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2SAMUEL
CHAPTER 3

1 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. 2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 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; 4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

David's army and Abner's army continued to fight. David's army grows stronger and stronger while Abner's grows weaker and weaker.
Here we find a little more about David. In 1Samuel 18, Saul had given Michal (his daughter) to David as his first wife.
Then, in 1Samuel 24:42-44, we find that David had two wives: Ahinoam and Abigail.
Here in these verses we find that David has four more wives! (Maacah, Haggith, Abital and Eglah). This is NOT good! Do a little research. In verse 3 we are told that Absalom was the son of Maachah. She was the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur.
During David's time in Ziklag, he had made raids on the Amalekites, the Gezrites and the Geshurites. David probably captured and killed Talmai, and took his daughter to be his wife.
Later we will find that Absalom, Maachah's son, will be the one to lead a rebellion against David and try to take over the kingdom.
Polygamy breeds jealousy over power and possessions!
In David's old age, Adonijah (son of Haggith) would try to take over the kingdom when he knew that Solomon was supposed to be the king.
One thing we shall learn about David is that he cherished his sons. He loved them, he honored them, but he did not "discipline" them (1Kings 1:6).

6 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. 7 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? 8 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? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 10 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. 11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

Here is another sordid story. Abner took one of Saul's concubines. In those days, if a man took an ex-king's concubine, it meant that he was going to be the next king.
Ishbosheth was afraid of Abner, and would not retaliate.

12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

My how the story progresses like a soap opera full of sordid affairs! Abner sent messengers to David asking to join forces and David would be the king.
David sent back a message and said that this proposal would be accepted, but he wanted his wife Michal back (Saul's daughter). Now this was wrong of David. Michal had indeed been his wife, but she has now for many years been the wife of another man.
Ishbosheth, trying to escape the wrath of both Abner and David, agrees to take Michal from Phaltiel. The husband follows along, weeping in sorrow. But Abner made him return home.
How horrible a story!
Daid was indeed a man of lust. Because of it, many terrible problems came into his life.
We must remember that even though David was a cunning warior, king of Israel, anointed of God, master designer, song writer, poet, prophet - this great man David - was just a MAN! He was a sinner like everyone else.
But one thing stands out about this man David above all the others who were kings after him - he LOVED GOD!
God said in 1Samuel 13:14 that David was a "..man after His own heart.."
He sought after a personal relationship with God. And THAT'S why God's grace was poured out upon him day after day.

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 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.

Abner went to all the elders of Israel and told them he was going to back David as king of the whole nation.
Then, Abner and twenty of his men, visited David in Hebron. David made a feast for him and they agreed on a contract.
If it had not been for the disagreement between Ishbosheth and Abner, Abner might have never thrown his weight behind David. Abner was a power-hungry man, and wanted to maintain his position of authority.
God uses evil against evil to promote His kingdom when it so pleases Him.

22 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. 23 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. 24 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? 25 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.

Joab didn't like this agreement between Abner and David at all. When he found out that Abner had come and gone in peace, he was really angry. He believed Abner would use intelligence forces to go against David at the appropriate time. He was RIGHT!

26 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. 27 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.

Joab sent messengers out to find Abner. When he found him, Joab got Abner to return to Hebron and feigned an agreement with him. Then he drew Abner aside alone and killed him!
Joab had been holding onto that grudge for a long time. He never dealt with it and begged God's forgivness. It finally blew up in his face.

28 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: 29 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. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 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. 32 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. 33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 34 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. 35 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. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39 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.

David was upset about this cold-blooded murder and wanted to be sure that no one thought he had anything to do with it.
He publicly shamed Joab by making him to show mourning for Abner (verse 31).
David also "followed" (walked behind) the funeral procession publicly demonstrating his grief for the loss of this influential man in such a shameful manner.
It seems like an out of place statement that David makes in verse 33. Abner certainly was no fool. He was tricked.
Abner had returned to Hebron, which was one of the cities of refuge. The "avenger of blood" (Joab) could not touch Abner in Hebron. But Joab tricked him into going aside "in the gate" (verse 27), and killed him just outside the walls!
So David was not saying that Abner was a "fool," but he is saying that Joab killed him with trickery!
Joab never forgot THIS incident either. He holds a grudge about this public shaming for a long, long time.
But notice David's prophecy in verse 39, "...the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness."
Later, Joab would kill David's son (Absalom), because he revolted against David. But this same Joab would also become allied with Adonijah when he tried to take the kingdom from Solomon.
Eventually Joab was killed by Solomon even though he went to the tabernacle of God and pled for mercy by clinging to the horns of the altar.
YES! You can be saved and hold a grudge. But, take a lesson from Joab: there is a law of God called "sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7)." You will REAP what you sow.

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