April 21: 2 Samuel 1-4

April 21, 2 Samuel 1-4

2 Samuel 1 We are reminded again about the news of Saul’s death. However this time, we hear about a non-Israelite that attempted to take credit for the death of King Saul. He had a big story about how it all happened and was expecting to get on the good side of the ‘new’ King, David. But the proof was little hints on how this non-Israelite told the story and that was by using the word ‘chance’ in his story in verse 6. This idea of ‘chance’ shows something deeper and in the Hebrew there is no word for ‘chance’ as all things come from the hand of God. We already learned how Saul really died, and this guy seemed to have found the crown of Saul and made up a story to appease the new king - David. However, the reward that this guy received was death, with his blood being on his own head for the lies that he told. David and all Israel lamented over the death of Saul & Jonathan. David wrote a song for all of Judah to memorize. In the song, David still chose to honor Saul as God’s anointed, regardless of how many times Saul tried to take David’s life. In it David also honors Jonathan, expressing his love for Jonathan. This is not at all to be construed as sexual love for Jonathan, rather Jonathan’s self-denial and putting David before his own needs/inheritance of the Kingship, as he would have succeeded Saul on the throne, shows the Brotherly love they had for each other.  

2 Samuel 2 David inquired to the Lord if he should go to Judah, and God told him to go. So, David brought his 2 wives with him and he became King of Judah. Then David blessed the men of Jabesh-gilead that had taken Saul’s body and buried him - they showed sincere respect for Saul. 

Then we learn of Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, taking Saul’s oldest son Ish-Bosheth and made him King over Gilead, to be King for Israel. He reigned for about 2 years - but the house of Judah followed David for about seven and a half years. Then we learn about a sad battle between Abner’s men and Joab’s men (Joab was a commander of David’s army). They let their men battle against each other and compete before them. The battle was in close quarters and basically killed each other, the battle was fierce. Then we are told about Abner (Saul’s commander) being chased by Asahel (who was one of David’s mighty men - one of the best).  Asahel was incredibly fast on his feet, chasing Abner. Basically, neither of them would quit running, until Abner basically stopped dead in his tracks and shoved the butt of his sword into Asahel’s stomach, killing him. So, Joab and another pursued Abner, and then they got the Benjamites to join them in the pursuit. Abner called out to Joab, telling him that if they continued down this road, it would end in sadness (pursuing their brothers). Because of this, Joab called off the pursuit. Numerous men died prior to that.

2 Samuel 3 The house of David and Saul were continually at war. David’s house grew stronger and Saul’s became weaker. David had 6 wives at this point and had a bunch of sons while he was in Hebron for the seven and a half years. In the meantime, Abner was gaining strength in Saul’s army. Abner slept with one of Saul’s concubines and Ish-Bosheth (Saul’s son) was furious, as he should have been. Taking one of Saul’s concubines was an act of taking over Saul’s kingship. But one of Saul’s sons challenges this act of Abner. Abner reminded Abner of his loyalty, but now disgraced, Abner was going to make it his goal to get David onto the throne, because that is what God said would happen. Ish-Bosheth had no words. Abner reached out to David to make a covenant with him. David agreed, as long as Abner got David’s first wife Michal back to him. So, they took Michal away from her husband and he didn't want to lose her, so he followed her weeping, until they told him to go home. 

Abner met with the elders of Israel and told them that David was to be King, as stated by God, and to make it happen. Abner went and met with David, and they had a feast together. Then David sent Abner away in peace.

Joab was furious that David let him leave, as Joab explained that Abner was only trying get on the inside to figure out his military tactics (remember that Abner was previously commander in Saul’s army and that Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel, so Joab has a personal vendetta against Abner). When Joab left David, he sought out Abner and murdered him. David was not pleased with what Joab did! David needed Joab, so he cursed him instead of killing him. And David mourns for Abner, showing that it wasn’t his will that Abner (past follower of Saul’s house) had died. Leading the idea that David and all of the people of Israel shouldn’t be against the house of Saul and mourned properly through fasting and mourning. 

The people wept.

2 Samuel 4 When Ish-Bosheth heard that Abner was dead, his courage failed (that was his commander), as well as knowing that it was David’s commander that killed his family member. Ish-Bosheth had two other captains from the tribe of Benjamin, that we will learn a little about in a few… but the narrator throws here in the middle of this Jonathan’s only remaining son, Mephibosheth, he was lame because he was dropped as a little kid by his nurse (we will learn more about him later… so remember this!). 

Moving back to the captains… they came to Ish-Bosheth’s house as he was taking a nap. They pretended to be there on business, only to go into his room and kill him and cut off his head. They took the head to David, expecting him to be very proud of them. Instead, he gives them the reward of death for murdering a righteous man. David was not against killing the guilty, but not cold murder. This act also showed those who followed Saul, that this new king David, wasn’t into killing the opposing kingship. Instead it was David that dealt harshly with those who killed Saul’s family members, and that Saul’s own tribe was responsible for the murder of Saul’s family - not David.

To sum it all up:

• Drama. Yeah, there is a lot of it going on in these chapters - but you will soon see how God ties all of this together and how he is building up His story.
• Always know that God is there for you. Trust him and pursue Him not, sin