2 Samuel 1-4 “Intrigues”

13 So Saul died because he was unfaithful to YaHWeH. He failed to obey YaHWeH’s command, and he even consulted a medium 14 instead of asking YaHWeH for guidance. So YaHWeH killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles 10:1–14 (NLT)

26 When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from YaHWeH’s enemies,” he said. 27 The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited… “Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people!” Proverbs 18:16 1 Samuel 30:26–31 (NLT)

2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect. 2 Samuel 1:1-2

6 The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him… 8 “He responded, ‘Who are you?’ “‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him. 9 “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’ 10 “So I killed him…for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.” 2 Samuel 1:7-10

“This narrative account not only provides interesting historical data but also clears David of any suspicions that may have been aroused by his possession of Saul’s royal jewelry. David acquired them not by participating in the battle against Saul but by executing Saul’s killer.” Robert D. Bergen

17 Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 18 and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar. ("Book of the Just Man“ or “Scroll of the Righteous”) 2 Samuel 1:17-18

13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. Joshua 10:13 (NLT)

“We now begin those “political intrigues” that plagued David throughout all his life. Even though David sought the mind of God, he could not escape the plots and plans of others; and because he was indebted to these men, it was difficult for him to oppose them. David’s march to the throne was a difficult one.” Warren W. Wiersbe

Mahanaim

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab and the name of the younger Michal. 1 Samuel 14:49 (NASB95)

Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal (“a man of Baal”). 1 Chronicles 8:33 (NASB95)

“The names Ish-bosheth and Ashba'al are unusual in some ways, as they have ambiguous meanings in the original Hebrew that are puzzling. In Hebrew, for Ish-bosheth, "ish" means "[great] man" and "boshet" means "[given to] bashfulness [or humility]" or "[sensitive to] shame", but it could also mean "shameful (or shamed) person".” Wikipedia

9 May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what YaHWEH has promised him! 10 I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.” 2 Samuel 3:9–10 (NLT)

In 1956 the Pool of Gibeon was discovered six miles north of Jerusalem. A tunnel runs from the pool to Jerusalem. It is an astonishing 80 feet deep, and was dug sometime before 1000 BC.

Pool of Gibeon

14 Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” “All right,” Joab agreed. 15 So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. 16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. 2 Samuel 2:14-16

So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords. 17 A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David. 18 Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, 19 and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. 2 Samuel 2:16-19

That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker. 2 Samuel 3:1

1 Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second was Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess… Deuteronomy 17:17 “He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 1 Chronicles 3:1–3 (NASB95)

The diversity of David’s harem suggests that he was deliberately using marriages for political, as well as familial, reasons; he was in fact skillfully consolidating his power base with them. David’s marriage to “Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur” suggests that David established an alliance with a society east of the Jordan and immediately north of Ish- Bosheth’s capital city of Mahanaim. Robert Bergen

Mahanaim

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.” 13 “All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.” Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim. (25:44) 2 Samuel 3:12-13

9 YaHWeH said to Moses, 10 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. “When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally. 12 These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community. Numbers 35:9–12 (NLT)

So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon. 2 Samuel 3:30

The calamities David mentioned—“a running sore or leprosy,” having a family member “who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food”—are essentially a summary of the litany of Torah curses directed against Israelites who violated Yahweh’s covenant ( Lev 26:14–39; Deut 28:15–68). On his deathbed David will later cite Joab’s murder of Abner as one of two reasons for ordering his general’s execution. Robert Bergen

When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear. 2 Samuel 4:1

(Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.) 2 Samuel 4:4

"To sleep at noon, and without a guard, speaks him both sluggish and secure. He died therefore in his sloth, who had lived slothfully all his days." (Trapp)

"While it is true that God overrules all the doings of men, and compels them ultimately to serve His high purposes, it is equally true that no servant of His can ever consent to do evil that good may come. It is an arresting truth that our Lord in the days of his earthly life would not accept the testimony of demons." G. Campbell Morgan

"By this act of justice, David showed to all Israel that he was a decided enemy to the destruction of Saul's family; and that none could lift up their hands against any of them without meeting with appropriate punishment." Adam Clarke

"Thus David acted with strict justice in this case also, not only to prove to the people that he had neither commanded nor approved of the murder, but from heartfelt abhorrence of such crimes, and to keep his conscience void of offense towards God and towards man." Keil and Delitzsch

7 Rest in YaHWeH and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for YaHWeH, they will inherit the land. Psalm 37:7–11 (NASB95)

10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. 11 But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. Psalm 37:7–11 (NASB95)