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David-Ishbosheth Is Murdered
August 29, 2020

Prior to his death, Saul became increasingly concerned over the rise of David and saw him as a threat to his throne and lineage where he constantly sought opportunities to kill David. In the end, it was Saul who died at the hand of the Philistines in battle. A good distance away, David was returning from his battle with the Amalekites where the only survivors were the lucky ones who were able to ride away. David and his men returned with the women, livestock, and plunder and eventually returned to Ziklag where they had been staying.

Three days after returning to Ziklag word got back to David of the defeat of the armies of Israel by the Philistines along with word that Saul and Jonathan were dead. A man came and found David and fell to the ground kneeling before him sharing that he had escaped the battle.

David wanted to know how this man knew Saul and Jonathan were dead, and the man lied to David. We know from First Samuel chapter thirty-one that Saul took his own life by falling on his spear after Saul’s armor bearer wouldn’t kill him. This man claimed that Saul was still alive in agony after falling on his spear and begged this man, an Amalekite, to kill him so he would not be taken alive by the Philistines. This man then went on to explain to David that he killed Saul after determining there was no hope of survival and took the crown and bracelet to bring to David. We have no motivation given to us regarding why this man told a lie to David. Maybe he was hoping to look good and find favor from David by saying he had killed Saul, and it was probably common knowledge that there was a rift between Saul and David. The explanation given by this man and seeing the crown and bracelet was enough for David to realize that Saul and Jonathan were both dead, and this caused David and his men extreme anguish, and they paused from their activities the rest of the day to mourn Saul and Jonathan, and all from Israel who died in the battle.

David then asked the man to confirm his nationality and the man told him he was the child of an Amalekite. David was confounded that this man would kill the king of Israel and instructed one of his men to kill this man because he had killed the Lord’s anointed.

Saul had tried on many different occasions to kill David, and when David lamented the death of Saul, this lamenting can only come through forgiveness as evidenced by the lamentation or musical dirge that is attributed to David. As the survivor who could have written history after his preferences, David instead praised Saul as the beauty of Israel who was slain on the high places, how the mighty had fallen. He added that this tragedy must be withheld from the Philistines lest they use this bad news to rejoice.

David went on to add many words to describe Saul and Jonathan explaining how they were the mighty and pleasant in life, swifter than eagles, and stronger than lions. David lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan and felt distress over the death of Jonathan knowing that Jonathan was a dear and close friend.

2 Samuel 1:1-27
Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

After mourning the loss of Saul and Jonathan, David asked God if he should return to Judah, and when God indicated he should return to Judah, David wanted to know to what city, and God told him Hebron. David departed from Ziklag, living among the Philistines along with his wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, along with the men who fought with David. Once in Hebron, the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the house of Judah. They shared with David that it was the men from Jabeshgilead who buried Saul, and once David understood how these men had helped the legacy of Saul by claiming and burying his body, he sent messengers to the men of Jabeshgilead to thank them for their act of kindness. He also used the messengers to tell these men he was now king over Judah.

Abner, Saul’s captain, had other ideas about who should be ruling and made Ishbosheth, Saul’s forty year old son, king over the remainder of Israel. With two kings, David of Judah and Ishbosheth of Israel, the future of the country was not fully settled. This led to a meeting between Abner and Joab. Abner suggested a fighting contest and the men that were with them squared off and began fighting, and the men with Joab, aligned to David eventually killed the men aligned with Abner and Ishbosheth

After the fight, Asahel, the fastest of the sons of Zeruiah, pursued Abner who tried to talk him into stopping the pursuit. Asahel persisted and eventually Abner killed him with his spear. Others in pursuit came across Asahel’s dead body and stopped. The brothers of Asahel, Joab and Abishai, continued the pursuit of Abner and his men until after dark until men from Benjamin came as reinforcements for Abner and there was a stand-off at the top of a hill. Abner asked Joab if he wanted more men to die, and Joab after exchanging more words with Abner, blew a trumpet, and the men pursuing Abner stopped their pursuit. With the pursuit over, Abner and his men returned to Mahanaim. In the fight, twenty men from David, including Asahel, died and for Abner and his men, three hundred sixty died. Asahel was buried in Bethlehem, in the sepulcher of his father, and Joab and his men returned to Hebron.

2 Samuel 2:1-32
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

This battle prompted a larger war between the house of Saul and the house of David and as the battles went on, David and his men became stronger, and Saul and his men became weaker. In Hebron, six sons were born to David, Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, and Ithream.

As the fighting continued, Abner became more powerful within the house of Saul, and took to himself Saul’s concubines, and this made Ishbosheth angry, who challenged Abner, and Abner told Ishbosheth that he needed to be kinder to him because he could have delivered him to David at any time and chose not to do so. Abner called on God to transfer the kingdom to David so David would be king of Israel and Judah. Ishbosheth never challenged Abner again.

Abner sent messengers to David to see if he could make a deal with him to give him the remaining lands of Israel. David told the messengers that a deal was possible if Michal, Saul’s daughter, was brought to him at the meeting. David then sent messengers to Ishbosheth asking for the return of his wife, and Ishbosheth took Michal and returned her to David and this caused Phaltiel, her husband, to follow her in tears to Bahurim where Abner told him to return. Abner then spoke to the elders extolling the virtue of having David as their king and then came to David in Hebron to tell him he had secured support so that David could be king over all Israel and Judah.

While David trusted Abner, Joab felt Abner was only trying to deceive David, and without David’s knowledge sent messengers to Abner to return to Hebron, and killed him for revenge because it was Abner who killed his brother Asahel. David was upset that Joab killed Abner and proclaimed that the death of Abner was solely at the hands of Joab, and not David’s kingdom. David made Joab and the men who were with Joab mourn the death of Abner which had caused David great pain. To reunite the kingdom, he needed to make clear that the death of Abner was not the act of David, but the act of a rogue actor who deserved punishment for the evil that was caused.

2 Samuel 3:1-39
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. 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. 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? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

When Ishbosheth found out that Abner was dead, he became too scared to take any action and a panic started in Israel. Some of the palace fled to Gittaim. Those who stayed behind killed Ishbosheth, the king of Israel, who was still sleeping in his bed at noon. They severed the head and took it to David, probably hoping to gain favor with David. David was not pleased that Ishbosheth, in David’s mind a righteous person, was killed in his own bed. He had these men killed by his men.

2 Samuel 4:1-12
And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

With no king of Israel, David would now become king over all Judah and Israel.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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