2 Smauel 15:7-23

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 15:7-23 (New International Version)

⁷ At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD. ⁸ While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: 'If the LORD takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.

⁹ The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he went to Hebron.

¹⁰ Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.' " ¹¹ Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. ¹² While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing.

David Flees

¹³ A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

¹⁴ Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword."

¹⁵ The king's officials answered him, "Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses."

¹⁶ The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at a place some distance away. ¹⁸ All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

¹⁹ The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. ²⁰ You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your countrymen. May kindness and faithfulness be with you."

²¹ But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be."

²² David said to Ittai, "Go ahead, march on." So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

²³ The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the desert.

Absalom continues to grow in power. He asks David if he can go to Hebron, (ironically the place where David first took power,) to worship God. Instead, he went and started a revolution. He was so successful that soon David was forced to flee his capital and go back on the run as he had so many years before.

As he left, he left several things behind. He left ten concubines to look after the palace, (look back to 12:11 for a reference,) 600 Gittites who had been his personal bodyguards and he left the ark. David planned on returning.

Questions:

1. Why did David let Absalom out of his sight?

2. Why would David leave his capital?

3. What was the significance of the ten concubines?

2 Samuel 15:1-6

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 15

Absalom's Conspiracy

¹ In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. ² He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, "What town are you from?" He would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel." ³ Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you." ⁴ And Absalom would add, "If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice."

⁵ Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. ⁶ Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

David spared his son, now his son is plotting against him. He would drive out to the gates and talk to the people who wished to talk to the king. He would then plant the seeds of destruction. To say he is sucking up to the people is putting it mildly.

Questions:

1. Why would Absalom provide himself with a chariot and fifty men?

2. Why would he go outside the gate to meet people?

3. How did he win the hearts of the people?

2 Samuel 14:1-33

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 14

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

¹ Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart longed for Absalom. ² So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, "Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don't use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. ³ Then go to the king and speak these words to him." And Joab put the words in her mouth.

⁴ When the woman from Tekoa went ^a]'>[a] to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, "Help me, O king!"

⁵ The king asked her, "What is troubling you?"
She said, "I am indeed a widow; my husband is dead. ⁶ I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. ⁷ Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, 'Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well.' They would put out the only burning coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth."

⁸ The king said to the woman, "Go home, and I will issue an order in your behalf."

⁹ But the woman from Tekoa said to him, "My lord the king, let the blame rest on me and on my father's family, and let the king and his throne be without guilt."

¹⁰ The king replied, "If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not bother you again."

¹¹ She said, "Then let the king invoke the LORD his God to prevent the avenger of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed."
"As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "not one hair of your son's head will fall to the ground."

¹² Then the woman said, "Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king."
"Speak," he replied.

¹³ The woman said, "Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? ¹⁴ Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

¹⁵ "And now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, 'I will speak to the king; perhaps he will do what his servant asks. ¹⁶ Perhaps the king will agree to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who is trying to cut off both me and my son from the inheritance God gave us.'

¹⁷ "And now your servant says, 'May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil. May the LORD your God be with you.' "

¹⁸ Then the king said to the woman, "Do not keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you."
"Let my lord the king speak," the woman said.

¹⁹ The king asked, "Isn't the hand of Joab with you in all this?"
The woman answered, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. ²⁰ Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land."

²¹ The king said to Joab, "Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom."

²² Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor, and he blessed the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant's request."

²³ Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. ²⁴ But the king said, "He must go to his own house; he must not see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.

²⁵ In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. ²⁶ Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair from time to time when it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels ^b]'>[b] by the royal standard.

²⁷ Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. The daughter's name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.

²⁸ Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king's face. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. ³⁰ Then he said to his servants, "Look, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

³¹ Then Joab did go to Absalom's house and he said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"

³² Absalom said to Joab, "Look, I sent word to you and said, 'Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!" ' Now then, I want to see the king's face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death."

³³ So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

I almost left this story out of the Sunday School lesson, but it does show a side of David we need to see. Joab sees David is in pain. Joab loves David and tries to help. He hires an actress and has her tell the king a story . This is an early reality show.

