Psalm 45:8-17 Bride of a King
10 Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house. 11 So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord. 12 The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor. 13 The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. 14 She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you. 15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace. 16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth. 17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever."
Observations: 45:1-7 See this post for vv 1-7, in which the psalmist uses the imagery of a royal wedding (perhaps Solomon to Pharaoh's daughter, although he wasn't the warrior type) to contemplate responsibilities of God's people and the coming of the Messiah. The author of Hebrews uses verse 6-7 in Heb 1:8-9 to demonstrate the superiority of the Son, the Messiah over angels since He received a kingdom because of His righteousness.
45:8-17 This second half of the psalm shifts from the king to his bride, and gives her advice. John had this in mind when he wrote Revelation 19 about the marriage supper of the Lamb, but the application to Israel is obscure. Israel was the bride of Yahweh in a number of places (Hosea 1; Jeremiah 31:32) although she was largely unfaithful. The psalm has an application in OT times to encourage Israel to forget her past and look forward to the blessings He has to offer.
If Israel is responsive to Her King gladness and rejoicing and eternal blessings will follow.
Application: Fully embracing God and our relationship with Him is the only way to enjoy what He has to offer, which is far better than anything we could get ourselves.
Prayer: God, thanks for desiring a relationship with me; may I respond totally and completely to You, and bring delight to both of us. Amen.
Proverbs 12:17-23 Wise and Foolish Words
Pr 12:17 “He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies. 18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals. 19 Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary. 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace. 21 No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight. 23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.“
Observations: 12:17-23 Those who speak and deal truthfully delight God, and He blesses them to encourage such behavior. Those who lie and deal falsely will suffer His wrath, because they are an abomination to Him. Our words, as well as our deeds, can wound or heal others. The wise person, who has the right objectives for their comments, and the right timing, builds up others so they can be blessed and experience God's peace. Sometimes it is wiser to say nothing even if it's true, if the timing isn't right. The one who just blurts out foolish words from a foolish heart, doesn't build up, but wounds. The wrong objective is to just say what one is feeling, without thinking of the other-centered implications. Those who speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) will have both a legacy and protection from God. Those who don't, will wish they had.
Application: Since words and works are reflective of our hearts, we need to be sure that righteousness (being rightly related to God and others) is the objective our heart embraces.
Prayer: Lord, may my words today be pleasing in your sight and the ears of my hearers; may they accomplish Your objectives and result in peace and blessing. Amen.
2 Samuel 1-3 God's will is rarely easy, since His objective is not to have something done, but to have His people deepen their dependence upon Him. He gets more glory (as do we) when His people trust Him in perilous times rather than just praising Him in peaceful times. Thus He allows or engineers difficulties to cause us to seek Him. The sooner we learn this truth, the easier the life of faith becomes. God's objective was not just to have David be King, or Israel be delivered, but to have His people live in loyal obedience to Him. These next chapters describe David's rise to the Kingship, which could have easily happened by eliminating Saul and all of his sons many chapters ago. However, God has lessons for us to learn, just like He did for David and company.
2 Samuel 1 Bitter-free Song of the Bow
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him. 12 They mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite." 14 David said to him, "How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?" 15 David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him." He struck him, so that he died. 16 David said to him, "Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’"
17 David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18 (and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): 19 "Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. 24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"
Observations: 1:1-10 The Amalakite probably came upon Saul's crown and brought it to David, lying about the events, hoping to be rewarded for killing David's enemy.
1:11-15 David mourns the multiple loss and executes the liar on the basis of his own testimony.
1:16-24 David composes a lament for Saul and Jonathan, called “Song of the Bow” (a symbol of might). It's amazing that David is able to speak well of Saul, eulogizing him as the glory of Israel, loved and delightful, and the one who delivered and blessed the daughters of Israel. Unfortunately Saul's shield (protection) was not anointed, and it failed him. There is no hint of bitterness toward Saul, nor rejoicing that his persecutor had perished. This speaks volumes about David's ability to draw on the grace of God to deal with the difficulties Saul had caused him. Satan uses bitterness to ensnare believers who fail to forgive those who wrong them and acknowledge God's sovereign goodness in permitting the difficulties.
