We Are Your Flesh and Blood

The children of Israel had asked for a king, and the Lord gave them one. What they had thought would bring them safety from the nations that were against them on every side, instead caused a huge internal division. For years, Saul chased after David leaving a rift even after Saul’s death where David ruled over Judah and Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth ruled over other tribes. Abner, commander of Saul’s army and now second to Ish-Bosheth, comes to David in peace and David receives him. But Joab must have revenge and kills Abner. Then two men bring David the head of Ish-Bosheth. Yes, Abner and Ish-Bosheth had been David’s enemies, but David was only interested in one thing now, reconciliation. David has these two wicked men put to death to end the fighting and is anointed as king over all Israel as the Lord had anointed him to be through Samuel many years before.

To Establish the Throne of David

2 Samuel 3:1-11

So You Can Reign Over All

2 Samuel 3:12-23
Abner, the commanders of Saul’s army, the enemy that has chased David for these years, now comes to David and offers him all of the Kingdom that had been in Saul’s hands in

2 Samuel 3:12 Abner sent messengers to David where he was, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me! Look, my hand is with you to bring all of Israel over to you!”

David, of whom God said in

Acts 13:22 And after removing him (Saul), he raised up David for their king, about whom he also said, testifying, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man in accordance with my heart, who will carry out all my will.’

David does not take any retribution or hold any grudge, but openly accepts Abner’s proposition because it means reconciliation for all of the children of Israel who had been divided for these many years. David prepares a feast for Abner and his men in 2 Samuel 3:20, and he listened to Abner, and in 2 Samuel 3:22 “he dismissed him, and he had gone in peace”.

I and My Kingdom are Innocent

2 Samuel 3:24-30

Good in the Eyes of All the People

2 Samuel 3:31-39

When Wicked Men Kill a Righteous Man

2 Samuel 4:1-12
Not everyone in David’s camp was as forgiving as David had been. Abner had killed Asahel, Joab’s brother in 2 Samuel 2:23 So, after Abner met with David, Joab sought him out and killed him.

Then, two from the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe that had agreed with Abner to reconcile with David, killed Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul and king of Israel in

2 Samuel 4:7–8 he was lying on his couch in his bedchamber, and they attacked him and killed him … They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron, and they said … Yahweh has given to my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and on his offspring.”

But David had never lifted his hand against Saul or any of Saul’s descendants and these two do not get the reception they expected. These two had done what might have been common in the world, to kill your opponent, but David says in

2 Samuel 4:11 “ … when wicked men kill a righteous man in his house, on his bed! So then, shall I not seek his lifeblood from your hand, so that I may destroy you from the earth?”

So, David had these wicked men killed and buried the head of Ish-Bosheth in 2 Samuel 4:12.