The story is that she is a widow and her two sons got in a fight and before they could be separated one killed the other. Now the surviving son faces execution, which would leave her with no sons and it would also leave her dead husband no heir. David is touched. After examining the situation he realizes she is talking about David's sons, Amnon and Absalom. David understands that Joab is behind this and has Joab fetch the wayward Absalom.

We then find that Absalom is rather narcissistic. He is beautiful and has a full head of hair. He is back in Jerusalem but David will not see him. He grows impatient and calls for Joab, but Joab doesn't come either, He burns one of Joab's fields to get his attention. David calls for his son and forgives him.

Questions:

1. Why does Joab get involved?

2. The widows story is about only two sons. How does the matter of Amnon and Absalom resemble this?

3. Is Absalom spoiled?

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

Absalom Kills Amnon

²³ Two years later, when Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king's sons to come there. ²⁴ Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?"

²⁵ "No, my son," the king replied. "All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you." Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing.

²⁶ Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us."
The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?" ²⁷ But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king's sons.

²⁸ Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Don't be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave." ²⁹ So Absalom's men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.

³⁰ While they were on their way, the report came to David: "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons; not one of them is left." ³¹ The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

³² But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom's expressed intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. ³³ My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."

³⁴ Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.
Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, "I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill."

³⁵ Jonadab said to the king, "See, the king's sons are here; it has happened just as your servant said."

³⁶ As he finished speaking, the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly.

³⁷ Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned for his son every day.

³⁸ After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. ³⁹ And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon's death.

Sometimes, revenge-like ice cream, is a dish best served cold. Absolom hates his half brother Amnon. He takes his time. After a few years he throws a party at his ranch while sheering sheep. He invites the King and all the family. David declines, (he didn't want to be a burden.)Absalom is insistent, so David sends all the princes.

Absalom orders his men to kill Amnon on his command, ( after he gets drunk at the party.) As the men are killing Amnon, the other princes flee. The word gets back to the capital before the princes do, (how did that happen? Did they stop and chat on the way? Maybe someone had signal and texted, I don't know,) and the rumor is that Absalom killed all his brothers.

Jonadab knows better. He knows that Absalom only wanted to kill Amnon because Amnon raped his sister, (at Jonadab's advice.) The princes arrive and everyone ripes clothes and morns. Absalom flees. Justice has been served.

Questions:

1. Why did Absalom throw the party?

2. Didn't Abnom know Absalom wanted to hurt him?

3. Would this had happened if David had been more hands on after Amnon raped Tamar?

2 Samuel 13:15-22

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

¹⁵ Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and get out!"

¹⁶ "No!" she said to him. "Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me."
But he refused to listen to her. ¹⁷ He called his personal servant and said, "Get this woman out of here and bolt the door after her." ¹⁸ So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore. ¹⁹ Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.

²⁰ Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman.

²¹ When King David heard all this, he was furious. ²² Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.

Sometimes, people can be jerks. Even princes who are first in line to the throne can act selfishly. Amnon was deeply in "love" with his half sister Tamar. The passion he felt for her drove him crazy-literally. After he acted on the feelings, after he raped her, she disgusted him. He kicked her out and slammed the door. The walk of shame began.

Tamar was upset, and her full brother Absalom tried to comfort her. He basically told her to be quiet, things will work out. David heard of what happened in his family. He became upset with his son Amnon, but did nothing.

Questions:

1. What's up with Amnon? Why the sudden change of heart?

2. Why did Tamar tear her clothes and make a production of her pain?

3. Why did David do nothing?

2 Samuel 13:1-14

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 13

Amnon and Tamar

¹ In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.

² Amnon became frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

³ Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. ⁴ He asked Amnon, "Why do you, the king's son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won't you tell me?"
Amnon said to him, "I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

⁵ "Go to bed and pretend to be ill," Jonadab said. "When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.' "

⁶ So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, "I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand."

