1 & 2 Samuel

2 Samuel Chapter 3

Abner Joins David

2Samuel 3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

The son of Saul, Ishbosheth was made king after the death of Saul but not all the tribes followed him so there was constant strife between the two houses. He reigned only seven years until his death. I think we will find that Abner is one that we would call a divider or trouble maker. He didn't seek for peace between the house of Saul and David but sowed the seeds of division and strife. Abner was Saul's uncle but it seems like he just sought to be on the winning side and it didn't take much for him to change sides when it was to his advantage.

2 Samuel 3:2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

Since Ishbosheth accused Abner of defiling the concubine of his father, it was enough to stir Abner into changing sides and helping David obtain the kingdom. Abner must have known the prophecy of Samuel that David was to obtain the kingdom and probably should have helped David to begin with but perhaps being a relative and thinking Saul's kingdom was to his benefit, he stayed with Saul. He didn't seem to have any fear of God or God's will. This anger at the son of Saul though was enough to get him to change sides. Right thing to do but wrong motive here and bad timing. So we see Abner as a bully in a way since he changed sides. He is giving into anger here at being rebuked by Ishbosheth and using this as an excuse to push his weight around and get in good with David. This quick reversal is coming at the wrong time and will cause Joab to suspect him of having an evil motive. The end result will be the death of Abner.

2Samuel 3:12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

David had lots of wives so this part is hard for me to understand why did wanted her back. Perhaps to seal the kingdom since she was the daughter of Saul; but to break up a marriage with someone who loved her is hard to understand. The customs they had back then sure is hard on women.

This was not in the original plan of God. God allowed men to have more than one wife but it was not how he intended for us to live. It was allowed in the law given through Moses because of their hardness of heart but was not the intent when He first created mankind.

In Mark chapter ten Jesus explains that to divorce a wife and marry another is adultery. So I'm thinking that they started adding wives to themselves to satisfy their lust without divorcing their wives and committing the sin of adultery. My speculation there. They still were required to support and take care of the wives they married.

After Jesus came and died for sins things changed. He provided us with the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to abide within us. We now have the power to live godly. We must yield to the Holy Spirit though, our free will is not removed from us. Women can be filled with the Holy Spirit and be lifted out of the past bondage of being someone's property instead of individuals who can choose how they can live. Through Jesus Christ, we all can be free if we choose His way above the ways of the world around us. Jesus actually freed women from the bondage that they use to be under in many other religions. Religions and even some that call themselves Christian that start adding wives to themselves only bring women back into the same bondage Jesus delivered them from. A godly husband that lives by the leading of the Holy Spirit will respect and love His wife as Himself. We can read about this in the book of Ephesians.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to women as well as men. There is no difference through Jesus Christ.

2 Samuel 3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

Michal and David did love each other once and she was David's first wife. Still one can't help but feel bad for this husband who loved her too.

Kind of sad in a way. After all David already had more wives than he should have had. The law of the land in that day though was that one could demand that his property was returned. Yet just because things happened we don't agree with does not mean God agrees with it either. Kings were warned in the day of Moses that they were not to multipy to themselves wives.

Deuteronomy 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

This is exactly what happened to Solomon. They turned his heart away from God to idols.

2Samuel 3:17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

Abner was the one that did help David secure his place as king by convincing the elders of Israel to throw their support behind David even reminding them that this thing was of the Lord. Strange that now he decides to remember God's will in the whole matter.

2Samuel 3:19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

So Abner leaves after helping to pursue the kingdom for David. They were friends. David seems to have forgiven the past when Abner fought for the house of Saul.

2Samuel 3:22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

Joab was very angry at David for trusting Abner and decided to do something about it behind David's back. David did not know what was about to occur. Joab might have been a little jealous also but I think the real reason may have been because Abner killed Joab's brother Asahel. This can be read about in 2 Samuel chapter 2.

Such lack of respect for human life is sad to read about. However I see that lack of respect for human life returning in our day. Especially the babies inside or just born alive outside the womb of the mother being slaughtered at an alarming rate. They are used for medical research and for boby parts which are sold. I grieve over the lives of these little ones continually.

Joab Murders Abner

2Samuel 3:26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

So now Joab uses subtil deception to make Abner think he has a message from David.

2Samuel 3:27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

We see for sure the true reason for Joab's killing of Abner. Yet I wonder why David mourned for Abner since Abner previously was against David being king. David must have been a man that forgave easily those that were connected to the house of Saul. Saul really lost a good faithful person when he allowed jealousy to turn him against David.

David makes sure everyone knows that he had nothing to do with the death of Abner and even curses Joab for this act of murder. Joab is not truly innocent though. He didn't kill Abner in battle or self defense. He acted with deception and tricked Abner into coming close enough to him so that he can kill him privately and took Abner by surprise.

David Mourns Abner

2Samuel 3:31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

David did not punish Joab but left his judgment to the Lord. Mourning Abner also helped to secure his kingdom and was able to rule over it. Joab should have done the same and left the judgment over his brother's death up to the Lord and help unite the kingdom instead of causing more bloodshed. Later Solomon has Joab executed for this act. This story is in 1 Kings chapter 2.

All these things makes me so thankful for the grace and mercy we experienced at the coming of Jesus to die for sins and usher in salvation by His grace. Living and walking in God's Holy Spirit brings in a whole different way to walk and live. It is the good way. -DC

2 Samuel Chapter 4