Life of David – Early Kingship
April 3, 2011
2 Samuel 1
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The death of Saul and his sons is reported to David
David has the Amalekite killed that claimed to have killed Saul
David mourns the loss of Saul and Jonathan
David Anointed King of Judah
2 Samuel 2:1-4a In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of
Judah?" he asked. The LORD said, "Go up." David asked, "Where shall I go?" "To Hebron," the LORD
answered. 2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal
of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and
its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
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“the course of time” – we’re not told how long this may be
David asks God about going to Judah (probably via the ephod) and God tells him to go to Hebron
Hebron is slightly southwest of Jerusalem and is known for being very rich in fruits and grain
Judah anoints David as king – still a very tribal thing
Remember that David had already been anointed by Samuel years ago
2 Samuel 2:4b-7 When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent
messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, "The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul
your master by burying him. 6 May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show
you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead,
and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."
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David’s first act as king is to commend the men of Jabesh Gilead for retrieving the bodies of Saul and
his sons and burying them
He also uses this to announce his kingship
War Between David and Saul
2 Samuel 2:8-11 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of
Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over
Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over
Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11 The length of time David
was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
Abner:
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1 Samuel 14:49-51 Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter
was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. 50 His wife's name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz.
The name of the commander of Saul's army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle. 51 Saul's
father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
1 Samuel 17
o David kills Goliath
o Saul has Abner find out whose son David is
o Abner brings David to Saul
Life of David – Early Kingship, page 2
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1 Samuel 26
o Saul and his men are chasing David
o God causes a sleep to come over Saul and his men
o David and Abishai go into Saul’s camp where David doesn’t allow Abishai to kill Saul
o David criticizes Abner for not protecting Saul
Since David was also one of Saul’s commanders, he and Abner must have known each other well
Abner remains loyal to the house of Saul and makes Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, king of Israel
Joab:
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First mentioned in 1 Samuel 26 as Abishai’s brother
2 Samuel 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel.
Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were David’s nephews (1 Chronicles 2:12-16)
These brothers had probably been with David since he was at the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22)
They may have joined David out of fear of Saul since they were related to him (David)
Joab will eventually be the commander of David’s armies because hi is the first to take Jerusalem - 1
Chronicles 11:6 David had said, "Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-inchief." Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.
Three Events Remaining in 2 Samuel, Chapter 2
1. Abner’s men and Joab’s men fight each other - 2 Samuel 2:12-17
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Abner is leading the tribe of Benjamin for Ishbosheth
Joab is leading David’s men
They decide to let their men fight each other
Apparently all of the men simultaneously stab each other
One commentator compared the tribal rivalry to gang rivalry
2. Abner kills Asahel (brother of Joab and Abishai) – 2 Samuel 2:18-23
a. After the men fight each other, Asahel chases Abner
b. Abner warns him to aside but Asahel refuses
c. 22 Again Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I
look your brother Joab in the face?" 23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust
the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there
and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen
and died.
d. He runs Asahel through with the butt of his spear – not the point
3. Joab and Abishai go after Abner
a.
b.
c.
d.
To get even for the death of Asahel, Joab and Abishai chase Abner
Abner makes Joab stop (although Joab will get even later)
Joab lost 20 men total
Abner lost 360 men
Life of David – Early Kingship, page 3
War Between Houses of Saul and David
2 Samuel 3:1 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew
stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2 Samuel 3:6-11 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been
strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of
Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?" 8 Abner was very
angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said and he answered, "Am I a dog's head--on Judah's side? This very day I
am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet
now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I
do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul
and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba." 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say
another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
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As Saul’s house grows weaker, Abner’s position grows stronger within Saul’s house (vs. 6)
Scripture never says that Abner slept with Rizpah – just that Ish-Bosheth accuses him of it
Doing something of this nature is a slap in the face to Ish-Bosheth – it’s almost as direct as Abner
challenging Ish-Bosheth for the kingdom
o 1 Kings 2:19-22 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king
stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for
the king's mother, and she sat down at his right hand. 20 "I have one small request to make of
you," she said. "Do not refuse me." The king replied, "Make it, my mother; I will not refuse
you." 21 So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother
Adonijah." 22 King Solomon answered his mother, "Why do you request Abishag the
Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him--after all, he is my
older brother--yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!"
