๐ 2 Samuel 3 : ๐ What lies behind the power of the servants who serve the king?
of the servants who serve the king?
(AI-generated image)
- David became king over the tribe of Judah.
- Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, became king over Israel after Saul.
The very first verse of 2 Samuel 3 compares the house of Saul with the house of David.
Became stronger and stronger
Became weaker and weaker
- Six sons were born to him from six wives.
- All of them were born to David in Hebron.
Abner, the commander of Saul's army who had made Ish-bosheth king, is rebuked by Ish-bosheth over taking Saul's concubine.
- He claims that he had shown kindness to Saul's house by not handing Ish-bosheth over to David.
- Yet he becomes furious that Ish-bosheth accuses him over a matter involving merely a woman.
Abner says that the kingdom would be transferred from the house of Saul to David, and that David's throne would be established over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.
Abner sends messengers to David and proposes a covenant, saying that he will bring all Israel over to David.
➡️ David demands that Saul's daughter Michal, who had formerly been his wife, be brought back to him.
Abner explains to the elders of Israel and to the people of Benjamin that David should become king, and then goes to Hebron.
Abner says that the LORD would save Israel through David. This can be connected with 1 Samuel 9:16, where the LORD's word originally referred to Saul.
It appears that Abner applied a word originally spoken about Saul to David.
❌ This should not be treated as a new direct word spoken by the LORD.
Abner says that he will gather all Israel to David, make a covenant with him, and establish David as ruler over everything.
- He asks why David let Abner go.
- He claims that Abner came to deceive David.
- Without David's knowledge, he secretly brings Abner back.
- Then he kills Abner to avenge the death of his brother Asahel.
And he curses Joab because of the crime.
- He declares that the guilt will return upon Joab and his father's entire house.
- He commands Joab and all the people to tear their clothes and put on sackcloth.
- He personally buries Abner, weeps loudly, and composes a lament.
- He refuses to eat until sunset.
and they are pleased with everything the king does.
By observing David's actions, the people understand that David was not the one who killed Abner.
“I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong for me. The LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
David was king, yet he found it difficult to control Joab, the commander of his army.
Joab was the commander of the army, but from the expressions in verses 38–39, David does not appear to be dealing with him simply as a loyal servant.
๐ If Chapter 2, which records Joab's motive for killing Abner in detail, was a foreshadowing, Chapter 3 can be seen as the chapter that completes that foreshadowing.
The power to establish a king,
take away his position,
and even transfer the kingdom to someone else.
He argues with the king
and kills Abner,
who had made an agreement with the king,
according to his own judgment.
Abner was related to Saul as a cousin, so he was also an older relative to Ish-bosheth. (1 Samuel 14:50)
It seems possible that Abner heard what Saul said to David in the wilderness of En-Gedi.
There was also the covenant between Jonathan and David.
๐ 1 Samuel 22:8 — Saul and all the people knew about it
๐ Therefore, there are records showing that David would not destroy Saul's family.
Abner should have known that David would not harm Saul's family, yet he tells Ish-bosheth that he had shown kindness by not handing him over to David.
His involvement with Saul's concubine, followed by his aggressive response and threat toward Ish-bosheth.
๐ฉ Could this reveal the true character of Abner?
Abner, who had established Ish-bosheth as king for his own power, tells Ish-bosheth that he will transfer the kingdom to someone else when Ish-bosheth rebukes him. Of course, Abner does quote the oath of the LORD...
The act of having sexual relations with Saul's concubine, if it actually occurred, would have been considered a serious offense worthy of death from the perspective of biblical law. ๐
※ Later, in the time of Solomon, Adonijah asked for Abishag, the woman who had served David, and was put to death. This happened even though there was no sexual relationship. ใ ใ
① The Goliath Incident
When David was brought before Saul holding the head of Goliath,
Abner is recorded as the one who brought him before Saul.
② The Wilderness of Ziph Incident
When Saul was in David's hands,
David rebuked Abner for failing to protect Saul.
• In the end, he also failed to protect Saul's son, Ish-bosheth. ๐
✔️ Could David have mourned Abner partly out of gratitude for the peaceful transfer of power that had taken place?
but could the record of Chapter 3 be revealing the true character of Abner?
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