⁷ David sent word to Tamar at the palace: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him." ⁸ So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. ⁹ Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.
"Send everyone out of here," Amnon said. So everyone left him. ¹⁰ Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. ¹¹ But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister."

¹² "Don't, my brother!" she said to him. "Don't force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don't do this wicked thing. ¹³ What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you." ¹⁴ But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

Remember 2 Samuel 12:11? This is the beginning of the "Trouble..in your own house." Amnon is David's oldest son. Tamar is his half sister. Absalom is Tamar's full brother. Jonadab was a trouble maker.

Amnon decides he is in love with Tamar. To be honest; at the time you could legally marry your half sister. He consults with his "friend" Jonadab and Jonadab gets an idea. He tells Amnon to pretend to be sick and have his sister Tamar come and cook for him to make him feel better.

Tamar goes and cooks bread for her brother, but he will not eat it unless she feeds it to him in person in his sick bed- with everyone gone! When she tries to feed him he springs up, takes her in his arms, and despite of her pleas, he lays with her. It may have been legal to marry your half sister, but is was not legal to rape her.

Questions:

1.Since Amnar was the oldest male child of David, what did that make him?

2. Absalom, Tamar's full brother was the second son. Would he be naturally jealous of Amnar?

3. What would David do about his problems at home?

2 Samuel 12:16-25

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 12:16-25 (New International Version)

¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate."

¹⁹ David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked.
"Yes," they replied, "he is dead."

²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

²¹ His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"

²² He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' ²³ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

²⁴ Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; ²⁵ and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.

As a parent, this is a very sad part of the story of David. The child grows sicker and David fasts and prays so the child may live. When the baby dies, the servants are too scared to tell David. David figures it out, but instead of lashing out at he goes and comforts Bathsheba. Then they have Solomon.

Questions.

1. Why is the child being punished for David's sin?

2. Why would the servants be scared to tell David the truth?

3.What do these passages tell us about David?

2 Samuel 12:1-15

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 12

Nathan Rebukes David

¹ The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, ³ but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

⁴ "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."

⁵ David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! ⁶ He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. ⁹ Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'

¹¹ "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' "

¹³ Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."
Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. ¹⁴ But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, ^a]'>[a] the son born to you will die."

¹⁵ After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill.

David thought he had covered up his sin(s). God knew, and was not pleased. God sent the prophet Nathan, (Samuel's replacement,) to confront David. Nathan did not come right out and accuse David, instead he told a story. The story of the one man and one sheep being wronged by the rich man incensed David, (the tale is also told in Veggie Tales,) and David demanded to know who could do such a thing. David then accused- "you are the man!"

The is a very powerful part of the David story. David, the favorite of God, is shown to be an adulterer, a deceiver and a murderer. David cries out for forgiveness and Nathan tells David that God has put away his sin, but the child will die.

Questions:

1. Why did Nathan use the story to confront David?

2. How could David not suspect the story was about him?

3. What was the punishment?

2 Samuel 11:14-27

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer-Lord, Open our minds and open our hearts and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen

2 Samuel 11:14-27 (New International Version)

¹⁴ In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. ¹⁵ In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die."

¹⁶ So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. ¹⁷ When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David's army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.

¹⁸ Joab sent David a full account of the battle. ¹⁹ He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, ²⁰ the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? ²¹ Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth ^a]'>[a] ? Didn't a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?' If he asks you this, then say to him, 'Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.' "

²² The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. ²³ The messenger said to David, "The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate. ²⁴ Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king's men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead."

²⁵ David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Joab."

²⁶ When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. ²⁷ After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.

The web of deceit gets bigger. Uriah will not go "see" his wife, who is now pregnant with David's child. David is getting desperate. He sends a note to Joab to put Uriah in the front and during the heavy fighting fall back and basically sacrifice him. Joab does what David asks.

Joab sends the battle report to David. At first the king is mad because of the defeat, then the messenger tells him Uriah is dead. David orders the messenger to tell Joab, "do not let this discourage you." Bathsheba goes through a period of morning and then becomes David's wife. All is well. David had pulled off the cover up, no one knew he had committed adultery. But, God knew.

