Day 88: 2 Samuel 1-3

(While 2 Samuel was the fifth of the twelve books that made up the portion of the Old Testament known as the historical section, it really ought to be treated as the same book as 1 Samuel. It was believed Isaiah compiled this book (around 700 BC) from records kept by Samuel, David, Nathan, and Gad. This book was not separated out into two books until around 289-294 BC during the Septuagint translation. The previous half of this book documented the transition from God leading Israel through Judges to Saul (the first Israelite king) leading Israel. This book documented David's rule (second king) over Israel.)

2 Samuel 1
¹ And 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;

(While Saul and Israel was fighting the Philistines, David was dealing with his own conflict with the Amalekites.)

² it came 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.
³ And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
⁴ And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, 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.

(Three days after Saul and Jonathan were killed, a man went to David and gave him the news.)

⁵ And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?
⁶ And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.
⁷ And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
⁸ And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
⁹ And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.
¹⁰ So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

(This man told a story of Saul’s death. The correct version was documented in 1 Samuel 31:4. This man  was not Saul’s armorbearer but an Amalekite, and he told a different version of the story. This man lied. Remember, the Amalekites and Philistines celebrated Saul's death and desecrated his body. From the Amalekites' perspective, the death of Saul was something to brag about and even, perhaps, claim a role in accomplishing. Regardless, the Amalekite did have the crown and bracelet from Saul.  The Amalekite, as well as others, recognized David as King of Israel. Was this an attempt at gaining favor from David?)

¹¹ Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
¹² and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
¹³ And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.

(David asked him who he was. He did not hide the fact that he was an Amalekite. This man must have thought it would make David happy that he killed Saul since in reality, Saul actually killed himself. He must have also thought he alone could claim to have killed Saul because he had the crown and bracelet. The Amalekite attempted to personally profit from delivering the crown and bracelet. This man proved he didn't really know David by thinking that David would be grateful. History has shown that David had always shown reverence to Saul, who David referred to as "Jehovah's anointed.")

¹⁴ And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?
¹⁵ And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him, so that he died.
¹⁶ And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.

(David still saw Saul as one anointed by God. David had the Amalekite killed. David, a master with his words, stated he only responded to what the Amalekite testified with his own mouth.)

(Verses 17-27:  David mourned the death of Saul and Jonathan with what has been referred to as "The Song of the Bow.")

(Verses 17-18: the introduction.)

¹⁷ And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
¹⁸ (and he bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

("The book of Jashar" was also referenced in Joshua 10:13.)

(Verses 19-27: the song.)

¹⁹ Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!
²⁰ Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
²¹ Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
²² From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.
²³ Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.
²⁴ Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
²⁵ How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.
²⁶ I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women.

(David used the word "I" only one time in this song, in a personal expression of distress for the loss of his "brother Jonathan.")

²⁷ How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!




2 Samuel 2
¹ And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

(David inquired of the Lord, twice. God sent David to Hebron which was located in the south of Judah. At this time, David was still in Ziklag, a territory of the Philistines.)

² So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
³ And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
⁴ And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

(David was anointed King of Judah. David still didn't seize the throne. He was approached by men of Judah. Who was king over the rest of Israel?)

⁵ And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of Jehovah, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
⁶ And now Jehovah show lovingkindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
⁷ Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be ye valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

(David blessed the men of Jabesh-gilead for taking down the displayed bodies of Saul and his sons and for burying them (1 Samuel 31:11-13).)

⁸ Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
⁹ and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

(Abner, Saul's General and cousin (1 Samuel 14:50), made Saul's son Ish-bosheth King of Israel, which included Ephraim and Benjamin. Abner had been humiliated by David during a run-in that David had with Saul (1 Samuel 26) when David accused Abner of not protecting his king well. It makes sense that Abner would have wanted someone other than David set up as king. Also, it would have been tradition in the surrounding nations to promote from within the bloodline.)

¹⁰ Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
¹¹ And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
¹² And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
¹³ And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

(A confrontation happened between Joab and Abner, two great military men. Joab was David’s nephew (1 Samuel 26:6). Joab was a complex man. Pay attention to the events that surrounded him.)

¹⁴ And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
¹⁵ Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

(A contest was set up that was initiated by Abner which would ultimately begin a civil war. Twelve men from Benjamin were on Ish-bosheth’s side. Remember, Saul was a Benjamite. Joab's twelve men were from Judah.)

¹⁶ And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

(All twenty-four men died during this contest. Helkath-hazzurim meant "field of swords" or more specifically "the field of sharp swords.")

