II Samuel 1:1-2- Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
This man came to give David an update on the battle.
II Samuel 1:4- And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
David wanted to know how this man knew that Saul and Jonathan were dead. And this man did something very unwise.
This man told a lie. He said that Saul had been wounded in battle and had asked him to kill him, but remember, Saul and his armorbearer killed themselves. This man must have found Saul's body before the Philistines got to it because he had Saul's crown and bracelet, which was what he showed David to prove that he was telling the truth.
How do you think David took this report?
II Samuel 1:11-12- Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
David was so upset. He never wanted Saul dead, and he certainly didn't want his best friend to die that way! Remember, anytime someone wanted to kill Saul David wouldn't let them. He said that you shouldn't kill the Lord's anointed.
II Samuel 1:13-15- And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
David knew that the Lord required murderers to be put to death. And this man said he was a murderer. His lie cost him his life. But, why would he lie? He lied because he thought David would reward him.
II Samuel 4:10- When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
David didn't give him the reward he expected. And David was very upset that Saul and Jonathan had died in battle!
II Samuel 1:17- And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
Now what was David to do? He would ask God what to do, because he learned long ago not to do anything unless God wanted him to.
II Samuel 2:1- And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
David had been on the run from Saul for years! He had amassed an army, and gained wealth and a family. How old do you think David was?
II Samuel 5:4- David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
II Samuel 2:4a- And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
The men of Judah readily accepted David as their king. At 30 years old they annointed him the king over Judah. But, Israel was still trying to follow Saul.
II Samuel 2:8-10- But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
It seemed that David would be struggling with Saul's family for a while longer. If Jonathan had just gone with David like he knew he should have, David would be reigning with Jonathan at his side and the fighting would have ended. But Jonathan didn't want to obey God, and so he died with his father on the battle field and left his country to battle for the throne. Oh, how much it costs us when we do things our way instead of God's way!
II Samuel 2:11- And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
For seven and one half years the people of Israel argued and battled about who would be the king- Saul's son or David. Abner was the captain of Ishbosheth's army (Saul's son) and Joab was the captain of David's army.
II Samuel 2:17- And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
Many people died in this battle, including Joab's brother. And Joab blamed Abner for his death.
II Samuel 2:25-26- And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
Both Abner and Joab knew that if they kept fighting there wouldn't be anyone left to need a king. Around 380 soldiers had died in that one fight.They decided to call the battle off before it got too bloody. But the war raged on.
II Samuel 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.
God wanted David to rule over all Israel. He had anointed David back when he was a young teenager by the hand of Samuel. God knew what He wanted and He was going to work things out His way.
God allowed things to happen in Ishbosheth's army that turned his captain, Abner against him. Abner contacted David and told him he was willing to help David become the king.
II Samuel 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.
David knew that this could be a trap, so he made a request.
II Samuel 3:13- 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.
David loved his two new wives, but he still loved Michal. Michal was the wife who saved his life and stood by him against her own father, the king Saul.
II Samuel 3:15-16- And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
Abner took Michal from the second husband that Saul made her marry and brought her back to David. Her new husband, Phaltiel, didn't want to lose her, but he couldn't stop what was happening.
Once David had Michal, Abner went about talking to all the leaders of the town and cities in Israel. He reminded them of how wonderful a captain David was in Saul's army when he was first king. He told them that David had been chosen by God to take over after Saul's death. He got 20 of the elders of Israel to come to a feast that David prepared.
II Samuel 3:20-21- 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. 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.
David had sent Abner away in peace. Joab wasn't around for this feast. And he wasn't too happy to hear that his brother's killer had been allowed to live.
Joab didn't care that Abner was going to help David gain the kingdom. All Joab could see was his desire for revenge.
II Samuel 3:26-27, 30- 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. 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. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
Oh, Joab! This move for revenge could have destroyed any chance of David getting the kingdom without a longer and more bloody war! David would have to act very wisely.
II Samuel 3:31-32, 35-37- 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. 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. 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. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
