge.

Saul had failed to save the Israelites from the Philistines.

1 Samuel 9:16 NLT
¹⁶ “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”

• Abner was actively advocating the idea of David becoming the rightful king over all of Israel. 

¹⁹ Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin.

The men of Benjamin, men from Saul’s own tribe, would have been Ishbosheth’s primary supporters.

• Abner persuaded the men of Benjamin that the rule of David over them was in their best interest. 

Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him. 

²⁰ When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.

• David was at peace with Abner and now treated him as a friend and ally.

Remember: Abner and David knew each other from the time David had killed Goliath.

 ²¹ Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.”

This covenant would unite the north and south with David as their king.

So David sent Abner safely on his way.

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War between Israel and Judah

Introduction:

A disastrous civil war.

2 Samuel 2:12-32 NLT
¹² One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. ¹³ About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.
¹⁴ Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.”
“All right,” Joab agreed. ¹⁵ So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. ¹⁶ Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.
¹⁷ A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The Death of Asahel
¹⁸ Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, ¹⁹ and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. ²⁰ When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“Yes, it is,” he replied.
²¹ “Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.
²² Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”
²³ But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there.
²⁴ When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. ²⁵ Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.
²⁶ Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”
²⁷ Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” ²⁸ So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.
²⁹ All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning, and didn’t stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.
³⁰ Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel. ³¹ But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin. ³² Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 2:12-32 NLT
War between Israel and Judah (Civil war) 

¹² One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 

Refer to map 

Abner had been the commander of Saul’s army.

Abner had proclaimed Ishbosheth king over the northern portion of Israel.

Abner was now the commander of Ishbosheth’s army.

David’s real rival in the North was Abner, not Ishbosheth.

Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years.

2 Samuel 2:8-10 NLT
⁸ But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth. ⁹ There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.
¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David.

• Abner was the commander of Ishbosheth’s army.

• David’s real rival in the North was Abner, not Ishbosheth. 

¹³ About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah

Here Joab, son of Zeruiah, is introduced into this story for the first time.

Zeruiah was David’s sister, so Joab was David’s nephew.

1 Chronicles 2:13-16 NLT
¹³ Jesse’s … seventh was David.
¹⁶ Their sisters were named Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah had three sons named Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

Joab is the commander of David’s army. (2 Samuel 8:16)

Joab was a competent but ruthless military leader.

At times David was unable to control Joab.

We will learn more about Joab in future lessons.

• Joab was the commander of David’s army. 

(Joab son of Zeruiah) led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon.

Gibeon

Located in the tribal area of Benjamin.

A key city in Benjamin.

Saul and his family were members of the tribe of Benjamin.

The Philistines did not occupy Gibeon.

The pool of Gibeon.

37 feet in diameter. 35 feet deep.  This cylindrical cutting had a circular staircase that led to a stepped tunnel that continued downward another 45 feet below the pool’s floor to a water chamber.

The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.

The two sides were talking.

• The two armies met at Gibeon to determine who would be Israel’s leader. 

¹⁴ Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.”

A custom often referred to as champion warfare.

A contest of champions.

Example:
1 Samuel 17:8-9 NLT
⁸ Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! ⁹ If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! 

• Abner suggested a “contest of champions” to determine who would control the nation. 

“All right,” Joab agreed. ¹⁵ So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. 

The talks led to fighting.

¹⁶ Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.

In theory this may have been a good idea, but in this case it did not work and nothing was resolved. 

¹⁷ A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The fighting led to battle.

A full scaled battle took place.

The casualty count of this battle is recorded in verses 30 and 31.

• A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The Death of Asahel 

¹⁸ Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—

Zeruiah was David’s sister.

Her three sons were David’s nephews. (we’re talking family)

were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, 

Asahel was one of David’s thirty mighty warriors.  (2 Samuel 23:24 and 1 Chronicles 11:26). 

(Asahel could run like a gazelle,) ¹⁹ and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. ²⁰ When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?”

• Abner knew Joab, Abishai, and Asahel well.

Abner met David after David killed Goliath.

Go back to 1 Samuel:

1 Samuel 17:55-57 NLT
⁵⁵ As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”
“I really don’t know,” Abner declared.
⁵⁶ “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.
⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.

• Abner knew David from the time David had killed Goliath.

“Yes, it is,” he replied. 

²¹ “Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.

Obviously Abner was an experienced warrior.

• Abner did not want to kill Asahel. 

²² Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”

Abner knew that if he killed Asahel, the hostility between him and Joab would be intensified.

David’s forces would seek revenge.

A civil war could destroy the nation. 

²³ But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there. 

²⁴ When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner.  (This was predictable.)

• After Asahel was killed by Abner, Joab and Abishai, the two brothers of Asahel, wanting to revenge the death of their brother set out after Abner. 

The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. ²⁵ Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.

If another battle took place, it would lead to more killing.

²⁶ Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”

• Abner realized the awful consequences of a civil war.

²⁷ Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” 

• Joab honored Abner’s appeal, thus preventing more soldiers being killed.

²⁸ So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.

Bringing this battle to an end.

• This battle was ended, but the hostility continued.

2 Samuel 3:1 NLT
^3:1 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

²⁹ All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning, and didn’t stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.

³⁰ Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. (Hebron)

• Abner and his men returned to Mahanaim. Joab and his men also returned to their homes in Judah.

When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel.  (19 + 1 = 20) ³¹ But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin. ³² Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

David lost 20 soldiers.  Abner lost 360 soldiers.

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David Anointed King of Judah

Introduction:

Name the first three kings of Israel.

Details are important.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
¹⁵ Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

Acts 17:11 NLT
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

Joshua 1:8 NLT
⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

The first three kings of Israel: Saul, Ishbosheth, and David.

2 Samuel 2:1-11 NLT
David Anointed King of Judah
^2:1 After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”
“Yes,” the Lord replied.
Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
² David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives ³ and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. ⁴ Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.
When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. ⁶ May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. ⁷ Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”

Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel
⁸ But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth.  ⁹ There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.
¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. ¹¹ David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 2:1-11 NLT
David Anointed King of Judah

^2:1 After this, David asked the Lord, 

David’s home base of Ziklag has been burned to the ground by the Amalekites.

Saul is no longer pursuing David.

David and his men were no longer fugitives.

• Before making the decision to move back to Judah, David sought the Lord’s guidance. 

“Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”

David was from the tribe of Judah

• David had many friends and contacts in Judah.

1 Samuel 30:26-31 NLT
²⁶ When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
²⁷ The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, ²⁸ Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, ²⁹ Racal, the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, ³⁰ Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, ³¹ Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited. 

“Yes,” the Lord replied.

Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”

David wanted a specific answer.

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

Hebron was an old, established, and important city in southern Judah.

Hebron was centrally located in Judah.

Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob were all buried in the cave of Machpelah purchased by Abraham which is located in Hebron.

The people of the area were sympathetic toward David. 

² David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.

Michal had been given to another man after David fled from Saul. (1 Samuel 25:44)

So David and his wives ³ and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. 

• The Lord told David to move to the town of Hebron which was located in the center of Judah. 

⁴ Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.

Rather than seeking a relative of Saul who was from the tribe of Benjamin, the people of Judah chose one of their own, the hero David, to be their king.

Previously, God had chosen David to be the king.

1 Samuel 16 NLT
Samuel Anoints David as King
^16:1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
¹⁰ … all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” ¹¹ Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”
“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
¹² So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. ….

David’s anointing by Samuel was done privately in the presence of David’s family.

This anointing was a public ceremony.

• David was formally installed by oil-anointing as King over Judah.

Later, in 2 Samuel 5:3, David will be anointed a third time as king over the entire nation of Israel.

• This move completely alienated David from the Philistines with whom he had previously taken refuge and made an alliance.

Most likely the tribe of Simeon was involved in this ceremony.

These two tribes had a history of working together.

Joshua 19:1 NLT
^19:1 The second allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Simeon. Their homeland was surrounded by Judah’s territory.

Judges 1:3 NLT
³ The men of Judah said to their relatives from the tribe of Simeon, “Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to us. Then we will help you conquer your territory.” So the men of Simeon went with Judah. 

When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. ⁶ May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. 

• David is moved by the men of Jabesh’s loyalty to Saul and wants to reward them for what they have done.

⁷ Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”

• David asks the men of Jabesh-gilead to be his strong and loyal subjects.

David is presenting himself as Saul’s successor and wants to be their king.

This appeal for their support was ignored.

Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel

⁸ But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army (and Saul’s cousin), had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth (or Esh-baal).

Mahanaim was located east of the Jordan River. (Refer to a map)

Mahanaim was named by Jacob.

Genesis 32:1-2 NLT
^32:1 As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him. ² When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.