1:26-27 David gives greater praise for his relationship with Jonathan. The Scriptures are not hesitant to talk about sex as it occurs in various contexts. There is a word for sexual love (to know), which is not used here. The word for love in this passage is that of an emotional bond that is used of friendship, or of our love for God (Dt 6:5), or God's love for His people (Dt 23:5). It is specifically differentiated from sexual love in (Gen 29:20,32) There has not been and is not a breath about a sexual relationship between David and Jonathan, which would have been a clear violation of the Scriptures on which both men staked their lives (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Dt 23:17; Job 36:8-14). The essence of love is not self-centered eroticism, but giving/sacrificing of oneself in serving the needs and looking out for the interests of others. That's the kind of love God demonstrates toward His people, a covenantal loyal love, hesed. That's the kind of love Jonathan demonstrated towards David, in sacrificing his own right to the throne in favor of God's choice, and risking his life to encourage David in the Lord.
Application: If you can't fully forgive those evil peoples (especially those of your own family) who have sinfully wronged you, you need to roll up your sleeves and root bitterness out of your heart. Roam around Truthbase.net for more help.
Prayer: Father, I recognize that all You allow into my life is for my benefit; help me demonstrate Christlike forgiveness to those who've sought to hurt me, knowing that You have forgiven me. Amen.
2 Samuel 2 Two Kings and a Truce
8 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Abner said to Joab, "Please let the young men arise and play before us!" Joab said, "Let them arise!" 15 Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 They each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Field of Swords, which is in Gibeon. 17 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
25 The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?" 27 Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother." 28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim. 30 Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred sixty men died. 32 They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.
Observations: 2:1-7 David asks God if and where he should go. We frequently ask only the latter, and wonder why there's no answer. In Hebron, the men of Judah anoint David as their king. David blesses the men of Jabesh Gilead for the loyalty they showed to Saul, who had delivered them in his first victory. Their loyalty to Saul, David's enemy might be interpreted as hostility toward David, but he assures them that they did the right thing, and he is not their enemy. He mentions that the men of Judah have acknowledged him as king (hint, hint), but his diplomacy falls on deaf ears, as the rest of the chapter reveals.
2:6-11 Abner, the captain of Saul's defeated army (who should have stayed with Saul to the bitter end, but fled) appoints a puppet king, Ishbosheth. Saul's last son (1Ch 8:33). Ishbosheth means “man of shame” an upgrade or downgrade from his original moniker, Eshbaal “man of Baal”. God has specifically said that Saul's kingdom would not continue (1Sam 13:14) but Abner didn't get the memo.
2:12-24 A meeting between Abner and Joab, David's loyal chief of staff and army turns into a battle in which David's men mightily defeat Saul's men. Joab's brother was a casualty for his refusal to stop chasing Abner, who struck him with the blunt end of his spear, and unintentionally killed him in self-defense.
2:25-32 Abner and Joab call off the conflict so Israelites aren't killing each other.
Application: Just when we think it's smooth sailing, God raises an other storm to cause us to depend more deeply upon Him. It's not just about the product, but the process to get the product. Remember Jonathan won points for doing the right thing, but didn't experience the fruit of his loyalty (but the kingdom story still isn't over).
Prayer: Father, don't let me be so focused on short term objectives, that I lose sight of the bigger objective of why you have me breathing on this planet. Thanks. Amen.
2 Samuel 3 Wait For God's Justice
3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; 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.
6 It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?" 8 Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman! 9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him; 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba." 11 He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make your covenant/alliance with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you." 13 He said, "Good; I will make a covenant/treaty 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 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines." 15 Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go! Return!" and he returned. 17 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past, you sought for David to be king over you. 18 Now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’" 19 Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 21 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 soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22 Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do." 26 When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. 27 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies? 34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell." All the people wept again over him. 35 All the people came to cause 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, until the sun goes down." 36 All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 The king said to his servants, "Don’t you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."
