April
15th
2 Samuel 1
A The Triumphs of David
David hears of Saul’s death
1:
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; 2:
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. 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, 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. 5:
And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou
that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6:
And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon
mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the
chariots and 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 again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me:
for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10:
So I stood upon 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. 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 the LORD, 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 stranger, an Amalekite. 14:
And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth
thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 15:
And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall
upon him. And he smote him 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 the LORD's
anointed.
David
mourns for Saul
17:
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan
his son: 18:
(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow:
behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 19:
The beauty of 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 Askelon; lest
the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the
uncircumcised triumph. 21:
Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be
rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the
mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not
been 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,
with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25:
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan,
thou was slain in thine 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. 27:
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
2
Samuel 2 David - King of Judah
1:
And it came to pass after this, that David inquired 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. 2:
So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife 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, That the men of
Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul. 5:
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said
unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this
kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. 6:
And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will
requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 7:
Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for
your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed
me king over them.
Ishbosheth
King of Israel
8:
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth
the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9:
And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over
Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10:
Ish-bosheth 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. 11:
And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah
was seven years and six months.
Civil
war
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 together 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.
14:
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before
us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15:
Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which
pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants
of David. 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. 17:
And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and
the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 18:
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and
Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. 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, Art thou Asahel? And he
answered, I am. 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
armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. 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? 23:
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end
of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, 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. 24:
Joab also 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. 25:
And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after
Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an 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, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then
in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his
brother. 28:
So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued
after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29:
And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and
passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they 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. 32:
And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his
father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night,
and they came to Hebron at break of day.
2 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.
David’s
sons born
2:
And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn 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, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to
David in Hebron.
Abner
joins with David
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 for the house
of Saul. 7:
And 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, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto
the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends,
and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou
chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 9:
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to
David, even so I do to him; 10:
To translate 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 a word again, because he feared 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, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of
the Philistines. 15:
And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from
Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16:
And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.
Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17:
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye
sought for David in times past to be king over you: 18:
Now then do it: for the LORD 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 that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 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 league with thee,
and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And
David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
Joab
kills Abner
22:
And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a
troop, 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.
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. 26:
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. 27:
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. 28:
And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are
guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of
Ner: 29:
Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on 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 on the
sword, or that lacketh bread. 30:
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain
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 himself followed the bier. 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 over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool
dieth? 34:
Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man
falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept
again over him. 35:
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. 36:
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as
whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 37:
For 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 be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil
according to his wickedness.
As we move into the
second book of Samuel we find that Saul and Samuel are dead and so
the way is clear for David to establish his kingdom and this book
describes his successes and struggles. The book was written by about
930 BC. The first part of the book describes David’s triumphs and
the later part his struggles. In spite of all the trouble that Saul
gave to David, David still behaves honourably toward Saul even in his
death. David always respected him and never put out his hand to hurt
him and now in his death he genuinely mourns for him. After David
establishes himself as king of Judah Ish-bosheth seeks to make
himself king and this brings a long civil war. David is free to have
sons and Abner Saul’s greatest mighty man joins David but is later
killed by Joab. But first we must come back to David’s and Saul.
The death of Saul was a great tragedy in Israel. In fact the life of
Saul was a great tragedy. He had such potential and yet he was week
in his spirit and never had the mind of God in his soul. He said of
himself l have acted like a fool and been very wrong in what l have
done. A messenger arrives in camp of the death of Saul. David asked
him where he had come from and he said l have escaped from Saul’s
army. David asked how the battle went and he said the army was routed
and Jonathan and Saul are dead. He said that he accidentally came
upon Saul who was leaning on his spear and was not dead yet. And he
called on me to kill him so l stood on him and killed him. So l did
stand on him and kill him. And l took his crown and bracelets and
have brought them to you. David tore his clothes and so did the men
that were with him. They wept and fasted and mourned until the end of
day. They mourned for Saul, Jonathan and the people of Israel that
had been killed. Then David questioned him again who are you he said
and he said l am an Amalekite. David said to him how was it that you
were not afraid to kill the Lords anointed? There was no answer.
David called on one of his young men to execute him and so he died.
David lamented over Saul and Jonathan (and he wrote the way in which
Israel might mourn and it was written in the book of Jasher) What
follows is a song of mourning.
The
beauty of Israel is slain upon your high places:
how
are the mighty fallen!
Do not tell this
in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon;
lest the
daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the
daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
You
mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no
dew,
neither let
there be rain, upon you,
nor fields of
offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away,
the shield of
Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
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.
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.
You
daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you
in scarlet, with other delights,
who put on
ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
How
are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
O
Jonathan, you were slain in your high places.
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.
How
are the mighty fallen,
and the weapons
of war perished!
This touching song causes the hardest heart to weep.
The next thing that
David did was to enquire of the Lord as to what he was to do next.
David always seemed to seek the Lord at times of important decisions.
He asked whether he should go and where he should go. The LORD said
Go and go to Hebron. David moved his wives and all his men to Hebron.
The men of Judah gathered to anoint David king. When David heard that
the men of Jabesh-Gilead had buried Saul he blessed them for what
they had done. But Abner who was captain over Saul’s army took
Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and made him king over Israel. Ish-bosheth
was 40 years old when he reigned over Israel. He only reigned for two
years. David was king in Hebron for 7 ½ years. This rival king to
David caused a long civil war in Israel. Next we have the interesting
incident where mighty men of Ish-bosheth and David meet at the pool
of Gibeon. Joab with David’s men on one side of the pool and Abner
with Ish-bosheth’s men on the other side. Then Abner said to Joab
lets allow our men to rise up and fight. So twelve men were chosen
from both sides. All twelve men killed each other. The valley was
called ‘the field of swords’. That day there was a great battle
and Abner was beaten in battle by David’s men. Asahel (who was very
fast on his feet) chased after Abner and Abner asked who are you
chasing me? and because Asahel refused to stop chasing him that he
turned his spear around and killed Asahel with it. Joab and Abishai
also chased after Abner even until night fall. Joab asked why they
were still pursuing him. In the morning Joab blew a trumpet and all
the people stood still and stopped fighting. Joab returned and found
that he had lost 20 men against 360 men of Abner. Joab walked all
night to Hebron in the morning. This was the beginning of a long
civil war but David’s side got stronger and Saul’s side weaker.
Then we read that David had a number of sons from his wives. Then we
read that Abner throws in his lot with David. Abner had fallen out
with Ish-bosheth. Abner sent a message to David saying l want to be
on your side and help you to establish the kingdom. David said good
enough but bring my wife with you. Then Abner said to the Elders of
Israel you sought for a king now set up David as your king. And so
Saul’s greatest captain Abner and David’s greatest enemy became
his greatest asset and one who drew the kingdom together for David.
Joab however was most put out that Abner had taken such a close
association with David. He felt that Abner had come to spy out
David’s court. Joab sent a message to Abner asking him to speak to
him, but when he came Joab killed him in revenge for his brother
Asahel. David insisted that Joab and his family should mourn for
Abner. David wept and all the people wept. He said Abner died as a
fool dies. He was not in chains he was killed before wicked men. And
he wept and all the people wept with him. David refused any food that
day and he declared that a mighty prince and a great man had fallen
that day in Israel. David said God will deal with these wicked men
according to what they had done.
- How did David react to Saul's death?
- How does David deal with rebellion?
- How does the rebellion get subdued?
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