2 Samuel 3 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 2 Sam 3:6-21

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 offence 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 Benjaminites 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.

A. Find Out:

1. What had Abner been doing? v.6,7
2. How did Abner respond when Ish-bosheth criticised him? v.8-11
3. So what did Abner do? v.12
4. What did David demand, and what happened? v.13-16
5. To whom did Abner speak? v.17-19a
6. What did he then do? v.19b-21

B. Think:

1. What appears Abner’s intention back at home?
2. What does his reaction when he is thwarted, say about his motivation in all that follows?
3. What do you feel about the part concerning David here?

C. Comment:

      Abner sees himself as the powerful second in command in Israel and everything he does seems to be to strengthen his own position. His actions and motivation seem to be purely to strengthen Abner himself, and are not for any other “good” motive. As soon as he is questioned by his king over his behaviour he flies into a rage and decides to change camps. He first sends messengers to David to sound out what David’s response might be. He then approaches other leaders in Israel and seeks to persuade them of the wisdom of going over to David. Next he goes to Saul’s own tribe, the Benjamites and seeks to convince them. Finally, he goes in person to see David.

      Let’s observe David’s response to all this next. He is first of all willing to bring together the nation under his leadership but before that happens he wants his wife restored to him. Michal had been given to him as wife by Saul but had had to leave her behind when he fled from Saul. That she had been given to another had been wrong. Not a very tidy situation and the fact that David has other wives doesn’t help it. That Ish-bosheth is willing to concede to David’s demand for his wife to be sent back, indicates his weak position. Perhaps not the most glorious part of David’s time!

D. Application:

1. The motives of self-centred men are always self-centred.
2. We increasingly live in a messy world of confused relationships.

Passage: 2 Sam 3:22-39

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 for ever 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 of 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 realise 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!’

A. Find Out:

1. Where was Abner where Joab returned? v.22,23
2. What did Joab feel about Abner having been there? v.24,25
3. So what did he do? v.26,27
4. What did David feel about this? v.28,29,38
5. What did David then instruct and do and why? v.31-37
6. What did he feel about Joab and his family? v.39

B. Think:

1. In a somewhat primitive time, how was it perhaps somewhat natural for Abner to be killed in this manner?
2. How would you summarise what David felt about Abner’s death?
3. What do you think David’s last comment means?

C. Comment:

      While Abner had been discussing with David the handing over of Israel to him, Joab and his men had been away. The discussion comes to an end and Abner departs from David in peace. Joab returns, hears about it, pursues Abner and kills him in revenge for killing his brother.

    Those are the simple facts of what happened. In a tough day, when fighting was the norm for these men, it was perhaps a fairly natural thing to happen. The expression, “dog eats dog” perhaps applies aptly.

    If this is so, and everything about Joab seems to indicate this is the way things are, then David’s reaction to it is all the more surprising. Instead of being glad that an obstacle to his total reign has been removed, he actually anguishes over Abner’s death. He first of all disclaims any part in his death, then he declares a curse on Joab and his family and then he commands, what is tantamount to a state funeral for Abner.

    Abner’s death was not death in battle; it was pure murder and as such it revolts David. Despite being a warrior king, he has a gentle and upright heart. These strong warriors-turned-murderers make him feel weak and dispirited. In this we perhaps see something of the man described as “a man after God’s own heart.”

D. Application:

1. You can be a strong warrior in Christ, but that still means you need a gentle heart of integrity. David is our example.
2. We are commanded to love our enemies & pray for them (Mt 5:44).