• Mahanaim was beyond the sphere of Philistine domination. 

 ⁹ There he (Abner) proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.

Abner is attempting to continue Saul’s kingdom. He was not willing to follow the Lord’s anointed king.

Abner appears to be the power behind the throne.

Refer to the Twelve Tribes of Israel map.

• Abner proclaimed Ishbosheth king over the northern tribes.

• Note: At this point in time the Philistines controlled large sections of Israel.

1 Samuel 31:7 NLT
When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns. 

The Philistines had slaughtered many of the soldiers of Israel on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.

1 Samuel 31 NLT
^31:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 

The Philistine army was clearly superior to the Israeli army at this time.

Ishbosheth did not appear to have much support from the people of Israel and his reign was quite limited. 

¹⁰ Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years.

Ishbosheth’s two year reign and David’s seven and a half years don’t seem to reconcile.

It appears that David was made king over all of Israel shortly after Ishbosheth’s death (2 Samuel 4 and 5).

It took Ishbosheth a number of years to be recognized as his father’s successor.

Apparently a period of 5 years occurred in which the Northern tribes were without a king.

The presence of the Philistines may have played a role in preventing Ishbosheth from gaining control of this northern territory.

• Ishbosheth ruled from Mahanaim for two years. 

Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. 

¹¹ David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.

During this period of time the twelve tribes had two kings.

• Note: God’s plan was for David to be the king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:1)

0

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

This is a lamentation, written by David, for Saul and Jonathan at the time of their death. Notice how David demonstrates a gracious, forgiving attitude in this lament, especially toward King Saul.  (David and Jonathan were always loyal toward each other.)

In this passage David was focused on the good aspects of Saul’s (and Jonathan’s) life.

Philippians 4:8 NLT
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

2 Samuel 1:17-27 NLT
¹⁷ Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, ¹⁸ and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.
¹⁹ Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!
Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
²⁰ Don’t announce the news in Gath,
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice
and the pagans will laugh in triumph.
²¹ O mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain.
For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled;
the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.
²² The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.
²³ How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!
They were together in life and in death.
They were swifter than eagles,
stronger than lions.
²⁴ O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
in garments decorated with gold.
²⁵ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
²⁶ How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
deeper than the love of women!
²⁷ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 1:17-27 NLT
David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan 

¹⁷ Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 

A funeral song
A song
A sad song
A lamentation
A lament

• It was a common practice in the ancient Near East to compose laments for fallen leaders and/or heroes.

Scripture also records a lament written by David for Abner, Saul’s commander-in-chief (3:33-34)

and one written for his son Absalom (18:33).

In spite of frequently being treated badly by Saul, David chose to remember Saul in a positive light in this lament. 

¹⁸ and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah.

• All of Israel was expected to learn this funeral song (this lamentation). 

It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar. 

Jonathan’s bow is mentioned in verse 22.

The Book of Jashar is thought to have been a collection of poetry, probably odes and psalms in praise of Israel’s heroes and exploits. It vanished during the Babylonian captivity. (International Dictionary of the Bible).

Joshua 10:13 also refers to this book.

Joshua 10:13 NLT
¹³ So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies.
Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.

The Book of Jashar is not now and never has been a part of the Bible, but it does contain portions of scripture such as the Song of the Bow.

• The Book of Jashar is an account of Israel’s wars as well as other events that took place during the early history of the Hebrews (perhaps written in poetic form). 

¹⁹ Your pride and joy,

Referring to Saul and Jonathan who, up to this time, had experienced many military victories over Israel’s enemies.

David’s description focused more on Saul’s royal position than on his personal characteristics. 

O Israel, lies dead on the hills!

Note: Some translations say “A gazelle lies slain” but most translations do not use this phrase. (Gazelle is a symbol of youthful elegance and symmetry.)

This refers to Saul and Jonathan being killed in battle. 

 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!

Israel’s mighty heroes have fallen.

David’s focus is on the good qualities and achievements of Saul and Jonathan. 

²⁰ Don’t announce the news in Gath,
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,

Gath and Ashkelon are Philistine cities.

Gath in the East and Ashkelon in the West represent the Philistine territory.

or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice 

• In ancient war culture, young women sometimes celebrated victories in song.

1 Samuel 18:6-7 NLT
⁶ When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. ⁷ This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”

Exodus 15:20-21 NLT
²⁰ Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. ²¹ And Miriam sang this song:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
into the sea.”

and the pagans will laugh in triumph.

