Abner Joins David
3 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
First civil war in Israel, for 7 years it goes on. North is getting weaker during this time, David/Judah gets stronger and stronger.
1993, tel Dan, at gate of ancient city, pic on a stone, inscription written by Syrian King, 830BC, detailing a miliary assault against the House of David. First proof of David outside the Bible.
2 And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; 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. David is recorded to have 8 wives. This is against God’s law but God uses him anyway. The Bible tells the way it should be and the way it was. These sons will be problems for David. 1 Chronicles 3:1-4
6 While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” (in this culture this is a sign of seizing the throne. You don’t mess with a man’s concubines.) Sleeping with the wife or concubine of a past king was a public signal of an attempt to usurp the throne (e.g., 16:21–22). Ish-bosheth is accusing Abner of an attempted coup.
8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. The narrative never reveals whether Ish-bosheth’s accusation is true. However, Abner is so offended that he immediately switches loyalties; the man whom he helped to inherit Saul’s throne (2:8–9) now accuses him of subversion.
9 God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him, 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” (So everyone knew that David should be the next king.) 11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. A very weak king. Maybe this is a hint as to why he wasn’t in battle with his father Saul.
12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” 13 And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.
This appears to be so wrong of a thing for David to do. But politically, it shows that he is Saul’s son in law. Something big in his time, not ours.
17 And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18 Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” Charles Spurgeon sermon “Now then, do it!” Don’t just wish David to by your king, do it. Just like Christ.
19 Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do. Saul was from Benjamin.
20 When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. David entertained the commander of the rival army, Joab, the current general was not there.
22 Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” David didn’t kill him.
24 Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
Abner killed Joab’s brother, plus jealousy, maybe thinking David is going to replace him with Abner.
26 When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle (possibly a woman? Men becoming like women?) or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
Abner was killed at Hebron, a city of refuge. Abner probably felt safe meeting with Joab because of this.
David Mourns Abner
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. First time David is said to be king in the text.
32 They buried Abner at 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, saying,
“Should Abner die as a fool dies? He should have stayed in the city, and David would have dealt with it. But he went outside the gate.
34 Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
you have fallen.”
And all the people wept again over him. 35 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!” Political speaking this was a public relations victory for David. Attempting to unite the kingdom in the midst of controversy. Now David is the KING.
Abner put a puppet, Saul’s son Ishbosheth in charge as king. Ish is weak. Started a 12 on 12 battle and lost, ended up killing Joab’s brother. Accused of affair with Sauls concubine. Turns on Ish and joined David without Joab’s knowledge. Joab kills him.