2 Samuel 2

2Sa 2:1-7.

DAVID, BY

GOD'S

DIRECTION,

GOES

UP TO

HEBRON, AND

IS

MADE

KING OVER

JUDAH.

1-4. David inquired of the Lord--By Urim

(1Sa 23:6, 9; 30:7, 8).

He knew his destination, but he knew also that the providence of God

would pave the way. Therefore he would take no step in such a crisis of

his own and the nation's history, without asking and obtaining the

divine direction. He was told to go into Judah, and fix his

headquarters in Hebron, whither he accordingly repaired with his now

considerable force. There his interests were very powerful; for he was

not only within his own tribe, and near chiefs with whom he had been

long in friendly relations (see on

1Sa 30:26),

but Hebron was the capital and center of Judah, and one of the

Levitical cities; the inhabitants of which were strongly attached to

him, both from sympathy with his cause ever since the massacre at Nob,

and from the prospect of realizing in his person their promised

pre-eminence among the tribes. The princes of Judah, therefore,

offered him the crown over their tribe, and it was accepted. More could

not, with prudence, be done in the circumstances of the country

(1Ch 11:3).

5-7. David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead--There can

be no doubt that this message of thanks for their bold and dangerous

enterprise in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons was an

expression of David's personal and genuine feeling of satisfaction. At

the same time, it was a stroke of sound and timely policy. In this view

the announcement of his royal power in Judah, accompanied by the pledge

of his protection of the men of Jabesh-gilead, should they be exposed to

danger for their adventure at Beth-shan, would bear an important

significance in all parts of the country and hold out an assurance that

he would render them the same timely and energetic succor that Saul had

done at the beginning of his reign.

2Sa 2:8-17.

ABNER

MAKES

ISH-BOSHETH

KING OVER

ISRAEL.

8-17. Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host took

Ish-bosheth--Here was the establishment of a rival kingdom, which,

however, would probably have had no existence but for Abner.

Ish-bosheth--or "Esh-baal"

(1Ch 8:33; 9:39).

The Hebrews usually changed names ending with Baal into Bosheth

("shame") (compare

Jud 9:53

with 2Sa 11:21).

This prince was so called from his imbecility.

Abner--was first cousin of Saul, commander of the forces, and held

in high respect throughout the country. Loyalty to the house of his

late master was mixed up with opposition to David and views of personal

ambition in his originating this factious movement. He, too, was alive

to the importance of securing the eastern tribes; so, taking

Ish-bosheth across the Jordan, he proclaimed him king at Mahanaim, a

town on the north bank of the Jabbok, hallowed in patriarchal times by

the divine presence

(Ge 32:2).

There he rallied the tribes around the standard of the unfortunate son

of Saul.

9, 10. over Gilead--used in a loose sense for the land beyond Jordan.

Ashurites--the tribe of Asher in the extreme north.

Jezreel--the extensive valley bordering on the central tribes.

over all Israel . . . But Judah--David neither could nor would force

matters. He was content to wait God's time and studiously avoided any

collision with the rival king, till, at the lapse of two years,

hostilities were threatened from that quarter.

12. Abner . . . and the servants of Ish-bosheth . . . went out from

Mahanaim to Gibeon--This town was near the confines of Judah, and

as the force with which Abner encamped there seemed to have some

aggressive design, David sent an army of observation, under the command

of Joab, to watch his movements.

14. Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before

us--Some think that the proposal was only for an exhibition of a

little tilting match for diversion. Others suppose that, both parties

being reluctant to commence a civil war, Abner proposed to leave the

contest to the decision of twelve picked men on either side. This fight

fiercest passions of the two rival parties; a general engagement

ensued, in which Abner and his forces were defeated and put to flight.

2Sa 2:19-32.

ASAHEL

SLAIN.

19-32. Asahel pursued after Abner--To gain the general's armor was

deemed the grandest trophy. Asahel, ambitious of securing Abner's, had

outstripped all other pursuers, and was fast gaining on the retreating

commander. Abner, conscious of possessing more physical power, and

unwilling that there should be "blood" between himself and Joab,

Asahel's brother, twice urged him to desist. The impetuous young

soldier being deaf to the generous remonstrance, the veteran raised the

pointed butt of his lance, as the modern Arabs do when pursued, and,

with a sudden back thrust, transfixed him on the spot, so that he fell,

and lay weltering in his blood. But Joab and Abishai continued the

pursuit by another route till sunset. On reaching a rising ground, and

receiving a fresh reinforcement of some Benjamites, Abner rallied his

scattered troops and earnestly appealed to Joab's better feelings to

stop the further effusion of blood, which, if continued, would lead to

more serious consequences--a destructive civil war. Joab, while

upbraiding his opponent as the sole cause of the fray, felt the force

of the appeal and led off his men; while Abner probably dreading a

renewal of the attack when Joab should learn his brother's fate, and

vow fierce revenge, endeavored, by a forced march, to cross the Jordan

that night. On David's side the loss was only nineteen men, besides

Asahel. But of Ish-bosheth's party there fell three hundred and sixty.

This skirmish is exactly similar to the battles of the Homeric

warriors, among whom, in the flight of one, the pursuit by another, and

the dialogue held between them, there is vividly represented the style

of ancient warfare.