• David does not want the Philistines to rejoice over Saul’s death.

David did not want the Philistines to glorify their false god, Dagon, while mocking Israel’s God, Yahweh. 

²¹ O mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain.

Rain is considered to be a blessing from God to make for a good harvest of grain.

Isaiah 30:23 NLT
²³ Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock.

David does not want this blessing to take place where Saul and Jonathan were killed.

• David evoked a cure on the place of Saul and Jonathan’s death. 

For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled;
the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.

The shield of Saul symbolizes his military exploits as king.

Leather shields were treated with oil to keep them in good condition.  A properly oiled shield was more effective than a “dry” shield.  Since Saul was dead he will no longer be oiling his shield.

A dried out shield was a symbol of defeat and death. 

²² The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.

The bow was used by Jonathan and the sword was used by Saul.  Both men used their weapon with power, accuracy, and effectiveness.

These two soldiers killed many of Israel’s enemies.

• Saul and Jonathan were both military heroes, but neither to the degree that David was.

1 Samuel 18:6-7 NLT
⁶ When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. ⁷ This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!” 

²³ How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!

David demonstrated a gracious, forgiving attitude by including Saul in this comment.    

• David demonstrated a gracious, forgiving attitude in his lament. 

They were together in life and in death.

Father and son died together in battle.

Jonathan was loyal to his father, the Lord’s anointed king, and the nation of Israel in spite of the way his father treated both him and David. 

They were swifter than eagles,
   stronger than lions. 

Again, David focuses on the good qualities of Saul and Jonathan.

• David focused on the good qualities of Saul and Jonathan. 

²⁴ O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
in garments decorated with gold.

David credited Saul for bringing luxury and bounty to Israel.

• Saul’s reign had been good for Israel economically. 

²⁵ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies dead on the hills.

Now the focus is on Jonathan alone.

²⁶ How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
deeper than the love of women!

Jonathan had always been loyal to David.

Jonathan’s loyalty and friendship to David involved personal risk and sacrifice.

• The commitment shared between David and Jonathan was a noble, loyal, and selfless devotion. 

²⁷ Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.

• David had a remarkable respect for the King and a deep love for Jonathan.

David expressed genuine sorrow over the deaths of Jonathan and Saul.

In this passage David was focused on the good aspects of Saul’s (and Jonathan’s) life.

Philippians 4:8 NLT
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

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Introduction:

Shortly after David returned to Ziklag from his successful raid against the Amalekites he was met by a man coming from Saul’s camp at Gilboa.

It would have been a three or four day trip walking from Mount Gilboa to Ziklag, a distance of approximately 80 miles.

Question.  Why do you think this man came to see David?

2 Samuel 1:1-16 NLT
David Learns of Saul’s Death
¹ After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. ² On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.
³ “Where have you come from?” David asked.
“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.
⁴ “What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”
The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”⁵ “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?”
David demanded of the young man.
⁶ The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. ⁷ When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him.
‘How can I help?’ I asked him.⁸ “He responded, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.
⁹ “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’
¹⁰ “So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”
¹¹ David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.
¹³ Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”
And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”¹⁴ “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” David asked.
¹⁵ Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. ¹⁶ “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 1:1-16 NLT
David Learns of Saul’s Death

¹ After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. 

2^nd Samuel is a continuation of 1^st Samuel.

• 1^st and 2^nd Samuel were originally one book.

Stories at the end of 1 Samuel included the following:

David Destroys the Amalekites

1 Samuel 30:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. ¹⁸ David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives.

David and his men had killed many Amalekites because of what they had done to David’s city Ziklag and family.

1 Samuel 30:26 NLT
²⁶ When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.

The Death of Saul

1 Samuel 31:1-2 NLT
^31:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.

• 2 Samuel begins with David returning to Ziklag after his victory over the Amalekites. 

² On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp.    Similar wording in most translations.

• Shortly after David returned to Ziklag from his successful raid against the Amalekites he was met by a man coming from Saul’s camp at Gilboa.

It would have been a three or four day trip walking from Mount Gilboa to Ziklag (approximately 80 miles).

Question.  Why do you think this man came to see David? 

He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.

Torn clothes and dirt on a person’s head are signs of mourning, grief, anguish or sorrow.

This may or may not be how the man really felt.

This may have been a “show” to impress David.