Questions:

1. Why would Joab be so loyal as to basically help murder one of his men?

2. What drove David to do such drastic acts?

3. Can't anyone in Jerusalem count?

2 Samuel 11:6-13

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 11:6-13 (New International Version)

⁶ So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent him to David. ⁷ When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. ⁸ Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. ⁹ But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his house.

¹⁰ When David was told, "Uriah did not go home," he asked him, "Haven't you just come from a distance? Why didn't you go home?"

¹¹ Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!"

¹² Then David said to him, "Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. ¹³ At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home.

The cover-up begins. Bathsheba is pregnant after her tryst with David. Her husband, Uriah the Hittite, is a soldier in David's army. So David sends word to Joab to send Uriah to Jerusalem to report on the fighting.

Uriah came and reported, but when he was finished he stayed at the palace. When David heard this his asked why. Uriah said that the army was was camping in tents so it was not fair for him to go home.

David needed Uriah to go to his beautiful wife and let nature take it's course. So, he does what he thinks is a sure fire way to have Uriah go home and sleep with his wife, he gets him drunk. Still Uriah shows honor and does not go home.

Questions:

1. Why does David ask for Uriah to come home?

2. Why is it significant that Uriah, a Hittite, show so much loyalty to David and to his fellow soldiers?

3. What will David do next?

2 Samuel 11:1-5

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 11

David and Bathsheba

¹ In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

² One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, ³ and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" ⁴ Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then ^a]'>[a] she went back home. ⁵ The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant."

David is king, and it's nice to be king. He has done much for Israel and for God. He decides to Send Joab into battle and stay at home for once. As he surveys the city one night he sees a woman bathing and sends for her. She was married, but lust took over and they had sex. David starts to break law after law.

From this sin, (although my friend Lee Friesen always said the first sin was David being too lazy to go to battle,) things start to snowball. Bathsheba sends word that she is pregnant.

Questions:

1.Why was David home?

2. How did he meet Bathsheba?

3. Will David admit his sin?

2 Samuel 7

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen

2 Samuel 7

God's Promise to David

¹ After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ² he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
³ Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
⁴ That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
⁵ "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? ⁶ I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. ⁷ Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
⁸ "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. ¹⁰ And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning ¹¹ and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders ^a]'>[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
" 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: ¹² When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. ¹⁵ But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ^b]'>[b] ; your throne will be established forever.' "
¹⁷ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David's Prayer

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD ?
²⁰ "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD. ²¹ For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
²² "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ²³ And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? ^c]'>[c] ²⁴ You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.
²⁵ "And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, ²⁶ so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, 'The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you.
²⁷ "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. ²⁸ O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. ²⁹ Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."


Ok, I know, this is a whole chapter-and on Friday! This chapter deals with David and the Temple. It is a very good example of the conversations David had with God. Many times we have heard that God punished David by not letting him build a temple so it is good the read this chapter.


After Samuel passed, Nathan took his place as chief prophet. David wants to build a temple to put the arc in and to wow the kingdom. He lives in cedar- why should God live in a tent. God comes to him and tells David it is more important for him to build a family.

Questions:
1. Why did David want to buils a temple?
2. What was God's response?
3. What did David do?

2 Samuel 6:12-16, 20-23

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2Samuel 6:12-16, 20-23
¹² Now King David was told, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. ¹³ When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. ¹⁴ David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, ¹⁵ while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

¹⁶ As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

²⁰ When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"

²¹ David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. ²² I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

²³ And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

I have abused these verses this week. I have done two other devotionals about worship using this passage. I like it. David hears that God is no longer mad and goes to bring the Arc to Jerusalem. There is much pomp and circumstance as he does this. He strips down to his undies and dances.

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Michal- his first wife and daughter of Saul, sees this and is disgusted. She thinks her Husband, the man who swept her off her feet years ago, is acting foolishly. When he comes home she confronts him. It does not go well. David explains that he was dancing in front of the Lord, not his servant girls. Because the crowd that watched him will be blessed more than Michal.

