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.
