II Samuel 3:1-21
“Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.“ (II Samuel3:1)
About two years after Judah made David king, there began to be open hostilities between Judah and the rest of Israel under Ishbosheth. It continued for five and a half years, with David steadily gaining the support Ishbosheth lost.
“And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 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; And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.” (II Samuel 3:2-5)
During the seven and a half years he reigned in Hebron, David acquired four more wives or concubines, and six sons. The multiple wives set the stage later for some of the worst problems during David’s reign, when Absalom revolted against his father.
“And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?” (II Samuel 3:6-7)
Apparently, Ishbosheth had an attitude much like Saul, constantly expecting people to turn on him. Saul had had a common law wife named Rizpah, and Ishbosheth accused Abner, the man who had made him king of messing around with her, impugning his loyalty.
“Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; To translate 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.
And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.” (II Samuel 3:8-11)
Having placed his reputation and career on the line to make Ishbosheth king, Abner was offended by the implication of disloyalty or treason. He acknowledged that he knew God had promised David the Kingdom, and that he would do everything he could to see that David obtained it. Ishbosheth didn’t have the nerve to challenge him. One can only speculate that Ishbosheth’s suspicious nature had driven away many of his other supporters over the years. They knew how Saul had turned on David, and could expect Ishbosheth to do the same thing.
“And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.” (II Samuel 3:12-13)
When Abner contacted him, offering to support him David apparently had some reservations. He refused to meet with him unless he would bring his first wife, Michal along. In doing so, he ignored the command in Deuteronomy 24:3-4 about going back to a mate who has lived with someone else. “And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” Even if her second husband died, she could not go back to the first.
“And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.
Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.” (II Samuel 3:14-16)
Saul had taken Michal away from David for political purposes, even though God never gave government power over marriage. As so often happens, once such an action is taken, others tend to accept it as their right without question. Ishbosheth was so weakened politically, he dared not return her for fear it would alienate other of followers.
The marriage bond had formed between Michal and her new husband, Phaltiel. He was quite upset and followed her weeping. Later, it would contribute to a breakdown in David and Michal’s relationship.
“And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: Now then do it: for the LORD hath 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.
And Abner also spake 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 that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.” (II Samuel 3:17-19)
Abner contacted the people who had originally wanted to make David king instead of Ishbosheth, advising them to do so, reminding them that it was what God had said he wanted. He also went to the tribe of Benjamin, Saul and Ishbosheth’s own tribe, getting a commitment from them as well.
“So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth.
And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.” (II Samuel 3:20-21)
Accompanied by twenty men, Abner met with David, pledging to swing those he could influence to David’s side, and give him control of the entire nation. After feasting together, David sent him out to fulfill his promise.
“Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.“ (II Samuel3:1)
About two years after Judah made David king, there began to be open hostilities between Judah and the rest of Israel under Ishbosheth. It continued for five and a half years, with David steadily gaining the support Ishbosheth lost.
“And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 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; And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.” (II Samuel 3:2-5)
During the seven and a half years he reigned in Hebron, David acquired four more wives or concubines, and six sons. The multiple wives set the stage later for some of the worst problems during David’s reign, when Absalom revolted against his father.
“And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?” (II Samuel 3:6-7)
Apparently, Ishbosheth had an attitude much like Saul, constantly expecting people to turn on him. Saul had had a common law wife named Rizpah, and Ishbosheth accused Abner, the man who had made him king of messing around with her, impugning his loyalty.
“Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; To translate 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.
And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.” (II Samuel 3:8-11)
Having placed his reputation and career on the line to make Ishbosheth king, Abner was offended by the implication of disloyalty or treason. He acknowledged that he knew God had promised David the Kingdom, and that he would do everything he could to see that David obtained it. Ishbosheth didn’t have the nerve to challenge him. One can only speculate that Ishbosheth’s suspicious nature had driven away many of his other supporters over the years. They knew how Saul had turned on David, and could expect Ishbosheth to do the same thing.
“And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.” (II Samuel 3:12-13)
When Abner contacted him, offering to support him David apparently had some reservations. He refused to meet with him unless he would bring his first wife, Michal along. In doing so, he ignored the command in Deuteronomy 24:3-4 about going back to a mate who has lived with someone else. “And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” Even if her second husband died, she could not go back to the first.
“And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.
Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.” (II Samuel 3:14-16)
Saul had taken Michal away from David for political purposes, even though God never gave government power over marriage. As so often happens, once such an action is taken, others tend to accept it as their right without question. Ishbosheth was so weakened politically, he dared not return her for fear it would alienate other of followers.
The marriage bond had formed between Michal and her new husband, Phaltiel. He was quite upset and followed her weeping. Later, it would contribute to a breakdown in David and Michal’s relationship.
“And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: Now then do it: for the LORD hath 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.
And Abner also spake 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 that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.” (II Samuel 3:17-19)
Abner contacted the people who had originally wanted to make David king instead of Ishbosheth, advising them to do so, reminding them that it was what God had said he wanted. He also went to the tribe of Benjamin, Saul and Ishbosheth’s own tribe, getting a commitment from them as well.
“So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth.
And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.” (II Samuel 3:20-21)
Accompanied by twenty men, Abner met with David, pledging to swing those he could influence to David’s side, and give him control of the entire nation. After feasting together, David sent him out to fulfill his promise.
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