Questions:

1. Why did David wait to bring the Arc into his capital?

2. Why did he strip down and dance?

3. Why was Michal so upset?

2 Samuel 6:1-11

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

¹ David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. ² He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah ^a]'>[a] to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, ^b]'>[b] the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. ³ They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart ⁴ with the ark of God on it, ^c]'>[c] and Ahio was walking in front of it. ⁵ David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs ^d]'>[d] and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

⁶ When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. ⁷ The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

⁸ Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. ^e]'>[e]

⁹ David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, "How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?" ¹⁰ He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ¹¹ The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.

The Arc of the Covenant was the relic of the covenant between God and the Hebrews led by Moses during the Exodus. The say that it had great emotional and spiritual significance is like comparing a bullet being thrown by hand to one fired out of a rifle. The Arc was a tangible symbol of God, and was the most sacred thing in Hebrew life.

It had been captured by the Philistines during the rein of Saul. This was a great embarrassment. When David defeated the Philistines they left the Arc behind in their escape. There was much rejoicing, (rah!) David wanted his new capital, Jerusalem, to be the spiritual center as well as the political center so he moved the Arc.

During the moving, the Arc became unsteady and a man reached out to steady it and was struck dead. David blames God and asks how can David care for such a dangerous thing? He left it at a friends house until he could understand.

Questions:

1. Why was it important to have the Arc?

2. Why did David want to move it to Jerusalem?

3. Why did Uzzah die?

2 Samuel 5: 17-25

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen

David Defeats the Philistines

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ¹⁹ so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"
The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. ^a]'>[a] ²¹ The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

²² Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ²³ so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. ²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." ²⁵ So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon ^b]'>[b] to Gezer

David is on a roll! After uniting the kingdom, the Philistines now understand he is a force to be reckoned with. Even though they had vanquished Saul's army just a few years later, they again set out to destroy their enemies. This, however, is David's army. God had left Saul but was with David.

David defeated the Philistines-twice. He ran them out of the Hebrew lands and took their idols and relics, including the Arc of the Covenant the Philistines had captured from Saul. Life is good for David.

Questions:

1. How did the Philistines feel when they heard that David was in control?

2. What did David do before he attacked the Philistines?

3.How must have the Hebrews felt? How must have David felt?

2 Samuel 5:1-12

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

David Becomes King Over Israel

¹ All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. ² In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' "

³ When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

⁴ David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. ⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem

⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." ⁷ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.

⁸ On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft ^a]'>[a] to reach those 'lame and blind' who are David's enemies. ^b]'>[b] " That is why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace."

⁹ David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces ^c]'>[c] inward. ¹⁰ And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

¹¹ Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. ¹² And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

After a civil war culminating in some vicious murders, David is finally king over all Israel. One of the first thing he does is conquer Jerusalem. Evidently, the Jebusites had fortified the area well and were secure in the belief they could defeat David. They weren't and they didn't.

Why Jerusalem? The city of Zion was a neutral city in the tribes of Israel. David was wise enough to know that if he stayed in Hebron the rest of the country would talk. If he moved to Saul's capital, Judah would feel slighted. Also, Jerusalem was the last town in the promised land that was still under foreign, (non Hebrew) control.

Questions:

1. Why was Jerusalem important?

2. Does David wait before his conquest?

3. What does he do immediately after taking Jerusalem?

2 Samuel 3:22-39

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 3:22-39 (New International Version)

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 well of Sirah. But David did not know it. ²⁷ Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway, as though 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 upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy ^a]'>[a] 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 wicked men."
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 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 prince 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!"

Abner makes his deal with David, and David is prepared to unite the two Hebrew counties into one. Joab does not see Abner as a peace maker, but as a spy and the man who killed his brother. Joab calls him back and murders him. Even though Joab was David's right hand man, Joab was prone to make rash judgements, and this one set back Davids ascension.