¹⁷ And the battle was very sore that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

(Verse 17 spoke of "the battle" between the armies, this was after the "contest" that was recorded in verse 16. The battle between the armies was great that day. Abner (from Israel/Saul) was beaten by Joab (from Judah/David).)

¹⁸ And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

(Zeruiah was David's sister (1 Chronicles 2:16). Asahel was so fast they compared him to a wild roe/gazelle.)

¹⁹ And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
²⁰ Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it thou, Asahel? And he answered, It is I.
²¹ And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

(It seemed that Asahel was pursuing Abner partially for the glory he'd receive for killing the General of the Israelite army and taking his armor as a trophy.)

²² And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

(Asahel chased down Abner relentlessly. Abner warned Asahel but it did nothing to stop him...)

²³ Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

(Abner killed Asahel, Joab’s brother.)

²⁴ But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

(Regardless of Abner killing Asahel in self-defense, Joab and Abishai still chased him down.

²⁵ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.
²⁶ 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?
²⁷ And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother.
²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

(Abner attempted to negotiate peace. Joab accepted. Joab was in charge. The men with him took direction from him.)

²⁹ And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.
³⁰ And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
³¹ But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

(Joab, who led David’s servants, lost twenty men. The Benjamites and Abner’s men lost three hundred and sixty men. The contest and this battle was over, Joab beat Abner 360-20.)

³² And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and the day brake upon them at Hebron.




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

(There was a family feud between Saul’s and David’s house. While David's house grew stronger, Saul's grew weaker. Unfortunately for the nation, this family feud resulted in a long civil war.)

² And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born 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, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

(The mothers of David's sons were: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, Abigal the Carmelite, Maacah the Geshur, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. David aquired more wives/concubines. This chapter did begin with: "Now there was long war...")

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 in the house of Saul.

(Was it Abner's plan to side with a "weak" man from the house of Saul in order to gain more power for himself?)

⁷ Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
⁸ Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head that belongeth to Judah? This day do I show kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

(Abner was accused of "going in unto" one of Saul’s concubines and was very offended by the accusation.)

⁹ God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;
¹⁰ to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.
¹¹ And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

(Abner told Ish-bosheth that he would now support David and help David fulfill what God had promised him.)

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 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

(Abner wanted to make a league (covenant) with David which came with the condition that Abner would "bring about all Israel" to David. David said only if he got his wife Michal back.)

¹⁵ And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.
¹⁶ And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned.

(Michal's husband followed after her but Abner told him to go back to his home. Abner must have been a man of "reputation." In just this chapter, he put great amounts of fear into the king of Israel and into a man whose wife was taken from him, neither of the men fighting back.)

¹⁷ And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:
¹⁸ now then do it; for Jehovah 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.
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 to the whole house of Benjamin.

(Abner made his endorsement of David as king of Israel known to the elders of Israel.)

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 covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

(David received Abner and his men with a feast. Next, Abner would bring all of Israel to David so they could all come into agreement (covenant) with David being king.)

²² And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, 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.

(By the time Joab had returned, Abner was gone "campaigning" for David. Remember, Abner killed Joab's brother (in self-defense).)

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 told David that Abner was deceiving him. Joab seemed upset that Abner was in David's presence and then was sent away "in peace." Joab still wanted to equal out Justice.)

²⁶ And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
²⁷ And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

(Joab killed Abner because he killed his brother Ashael. Joab deceived and killed Abner without David knowing about it. If this was the right move on Joab's part, why would he hide it from David?)

²⁸ And afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
²⁹ let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon 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 by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

(David stated he and the kingdom were innocent for the blood of Abner. David stated the guilt would be on Joab and his family and "cursed" them. The phrase, "let there not fail from the house of Joab..." actually meant, "May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation...")

(As king, David stated the will for the nation that Joab acted apart from the nation. Joab and David would continue to have some complex situations between the two of them.)

³⁰ So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
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 followed the bier.

(When David "followed the bier" it was similar to someone today walking behind the procession to the grave.)

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 for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?

(Why was David so sad about Abner’s death? Abner was Saul’s cousin and David covenanted with Jonathan regarding taking care of Saul’s family. Did David feel responsible for Abner’s death?)

³⁴ Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him.
³⁵ And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught 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.

(David's actions pleased the people, their purpose and progress was facilitated by their king.)

³⁷ So 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 are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

(David's mourning of Abner caused the people to feel confident that their king was righteous. The people were able to confidently support David as king.)

(This post covered David's first actions as king: having the Amalekite killed that claimed to have killed Saul and David becoming king over a united Israel.)

Day 89