Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Civil war had broken out and David’s side got stronger while Ishbosheth’s side (representing Saul) got weaker. This is not unexpected, because David was God’s Anointed and the declared-by-God ruler of ALL Israel, not Judah. But that doesn’t mean that David was any smarter than anyone else in existence. We all have faults, and David also had his. David had once had Michal as wife, but Saul took her away. He married Ahinoam, a Jezreelitess. Then Abigail, widow of Nabal. Then Maakah, daughter of the king of Geshur. Then Haggith. Then Abital. And then Eglah. During his time in Hebron he had six sons. One of which, third born, was Absalom. David also had daughters. David was proving to be weak in his passions and a fool when it came to women. From God’s point of view, David was not doing well in this area. God NEVER wanted men to have more than one wife, period. And SPECIFICALLY warned against the practice of multiple wives in Deuteronomy 17:16-17. David sought the Lord with his heart, but like all of us he had areas where he was not letting the Lord have lordship. May we learn from David and only seek to emulate his best attributes.

Abner (around sixty years old) has been spending time solidifying his position within the House of Saul. I think that points to his trying to be the power behind the throne and supports my timeline theory a little. He becomes so secure, that he starts acting like he IS the ruler. Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Abner decided he liked her and slept with her. This did NOT sit well with Ishbosheth – and rightly so. When you sleep with a king’s concubine or wife (whether the king is alive or dead), you’re declaring that you are stepping into his role. You’re challenging his rule. You’re claiming the crown (We’ll see more of this later in Solomon’s early days as king). Ishbosheth is in the right on this one, since HE is the rightful king and Abner is in effect stepping over his head to claim Saul’s throne.

Abner does NOT like Ishbosheth correcting him. He rages about how weak Ishbosheth is and how powerful he is. He even makes a comment that shows he knows David is the God-appointed ruler of Israel, which means he never fully submitted to the Lord himself. Abner vows to see David take the throne and leaves. Ishbosheth isn’t powerful. He doesn’t have the army behind him. He can say nothing. Abner sends messengers to David with entreaties of peace. David says give me back Michal who Saul took from me and we’ll talk. Michal had been given to Paltiel, the son of Laish. This man LOVED Michal. He wept as they took her from him and he followed along behind them weeping (it is possible they also had had five children together – 2 Samuel 21:8). Abner finally forces him off, but it is truly sad.

Abner talked to the heads of Israel and privately with the elders of Benjamin and came to David at Hebron (city, not region) to tell him that David’s kingship of all Israel was favourable to the elders. David held a festival for Abner and made a covenant with Abner and sent him away in peace.

But Joab had been raiding and only came when Abner had JUST left. He heard of it, was ticked at David – he held a grudge against Abner for killing his brother – and stormed out. He should have respected the wishes of his king. He should have been a faithful man. He was not. He sent messengers to Abner and enticed him back to the gateway of Hebron (NOT in the city) and killed him there. When David heard he wasn’t happy and declared he and his house were blameless. He called for the blame to fall on Joab and Joab’s line. He also stated the fact that Abner was a fool. Hebron was one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7; 21:11). If Abner had stayed INSIDE the city and not OUTSIDE at the gates, Joab could have done nothing to him. He acted foolishly and he died a fool’s death.

“When the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed and all of Israel was horrified.” (2 Samuel 4:1)

David gave a great tribute for Abner and fasted for the rest of the day. People tried to get him to eat, but he was firm. A great man had died – even if they were on opposite sides – and David was going to honour that. It was a great character trait of David’s to give honour to men who deserved honour, regardless of how he felt about them as people. He respected authority. And by doing this, all the nation of Israel learned that it was NOT David’s idea to strike down Abner who had been on a mission of peace. David proclaimed sackcloth and ashes for everyone. He followed after the coffin and they buried Abner in Hebron and David sang a lament over him there.

Ishbosheth and Israel got the news of Abner’s death and panicked. Everyone assumed David would come and kill all of Saul’s house and anyone loyal to them. Jonathan had had a son (Mephibosheth) who was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan’s death had come – he would have been thirteen at the time of Abner’s death. His nurse had freaked out, grabbed him, and tried to run but dropped him. He became a cripple because of it. This was the kind of panic that was seizing everyone. They were all waiting for death at the hands of an avenging king (David). But it was NOT David’s intentions at all.

Sadly, there were two men in Israel who raided with Saul’s forces named Baanah and Rekab. They were brothers, sons of Rimmon. They were Benjamites, or at least included in Benjamite territory (Judges 20:45-47). They figured the same as everyone else. They came to Ishbosheth’s house in the heat of the day, faked going in for food, and attacked him. He was asleep in his bed resting. They stabbed him and cut off his head. Then they took the head and travelled all night to David in Hebron and presented to him the head of his enemy.

David mentioned another man who had brought trophies to him expecting an award (2 Samuel 1:1-16). He told them that more than that man, they would get what they deserved. They had attacked a guiltless man in his own house in his own bed. David gave orders and his men killed the two brothers. Their hands and feet were cut off and they were hung by the pool of Hebron. Ishbosheth’s head, however, was buried with honour in Abner’s grave at Hebron. David honoured men and loathed betrayers.

Summary

Key Players: God, David, Abner, Joab, Ishbosheth

Key Themes: Honour, Civil War, Betrayal, Foolishness

Key Verse(s): 2 Samuel 3:1-5, 12-14, 28-30; 4:1-3, 7-8, 12