This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
2SAMUEL
1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
When Abner died, hope of establishing a kingdom under Saul's heirs died. Ishbosheth must have felt depression. This verse tells us his hands were "feeble." And verse 5 tells us that he "lay on a bed at noon."
2 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:
3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
Baanah and Rechab had been captains in Abner's army under Ishbosheth. They fled the capitol city (Mahanaim - 2Samuel 2:8), and went to Gittaim.
4 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.
A side note here tells us about Jonathan's son Mephibosheth. When Saul and Jonathan died in battle, his nurse feared for his life and fled with him in her arms. But she fell, and somehow Mephibosheth became lame.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
Banah and Rechab returned to Mahanaim under pretense of getting food. They entered Ishbosheth's home and killed him. Then they beheaded him and took his head to David.
9 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,
10 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:
11 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?
12 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.
Again David acts in justnessa and righteousness. He knew his Scripture now, which is a prerequisite for a good leader. (See Deuteronomy 17:18-19)
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
(Proverbs 3:7-8)
Please continue to follow along with us in daily Bible study.
CHAPTER 4
Most people spend too much time in solitude when they are depressed - too much time sleeping.
Proverbs 20:13 says, "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty.."
The depression of Ishbosheth also reflected in all the people.
When the leadership of a people has indecision, it is a sad time for the people.
Some are invalids and need care all their lives.
This reminds me of the Amalekite who thought he would get favor for destroying David's enemy - Saul. These two perhaps thought the same thing and they took Ishbosheth's head to David.
Deuteronomy 27:24 says, "Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly.."
David answered in the same way he had with the Amalekite. This was an horrendous offense and offensive to David as king. He could have dealt with Ishbosheth in kindness, there was no need for blood to be shed.
Notice in verse 11 that David refers to Ishbosheth as "righteous." David may have been convinced that Ishbosheth was a man influenced by other people's opinions and that he had tried to be king only because of that influence (See 2Samuel 2:8).
David cut off the hands and feet of these two men to show that they were worthless servants. They had done their master harm and not good.
Then David hanged them in public shame and disgrace.
When crime is dealt with in a just but harsh manner, it is a deterrent to evil.
David took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in Abner's tomb, thus giving honor to the man. This lead the nation of Israel to realize that David was indeed a just and righteous man who wanted nothing to do with evil.