As the story progress, this man appears to be an opportunist, looking out for himself. 

³ “Where have you come from?” David asked.

“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.        Similar wording in most translations.

I escaped from the Israelite camp.    Verse two stated that he came from Saul’s army camp.

Is this also a lie?

There is no indication that this man was a member of Saul’s army. Most likely he was not a member of Saul’s army.

In 1 Samuel 15 Saul was slaughtering the Amalekites. The Amalekites were the bad guys. 

⁴ “What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”

At this point in time, David was not aware of what had happened to Saul. 

The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle.

Some translations (5) say “Our” army.

Other translations say “the people” fled, the “troops” fled, “the Israelites”, or “the men”.

Again there appears to be “holes” in the man’s story.

• There appears to be “holes” in the man’s story. 

Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

Could this man have known that David was God’s choice to be the next king of Israel?

1 Samuel 16:1, 12, 13 NLT
Samuel Anoints David as King
^16:1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
¹² So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

• It appears that this man thought that David would be glad to hear that Saul and his sons were dead.

It appears that this man thought that he would be rewarded for bringing David this “good” news. 

⁵ “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David demanded of the young man. 

⁶ The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,

The statement “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” is questionable.

Another lie?

The Amalekite was probably a scavenger looking for valuables left behind by the dead soldiers. 

and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. 

Chariots and Charioteers were a symbol of power and strength.  Saul had no chance to escape.

⁷ When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him. 

⁸ “He responded, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.

The Amalekites had been plaguing the Israelites for generations (from the time they left Egypt). 

⁹ “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’

A third lie?

Did the man think that his story would be more believable to have an “enemy” kill Saul rather than one of his own soldiers put him out of his misery?

1 Samuel 15:1-3 NLT
^15:1 One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! ² This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. ³ Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” 

¹⁰ “So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live.

• This story is different from the story in 1 Samuel 31 and 1 Chronicles 10

1 Samuel 31:4 NLT
⁴ Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”
But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.  

1 Chronicles 10:1-6 NLT
The Death of King Saul
^10:1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. ³ The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him.
⁴ Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to taunt and torture me.”
But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. ⁵ When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died. ⁶ So Saul and his three sons died there together, bringing his dynasty to an end.

The Amalekite may have been hoping this news would get him a big reward.

The Amalekite is lying to gain favor with the person most likely to become the next king.

Saul was probably already dead when the Amalekite found him.

David believed the Amalekite’s story. 

Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

1 Samuel 31 does not mention a crown or armband.

The crown would have verified Saul’s identity as Israel’s king to the Amalekite.

The Amalekite found Saul before the Philistines got to him.

1 Samuel 31:8 NLT
⁸ The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa. 

¹¹ David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.

David could have rejoiced that his enemy was dead.  Instead he fasted and mourned for Saul, Jonathan, the Lord’s army, and the nation of Israel.

They expressed their grief in typical Near Eastern fashion.

• David demonstrated genuine, heartfelt grief for Saul, Jonathan, the Lord’s army, and the nation of Israel by mourning, weeping, and fasting. 

¹³ Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”

And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”

The man was probably unaware of David’s recent hostile encounters with the Amalekites.

¹⁴ “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” David asked.

David always viewed Saul as the “Lord’s anointed one.

1 Samuel 24:6-7 NLT (Saul in a cave)
⁶ He (David) said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” ⁷ So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

1 Samuel 26:9-11 NLT (Saul sleeping)
⁹ “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? ¹⁰ Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. ¹¹ The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”

Leviticus 24:22 NLT
²² “This same standard(s) applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.”

In David’s mind, this standard applied to this Amalekite. 

¹⁵ Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. 

The Amalekite misjudged David’s reaction to his story.

He expected a reward for killing David’s rival but instead he was killed for killing the Lord’s anointed.

• Instead of rejoicing that his enemy was dead, David mourns Saul’s death and executes the man who claims to have killed Saul. 

¹⁶ “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”

The Amalekite’s own testimony brought about his execution.

The Amalekite, not David, was responsible for his own death.

It would have been dangerous for David to kill the Amalekite.  He was still living in Philistine territory, in Ziklag.  The Philistines could have interpreted any sorrow over Saul’s death as treasonous. David was willing to risk danger in order to do what was right.  It was time for David to break from the Philistines and return to Israel.

Wrong motives

Proverbs 14:12 NLT
¹² There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.

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