Observations: 3:1-3 In fulfillment of God's promises, David, the one blessed by God, gets stronger while the house of Saul, cursed by God, gets weaker. This theme is seen in the blessing of the fertility of David's wives, some of whom we hear about for the first time. God cites them positively, and since He makes no negative comment about them, neither will I.
3:4-21 Abner gets grief and religion. Ishbosheth gives Abner grief for taking one of Saul's concubines (who could bear an heir for the throne), and alienates the man who made him king. So Abner switches allegiance to David.
3:9-10,18 Abner acknowledges that Yahweh had promised the kingdom to David! An amazing admission for a guy who supported Saul against David and set up Ishbosheth as king against David.
3:11-21 Abner and David make a covenant, with the stipulation that David gets Michal, his first wife and Saul's daughter back. This gives the ten tribes, who are loyal to Saul's house, a reason to be loyal to David, since he is Saul's son-in-law.
3:22-38 Joab returns from a victory and hears of David's interaction with Abner (his military rival, and slayer of Joab's brother) and expresses concern that Abner will attack David. Joab sends a message to Abner and meets him at the gate of Hebron (a city of refuge) and kills him to avenge Asahel (although it looked like self-defense). David goes ballistic, asserting his blamelessness, and cursing the house of Joab and his father. David laments Abner like he was Jonathan, and experiences no political fall-out from the ten tribes. David exhibits great loyalty to God, but looks like he values his enemies over his loyal friends (and nephews). Joab, the mighty man of valor and action, apparently didn't learn from David the benefits of waiting for God to fight his battles and execute justice. By taking matters into his own hands, he got them dirty.
3:39 Zeruiah was David’s sister, and the mother of Joab, Abishai,and Asahel his loyal nephews (1Ch 2:16) and leaders of David’s men.
Application: Waiting upon God to right wrongs is usually the best course of action unless there is a clear command of God to do otherwise.
Prayer: God, grant me patience to trust in Your goodness and timing, and not usurp Your role in my life by acting independently of Your will. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God can arrange circumstances and move hearts to bring about His perfect will. His will is not just for us to get what we think we want or need, but to have us demonstrate dependent trust in His goodness and justice, expressed in obedience to His revelation. He blesses and prospers those who are loyal to Him, and eventually curses and destroy those who follow their own agenda. He doesn't make things easy for us, because He has better plans for our lives than we do.
Us in a nutshell: We tend to get bitter and angry when we are wronged and can't have our own way. Sometimes we succumb to the temptation to take matters into our own hands rather than seeking God's will and awaiting its fulfillment. This usurping of God's authority in our lives results in cursing rather than blessing.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Faithfulness with our Time. The outline is also at the end of the TOYL Booklet.
2 Samuel 1-3 complete text
2 Samuel 1
1:1 It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag; 2 it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and showed respect. 3 David said to him, "Where do you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped out of the camp of Israel." 4 David said to him, "How did it go? Please tell me." He answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also." 5 David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?" 6 The young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. 7 When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.’ 10 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him. 12 They mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite." 14 David said to him, "How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?" 15 David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him." He struck him, so that he died. 16 David said to him, "Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’"
17 David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18 (and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): 19 "Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. 24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"
2 Samuel 2
2:1 It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" Yahweh said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" He said, "To Hebron." 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron. 4 The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul." 5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, "Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. 6 Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them."
8 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Abner said to Joab, "Please let the young men arise and play before us!" Joab said, "Let them arise!" 15 Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 They each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, "Is it you, Asahel?" He answered, "It is I." 21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armour." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?" 23 However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. It happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 24 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25 The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?" 27 Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother." 28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim. 30 Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred sixty men died. 32 They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.
2 Samuel 3
3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; 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. 6 It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.
7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?" 8 Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman! 9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him; 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba." 11 He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you." 13 He said, "Good; I will make a treaty 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 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines." 15 Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go! Return!" and he returned. 17 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past, you sought for David to be king over you. 18 Now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’" 19 Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 21 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 soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22 Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do." 26 When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. 27 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies? 34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell." All the people wept again over him. 35 All the people came to cause 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, until the sun goes down." 36 All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 The king said to his servants, "Don’t you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."
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