Read 2 Samuel 3
1 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;
the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah.
These were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Goes Over to David
6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”
13 “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.
17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”
19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.
24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”
26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.
28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”
30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.
33 The king sang this lament for Abner:
“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34 Your hands were not bound,
your feet were not fettered.
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”
And all the people wept over him again.
35 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”
Go Deeper
The first transfer of power from one king to another in Israel does not go well. It reads like a soap opera script full of turncoats and revenge. The house of Saul and the house of David are enemies. Joab murders Abner to avenge the death of Joab’s brother. David is distraught that his reign is marked with bloodshed.
How would the story look different if Joab had forgiven Abner for killing Joab’s brother? We are never to take revenge into our own hands because human anger never produces the righteousness that God desires (James 1:20). In this account, Joab chooses revenge over forgiveness and trust in God. Our human nature wants to justify punishing our enemies, but Jesus tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27).
What if someone ruined our reputation? Took our job? Or really, truly hurt us in another way? Our natural reaction is probably not graciousness, but the Holy Spirit in us can empower us to act in ways that oppose our fleshly instincts. While loving our enemies does not require us to stay under abuse or in dangerous situations, we are called to do good to our enemies – to lay down our unforgiveness, our desire for revenge, our jealousy, our fear, and our insecurity. But we can only do this when we trust God more than we fear our enemies, when His love is greater than our hatred.
And yet, whatever sin we commit and whatever enemy we encounter, nothing can derail God’s divine plan for us. Even though sin has consequences, God is still at work writing a story of love and redemption that glorifies Christ the King. After all, in 2 Samuel 3, despite the unnecessary unforgiveness, angst, and bloodshed, God still accomplishes His plan and His purpose. David still becomes King of all Israel. And Jesus Christ still descends from David’s lineage to set us free.
Questions
- Who would you consider an “enemy,” or someone who is working against you in some way? Take a moment and pray for them.
- Confess where you are holding onto unforgiveness, jealousy, insecurity, or a desire for revenge. Ask God to help you release your burden to Him.
- Take a moment to remember a time when God’s will was done in your life despite a mess you’d made of a situation. Praise Him for His willingness and ability to make all things new.
Watch This
Corrie Ten Boom survived a German concentration camp during World War II. She was a Christian, captured for hiding Jewish citizens in her home. One day, she came face to face with one of her captors and had the opportunity to forgive him. You can watch her testimony here.
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email hello@biblereadingplan.org.
1 thought on “2 Samuel 3”
David, as the anointed king, is immediately confronted with troubles that emotionally wrecked him, leaving him feeling powerless to unify the kingdom. When we feel helpless and forgotten we must REMEMBER who our God is, omnipotent, sovereign, & trustworthy. When we are not sure what lies beyond the bend in the road, He does and will meet us there.