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THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL
CHAPTER 3
DAVID AND ABNER
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES
Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our David and Abner Truce Bible study taking a look into the many Joab and Abner Biblical Battles and how the very interesting relationship between David and Abner and the message therein affects your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.
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CHECK OUT THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL STUDY FROM THE BEGINNING
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THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL
CHAPTER 3
DAVID AND ABNER LESSON
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES AND JUSTICE
So
happy you're here for another slice! These books of Samuel are action packed,
aren't they? Let's recap briefly what happened in our last chapter, shall we? King
Saul died so there was no danger in David returning back to his home territory,
so God told David to go to Hebron, and the people of Judah pronounced David king of Judah.
Remember David had lived in Ziklag for the past year and four months. Ziklag was
the city that Achish, the king of Gath gave to David, which was in the land that
the Philistines occupied at that time.
Meanwhile, Ishbosheth, a surviving son of King Saul, took the throne over the remainder of Israel.
Then Ishbosheth's general, Abner, challenged David's general, Joab, to a fight ...
Twelve of Israel's men against twelve of Judah's men.
The results of the challenge turned out to be a tie ... With both sides losing
all their men! But, the frenzy of the whole competition caused each side to
attach each other in mayhem and David's men were clearly defeating Abner's men.
Then Asahel (Joab's little brother) set his mind to chasing after Abner to kill
him, but it ended up the other way around ... Asahel was killed. So Joab and
his other brother Abishai, continued chasing after Abner to kill him, but Abner convinced
Joab (or so it seems) to end the challenge that turned awry, and they backed off.
DAVID AND ABNER STUDY
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES EVENT
And that's where our story picks up today ...
This was the beginning of a long and destructive war
between the followers of Saul and the followers of David.
But David only grew stronger and stronger, and Saul's people grew weaker and
weaker. During the time that David lived in
Hebron, he had six sons, by six different wives (from oldest to youngest) they
were:
Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam
Chileab, whose mother was Abigail
Absalom, whose mother was Maacah
Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith
Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital
Ithream, whose mother was Eglah
DAVID AND ABNER RESEARCH
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES AND MURDER
As the war went on between the people
of Saul and the people of David, Abner, became a leader for the people of Saul.
Don't forget, Abner had been Saul's general from the beginning. After serving
forty years, no doubt he was well versed not only in warfare, but in every
aspect of the government of Saul.
Then Saul's son, who, by the way
isn't anointed by the Lord, takes the throne ... So who do you think is really
in control of things concerning the kingdom, despite who has the title of king?
The people are all well acquainted
with Abner as well. They know and trust him.
It came to pass one day, that
Ishbosheth accused Abner of sleeping with Saul's concubine, Rizpah. This enraged
Abner and knowing the power he held with all of Israel, he said to Ishbosheth,
"I protect the interests of Saul's kingdom faithfully and you
treat me like a dog?
DAVID AND ABNER TRUTH
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES AND HATRED
I haven't handed you over to David, yet you accuse me
falsely about a woman? Let God punish me if now I don't help David get the
kingdom the Lord has promised him
and set up his throne from one end of Israel to the other.
Ishbosheth was lost for words now, because he was
afraid of Abner.
So Abner sent messengers to David
saying, "Let's make an agreement and I'll help to bring all of Israel to you."
David responded, "I'll make an agreement with you, but to prove your sincerity,
bring me my wife, Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come and see me." Then David
sent a message to Ishbosheth also, saying, "Send me my wife, Michal,
my reward for killing 100 Philistines."
Remember that story in
1 Samuel 18:20-37?
So Ishbosheth sent and took Michal
away from her husband Phaltiel, who followed behind her crying the whole
way to Bahurium. Then Abner told him to go back home, so he left.
Abner contacted the elders of Israel,
and apparently at some time during the reign of Ishbosheth, they wanted to turn
their allegiance to David, but Abner had dissuaded them, but now he told them to
go ahead and forsake Ishbosheth and turn their hearts to David since they knew
that the Lord had anointed David to be king. Abner also specifically addressed
the tribe of Benjamin, who, as we discussed before, were quite possibly
Ishbosheth's guards and VIPs. He then presented himself to David, accompanied by
twenty of his men, with the report that all of Israel, including the whole tribe
of Benjamin were ready to be David's subjects.
DAVID AND ABNER DISCUSSION
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES WARNING
As you might imagine, this pleased
David well and he threw a big party for them. Then
Abner told David that he'd go and rally all of Israel together to make him their
king. With that, David sent Abner away in peace.
Just after Abner had left, David's men
and Joab returned from a raid, and brought a great deal of things with them from
the places they invaded. When Joab was told that Abner was just there and left,
he was astonished and he approached the king and asked, "What have you done?
Why did you let Abner go when you knew he came to deceive you, spy on you, and
discover all your upcoming plans?"
Joab left David and sent messengers
after Abner without David's knowledge. They caught up with him and when they
brought Abner back to Hebron, Joab took him aside and to avoid suspicion, he
spoke cordially to Abner, then struck him with his sword under his fifth rib, killing him,
exactly as Abner had killed his brother Asahel.
Now, remember, we talked a little
about Joab's brother Abishai's character a couple of times so far. Abishai was a
predictable sort, but didn't really take matters into his own hands the way his
brother Joab did. One would probably conclude that Joab was acting on two very
strong emotions ... Jealousy, that Abner would attain a higher ranking in
David's kingdom, and anger, that Abner had killed his little brother Asahel.
DAVID AND ABNER LESSON
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES DANGER
Joab, being quite a bit of a hothead, must have been absolutely simmering with
emotion at the news of Abner's acceptance ... Why, they even threw him a party!
Joab just couldn't handle it, that Abner may possibly receive a greater state of
dignity than himself, and he snapped.
Many may believe that Joab was justified in killing
Abner, because Abner instigated the whole melee that
sparked Asahel's anger and caused him to chase after
Abner. If it was anyone else besides his brother,
would Joab have reacted so?
Certainly Joab, being a
fairly seasoned army general was accustomed to losing
soldiers, it's an unfortunate occupational hazard that
cannot be avoided in the business of war. But when
emotions are involved, it's hard to be objective ...
Anyone who has ever been in such situations can
relate, but only the Lord can judge. Can anyone ever
go wrong taking the forgiveness route? How did David
feel about it? When David found out that Abner was
killed, it grieved his soul and he said:
DAVID AND ABNER FEARS
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES TEARS
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2 Samuel 3:28-29
... I and my
kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the
son of Ner: 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. |
David ordered Joab and everyone that
was with him to mourn for and honor Abner with the traditional customs of
rending their clothes and wearing sackcloth, and king David himself
followed behind the coffin. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king
and all the people wept. And the king spoke about Abner's death:
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2 Samuel 3:33-34
Died Abner as a fool dieth? 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.
DAVID AND ABNER CONCLUSION
JOAB AND ABNER BIBLICAL BATTLES SUMMARY
The death of Abner affected David so
deeply that when people urged David to eat something, he wouldn't because he
swore that he wouldn't eat anything
until sunset. The people took note and were pleased with this; anything the
king did pleased the people. The people and all of Israel understood that day
that David was not responsible for Abner's death in any way.
David said to his
servants, "Don't you realize that a great leader and good man has died today in
Israel? Though I am an anointed king, I am weak today. These sons of Zeruiah
are too much for me. The Lord won't let them get away with it.
I can't wait to see you back here tomorrow for more Daily Bread!
CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STUDY
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