Day 43: 2 Samuel 3:1–39

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long and drawn out, with David growing stronger and the house of Saul becoming weaker (v. 1).

The “house of Judah” anointed David as their king, but the other tribes continued to recognize the family line of Saul as king. Abner, Saul’s general, installed Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth as king. We are told that he reigned for only two years. Although this kingdom was given to David by God, David would have to take it from the old aristocracy.

The pacifist in me would like to skip the bloody details of the civil war in Israel; the Bible teacher in me knows we shouldn’t. Old regimes rarely crumble without bloodshed. Just like America’s history, Israel’s history was often written in blood.

The first of many battles in the civil war occurred at Gibeon. The results of the battle were to affect David for years to come. Abner commanded the army of Israel. Joab, along with his brothers Abishai and Asahel, commanded the men of Judah. Joab’s troops routed those of Abner. Asahel, Joab’s baby brother, was fleet of foot. He chased the battle-hardened Abner. Abner tried to talk Asahel out of the pursuit, but without success. Finally, Abner struck Asahel with the butt of his spear, merely trying to stop the youth, but the blow killed Asahel and launched a bitter blood-feud. The civil war in Israel lasted a long time.

We now see a fact sadly reflective of human life. Through their behavior, parents teach children to repeat the family sins. Jealousy proved the undoing of Saul. Now his son became jealous and suspicious of someone who had been on his side. Ish-Bosheth accused his general, Abner, of sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines. The Bible offers no evidence to support Ish-Bosheth’s accusation of Abner, but we do know the end result. The soldier completely transferred his loyalties to David. Abner sent a message to David saying, “Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you” (v. 12).

David greeted the offer with a demand: the return of his first wife Michal. The demand resulted in a heart-wrenching side story. Michal had been married for many years to Paltiel. When the soldiers took her away, Paltiel followed behind her weeping until Abner finally forced him to turn back (vv. 15–16).

God does not tell us David’s motive for wanting Michal to return to him. He certainly did not lack for female companionship. Maybe he was indignant because he won her fair and square. Maybe he wanted everything back that was rightfully his. Maybe he used her to demonstrate his political and military power. Maybe he loved her. Clearly Paltiel loved her. Whatever David’s motives might have been, these events mark a crucial change in Israel—and in David’s career.

Since Ish-Bosheth gave the order to return Michal to David, he must have been a party to the agreement. I wonder how different the future might have been for the remaining son of Saul if bitterness had not intervened, but remember Joab and his little brother Asahel?

Abner conferred with the leaders of Israel and arranged for a peaceful transfer of power to King David. Abner even met with the leaders of Benjamin, Saul’s tribe. Then he traveled to Hebron to meet with David. Shortly after Abner left David’s presence, Joab returned from a raid. When he learned Abner had been there, he secretly sent for Abner and murdered the commander of the armies of Saul.

Though we may not feel a deep bond with Abner as we did with the noble Jonathan, his murder still saddens me. In all that we read about him, Abner acted with honor. He deserved better. Joab, on the other hand, was a vengeful and murderous man.

We would wonder why David put up with Joab’s evil but for two facts. First, we learn in 1 Chronicles 2:13–17 that Joab was David’s nephew. Second, David doubtless felt that he owed Joab loyalty because they had weathered the fugitive years together. Sometimes justice is more important than loyalty or lineage. In my opinion, David should have opted for justice.

David ordered and led in public mourning for Abner. His grief demonstrated that he had not participated in the murder, so the leaders of Israel proceeded to accept him as king. But the repercussions of the murder continued.

Since Abner was dead, two of Ish-Bosheth’s junior officers took it upon themselves to kill Saul’s heir. They would have done well to consider what David did to a certain Amalekite. They brought the severed head of Ish-Bosheth to David.

This time we don’t have to wonder about the time frame of David’s reply. He responded that since he killed the Amalekite, “Should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” (2 Sam. 4:11).

So at last the stage was set. The anointing from the now long-dead Samuel was about to reach fruition. David was about to become the king of all Israel.