Because of the accusation, Abner tells Ish-Bosheth that he will help David get the entire kingdom of
Israel
Vs. 9 – Abner knew all along that it was God’s will for David to have the kingdom
Vs. 11 – Ish-Bosheth is afraid of Abner because of the power that he’s built
Remember that Ish-Bosheth and Abner are related
2 Samuel 3:12-16 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make an
agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you." 13 "Good," said David. "I will make an
agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal
daughter of Saul when you come to see me." 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul,
demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine
foreskins." 15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16
Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go
back home!" So he went back.
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Abner lets David know his intentions of helping and David is willing to let him
David and Abner both are willing to let go of the past to get what they want
David demands that he get Michal back as his wife – why?
In addition to telling Abner, David sends messengers to Ish-Bosheth asking for Michal
Ish-Bosheth grants his request and takes her away from her second husband
Essentially, Ish-Bosheth carries out the deal that moves Abner to David
Paltiel goes with her crying all the way until Abner sends him home
Life of David – Early Kingship, page 4
2 Samuel 3:17-21 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make
David your king. 18 Now do it! For the LORD promised David, 'By my servant David I will rescue my people
Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'" 19 Abner also spoke to the
Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole house of
Benjamin wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David
prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, "Let me go at once and assemble all Israel
for my lord the king, so that they may make a compact with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart
desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
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The elders of Israel seem to have wanted David for king for awhile
o Abner had worked to strengthen Ish-Bosheth (and himself) and had made him king over Israel –
2 Samuel 2:8-9
o The elders had witnessed Saul’s instability as king
o Remember how God had warned Israel of the negatives of having a king
o 1 Samuel 8 – the elders had come to Samuel asking for a king like the nations around them
Abner seems to work as hard to make David king as he had to strengthen his own position in IshBosheth’s kingdom
Abner and David seem to have patched any hard feelings as this deal is sealed
2 Samuel 3:22-25 Just then David's men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of
plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in
peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the
king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace. 24 So Joab went to the king and said,
"What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know
Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing."
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Joab had not been around and seems to know nothing of the agreement between David and Abner
Word gets to Joab quickly – probably because it was well known how Joab felt about Abner
If David knew of Joab’s feelings toward Abner (Joab’s reaction seems to imply this) he ignored them to
get what he wanted
Joab is naturally suspicious of Abner (vs. 25) but is also concerned about losing his position as
commander of David’s army
Joab has been leader of 600 or so men. Abner has been leader of the majority of Israel
Abner Is Murdered
2 Samuel 3:26-30 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the
well of Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the
gateway, as though to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab
stabbed him in the stomach, and he died. 28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are
forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood fall upon the
head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running
sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food." 30 (Joab and his brother
Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
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Joab sends secretly for Abner and murders him as he returns
This action accomplishes several things for Joab
o It avenges his brother’s death (Asahel)
o It also helps to secure his position as commander of David’s armies
Life of David – Early Kingship, page 5
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Numbers 35 talks about the law that allows taking a life for a life
Asahel’s murder probably doesn’t fit this since it was in warfare – it would have required judgment
Joab is not concerned about the legality or morality of murdering Abner
David claims innocence of Abner’s murder since he knew nothing about it
He passes a curse on the house of Joab
The rest of chapter 3 is the mourning for Abner
David forces Joab to mourn also (vs. 31)
David praises Abner – a prince and a great man has fallen (vs. 38)
2 Samuel 3:35-36 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took
an oath, saying, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun
sets!" 36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them.
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David has the hearts of the people
Vs. 39 – “May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds.”
David is very adamant about justice but it doesn’t always cause him to control his own actions
Death of Ish-Bosheth – 2 Samuel 4
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Vs. 1 - On hearing of Abner’s death, two things happen:
o Ish-Bosheth loses courage – Abner was his only hold on power
o All Israel becomes alarmed – they knew the importance of Abner’s position
Ish-Bosheth doesn’t seem to know what Abner has done with David
Verses 5-8
o Two of Ish-Bosheth’s military leaders come into his house and stab him
o They cut off his head and take it to David
o These men were possibly working for the benefit of Abner and may not have known of his death
Vs. 9-12
o David has these men killed for unjustly murdering Ish-Bosheth
o He has Ish-Bosheth’s head buried in Abner’s tomb
Vs. 4 – parenthetical thought
o Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth
o Mephibosheth became crippled when he and his nurse fled after hearing Saul was dead
o Mephibosheth will show up again in 2 Samuel 9