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Thursday
March 28th, 2024
L&T Opinions Page

gary damronMY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

 

The last couple of weeks we’ve reviewed the death of Saul and Jonathan, and David’s response to their loss. Though David and Israel’s first king had a long-standing conflict, we might think Saul’s death would have brought peace. It had been a very long time since Samuel anointed the teenage son of Jesse – through many struggles and banishment from his homeland – and David still would have years to go before ascending the throne of Israel. Instead of peace, this portion of Scripture reads, “Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David became steadily stronger, while the house of Saul became steadily weaker” (2 Samuel 3:1). 

Civil war, which involves those from one nation and sometimes even members of the same family, is devastating to both sides. This Old Testament story speaks to the current situation in our country. What’s impressive about David during those years is that he somehow kept everything in perspective; he didn’t force God’s hand, and some of his stronger qualities became more evident. 

Today we have multiple ways of seeking God’s guidance: his written Word, the example of Jesus, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. We also hold the benefit of the Church, with other believers who share our journey and from whom we can find direction. 

After Saul’s death, David sought God’s will before pushing ahead. He inquired of the Lord (2 Samuel 2:1) and then obeyed the instruction to go to Hebron. He was made king over Judah, but instead of forcing the issue of kingship over the rest of Israel’s tribes, he settled in an area comprised of four towns closely connected. Abraham and Sarah were buried there, and Hebron holds importance in Israel’s history. 

citibus map 2022 article

Meanwhile, Abner - a cousin of Saul and ruler of his army - saw his authority possibly coming to an end, and took it upon himself to install a new ruler. With their government thrown into instability and uncertainty, Abner backed Saul’s fourth son Ish-bosheth as king over the other tribes of Israel. 

Abner seemed to dominate the king, and moved him east of the Jordan River, to Gilead. Ish-bosheth, whose name means “man of shame”, for some reason had not accompanied Saul and the warriors to battle against the Philistines. He was forty years old when he became king over a few tribes, then reigned two years over the consolidated tribes of Israel. 

Abner soon came into conflict with David’s military leader Joab who was a son of David’s sister Zeruiah. The two commanders met at the pool of Gibeon, where Abner challenged Joab’s men to a martial skills contest. The gory rout ended with 360 of Abner’s men killed. 

With Joab that day had been his two brothers, Asahel and Abishai. Abner fled from the pool, but Asahel, who was young and fleet-footed, pursued him after the contest. Twice as they ran, Abner looked back and implored him to stop, realizing the consequence of a blood feud with David’s family. But the chase continued until Asahel reached the more experienced soldier Abner, who struck him with the backend of his spear, and the young man died. When Joab’s men came upon the brother’s body, they stopped while Joab and Abishai continued after Abner. 

They reached him at sundown as Abner was standing with his men at the top of a hill. A temporary truce was called, though Joab’s heart held no peace. “[He] blew the trumpet, and all the people halted and no longer pursued Israel, nor did they continue to fight anymore” (2 Samuel 2:28). Abner and his men then traveled through the night to their land in Gad, while Joab and his men went the other way and arrived at dawn in Hebron. There Asahel was buried with his family at Bethlehem. Joab had only lost 19 soldiers, but he had lost a brother. 

Today’s story is not conclusive, as it ends with a blood feud and animosity between two military leaders. Not just involving kings, this civil war now held personal hostility as well. 

At this point in history, David had two wives but no children. After the temporary peace, his power became more consolidated as he married other women and his alliances with their peoples strengthened. During this time in Hebron, at least six sons were born to David and the wives, and 1 Chronicles chapter 3 mentions thirteen other children. 

David had not yet asserted his claim to the throne of Israel; he instead continued to wait on God. He took no shortcuts from where God called and Samuel anointed him, to where the plan for a unified kingdom would be fulfilled. Next week, we’ll continue with the study of 2 Samuel and see the collapse of Ish-bosheth’s reign. 

 

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

 

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