2 Samuel

2 Samuel 2:1-7

David was no longer a fugitive now that Saul was gone.  He had been staying in the Philistine city of Ziklag to avoid Saul.  Since he had been restored to the Lord it seemed like the time to go home.  Hoever, to run back as if only to claim the throne would look opportunitstic.  David does the only right thing, he inquires of the Lord and leaves it up to Him.  In obedience (and confidence), David went to Hebron.  Hebron was one of the main cities in Judah.

The men of Judah came to David and anointed him.  While he had already been annointed this is what we might call a 'fresh' anointing.  This is like a fresh vote of confidence as the people named David as their leader.  David didn't pursue the throne, the throne came to him by the men of Judah.

The men of Jabesh-gilead confiscated Saul's body and buried him, so David sent a contingent to give them his thanks and blessing.  We again see David's compassion and love for Saul & Jonathon; he never saw Saul as an enemy.  I believe this was sincere but it was also politically wise and probably went a long way in earning the respect of those who followed Saul.

2 Samuel 2:8-11

Abner, the commander of Saul's army, had set up Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king and taken Gilead.  It was Abner who took David to Saul after he killed Goliath.  Saul was also at Saul's side the entire time he was pursuing David, so there was probably an animosity bordering hatred.  David had also faulted Abner when David had been in the position to kill Saul had he chosen (1 Samuel 26:13-16).  They didn't recognize David as king but Ish-bosheth.  Abner was Saul's cousin.  He probably thought he had no future with David on the throne.  He also seemed to be somewhat power hungry.  Ish-bosheth would have been a puppet king with Abner being the power and authority of the throne.

Ish-bosheth was likely an illegitimae son or a son in law.  Irregardless Abner takes advantage of the tie to declare him king and take control of most of Israel.  He ruled this way for a couple years.  David ruled from Hebron for seven years and a half years, two of which were with this division in place. 

2 Samuel 2:12-23

We are introduced to Joab.  He was David's nephew along with Asahel and Abishi.  Joab was one of David's mighty men.  Abner and Joab, the military commanders from the two competing kings, decided to have a contest of 12 men each.  These men were tough military men and leaders.  They both took great pride in the men that followed them and had confidence in them.  This contest pitted the best against the best in some sort of strange grudge match.  This settled nothing and they ended up being a bloodbath when they killed each other.  Then, an all out war ensued. 

Asahel, son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, was swift-footed and chased after Abner.  Abner tried to get him to stop but he wouldn't.  Abner knew that killing David's nephew and Joabs brother wold establish bad blood that wouldn't end well.  Abner ended up killing him with his spear.

2 Samuel 2:24-32

Now Joab and Abishai and the men of Judah pursued Abner and his men.  Abner stopped on a hill and some of the men of Benjamin were assembled.  Abner proposed a ceasefire.  Abner may have looked a little more formidable when gathered and on a hill but he had lost 360 when Judah only lost 20.  Abner was the one who proposed the challenge earlier, now he wants a cease fire. 

There was almost a sense of Joab stopping long enough to come to his senses.  He immediately agrees, blows the trumpet and leaves.  The transfer of power from Ish-bosheth to David took 2 years. 

© 2016 Doug Ford