David does not have Joab killed, David is still trying to pacify the country. He does rebuke and curse Joab and his family. Then David takes the position of chief mourner for Abner. His plans for a united kingdom will have to wait.

Questions:

1. Why did Joab kill Abner?

2. Why did David not kill Joab?

3. Why did David go to such extremes to mourn for Abner? How tough is it to be a diplomat?

2 Samuel 3:1,6, 12-21

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

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.

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.

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 house 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 compact with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

During this civil war, Abner becomes more and more powerful in Israel. He has a spat with Saul's son, (vs.6-11 if you want to read outside,) and decides to make peace with David. He makes a diplomatic offer by message, but David wants Michal, his first wife and Saul's daughter, back.

Abner brings Michal with him to meet with David, only her new husband follows, weeping. Abner tells him to go home-and he does. Abner meets with David and then with the elders of Israel to talk peace. He then gos back to David to negotiate the deal.

Questions:

1. How did Abner get to be so powerful?

2. Why would Ish-Bosheth, (or Ishbaal,) agree to send his sister Michal to David?

3. Is David finally going to have peace?

2 Samuel 2:12-32

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2 Samuel 2:12-32 (New International Version)

¹² Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. ¹³ Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

¹⁴ Then Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us."
"All right, let them do it," Joab said.

¹⁵ So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. ¹⁶ Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim. ^a]'>[a]

¹⁷ The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's men.

¹⁸ The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. ¹⁹ He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. ²⁰ Abner looked behind him and asked, "Is that you, Asahel?"
"It is," he answered.

²¹ Then Abner said to him, "Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

²² Again Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?"

²³ But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

²⁴ But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. ²⁵ Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

²⁶ Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?"

²⁷ Joab answered, "As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning. ^b]'>[b] "

²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

²⁹ All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the whole Bithron ^c]'>[c] and came to Mahanaim.

³⁰ Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were found missing. ³¹ But David's men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. ³² They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

This is the start of hostilities and civil war. Abner was Saul's nephew and his commander. Even though he knew David was destined to rule over Israel, he fought to keep Saul's bloodline ruling. The two faction met at Gibeon, which was an important strategic area, and squared off. It started with a contest or duel between the best young fighters and ended up in full fledged battle.

After things broke down Abner fled, but Joab's (David's commander) brother Asahel chased him. Abner told him to stop twice, probably because he didn't want to upset Joab, but Asahel keep coming so Abner kills him. (At least Abner can use his spear, unlike his Uncle Saul.) This action starts a feud between Abner and Joab.

Questions:

1. What was the contest all about? If I read the scripture correctly- each contestant started with a dagger in one hand and his opponents hair in the other. Why would anyone want to compete in this game?

2. Abner was with Saul after David took his spear and water jug. He knew what Saul had said about David and being king. Why did Abner participate in the civil war?

3. Why didn't Asahel stop?

2 Samuel 2:1-11

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen

2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King Over Judah

¹ In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked.
The LORD said, "Go up."
David asked, "Where shall I go?"
"To Hebron," the LORD answered.

² So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ³ David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. ⁴ Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, "The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. ⁶ May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. ⁷ Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

War Between the Houses of David and Saul

⁸ Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. ⁹ He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri ^a]'>[a] and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

¹⁰ Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. ¹¹ The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Saul and his oldest sons are killed in a battle with the Philistines, (the one David had been excluded from.) We skipped the battle and the mourning of David over his king Saul and his very close friend Jonathan. Now is the time for David to fulfill his anointing and be king.

Small problem! Abner, the commander of Saul's army, has taken one of Saul's sons away so that he can be king. Samuel is dead and can not tell the people that he anointed David. David is king of Judah, Ish-Bosheth (Saul's boy) was made king of Israel. This sets the stage for civil war.

Questions:

1. Did David realize that his succession to the throne be this difficult?

2. Why didn't God get more active in this struggle? The prophets knew about David, shouldn't they have campaigned for him?

3. Did Abner really believe Ish-Bosheth should be king? Was he just scared?