David Demands Obedience

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 3

David's Journal

I have no problem teaching one of my men who is out of line what he should have done. I also will punish accordingly.


This time, the man I placed as captain over my men did something bad. If I had let it go, the whole kingdom would have plunged into a revolt and we would have lost everything.


Yeah, it was that bad.


What did he do? 


First, his name is Joab. Joab was angry with Abner for killing his brother during a battle. Abner had given Joab's youngest brother fair warning to stand back and to call off his attempt to kill, but his brother refused. Abner defended himself when Joab's little brother attacked. Unfortunately his younger brother died.


Second, Joab discovered Abner had visited our camp and wanted to make peace. Without my knowledge, Joab sneaked out of the camp with a group of men to hunt Abner. He tricked Abner into returning to my camp where he and his brother killed him.


Third, Joab's other brother is the same man who tried to kill Saul the day he and I sneaked into their camp. I prevented him from killing king Saul and taught him we should respect those God has placed in authority over us. Apparently he forgot the lesson.


Abner was the captain of king Saul's armies. People thought highly of him because of his high position. They might riot, kill each other, destroy property. What a mess.


My goal: 
Mourn the death of Abner, a man who served God's chosen people
Punish Joab for attacking and killing Abner, especially without God's permission.
Restore peace to the Israelites.


I hurried to the scene after hearing what had happened. I pronounced a curse on Joab and all his family. Then I ordered Joab and everyone with him to, "Tear your clothes, put on burlap, and mourn for Abner." 


It seemed he saw I meant business. He did as I said. I, too, walked in the procession carrying Abner to his grave, mourning the life taken from him. I mourned with all the people at the grave and sang this song at his graveside: 

“Should Abner have died as fools die?

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Your hands were not bound;

    your feet were not chained.

No, you were murdered—

    the victim of a wicked plot.”

Overcome with grief, I refused to eat even though the people begged me to join them in a meal. I could not. This man should not have been killed. I refused to eat until the sun went down, spending my time in mourning instead.

The people saw my heart and understood I had nothing to do with Abner's murder. We were spared riots.

Two of the official stood near me. They didn't seem to understand the situation. I said, "Don't you realized that a great commander has fallen in Israel today? And even though I am the anointed king, these two men, Joab and Abishai are too strong for me to control. May the Lord repay them for the evil they have done.

I have left their punishment in God's hands.

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1. Who did David speak with?

2. What had this man done wrong?

3. Why was his sin so great?

4. What did David tell him to do?

5. What did David do for Abner?

6. Who was Abner?

7. What did David want for the country?

Joab's Revenge

By Mary Vee

I Samuel 2

Joab's Journal

I captain some of David's army. At times, I even captain the whole army depending on the situation. 

Yesterday, some of the men went with me to raid a Philistine village. We did well. It took extra time to haul all we'd plunder back to our homes, but we didn't mind. I couldn't wait to show David.

We arrived back in Hebron in the early evening. Seconds later a crowd gathered to see what we brought. It felt pretty good to tell how we conquered the Philistines. After a few minutes, I left the men to finish telling our stories and went straight to give a report to David.

"David, my men and I have returned. Our mission was a success and we brought back plenty of plunder for everyone."

"Very good. I'll have to see your success." He walked with me out to the carts. "You missed a visit from Abner."

"Abner? Here?"

"Yes, he is upset with Ish-Bosheth and is determined to help put me on the throne of all Israel."

"And you believed him?" David is a great leader and warrior. I couldn't believe he would let a  snake like Abner into the camp much less make an agreement with him. "You let him get away? You should know he only came to spy on what you have and what you plan to do."

My heart pounded with anger. How could the commander I so deeply respected allow the very man who put someone else on the throne, and the same man who killed my brother come in to this camp. The place I call home.

David had ended the war between Abner and his men a while ago. He had also forgiven him for killing my brother, but I had not.

Furry seethed in my veins. I met with several of our soldiers and gathered a group to helm me hunt down Abner. I sent a team ahead with a message pretending to be from David: Please return at once.

The rest of the men and I caught up with Abner at Sirah. We pretended David wanted to meet with him again in Hebron. 

But, before news reached anyone of Abner's return, my other brother, Abashai, and I pulled Abner aside at the gate of Hebron. "Please come over here. I wish to tell you important news before we see David."

He walk with us. Abashai and I took the opportunity to kill Abner by stabbing him in the stomach. The work was finished. He had now paid the price for killing our youngest brother.

David heard the news and came at once. He faced the crowds that came with him. His eyes weighed heavy with disappointment. I thought he'd be happy. This was the last person standing in the way of his throne.

Instead he said, 

“I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

Cursed? But I had helped. I took out the man who stood in our way. He should be thankful. 


I don't understand. 

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1. Where had Joab gone?

2. What good news did Joab bring David?

3. Who had visited while Joab was gone?

4. Why was Joab upset (2 reasons)

5. What did Joab decide to do?

6. Did David know?

7. Why was this revenge wrong?

Abner Switches Sides

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 3

Abner's Thoughts

I thought I had done the right thing. Ish-Bosheth was Saul's son and had the right to be crowned king upon his father's death. 


One day, though, after I help him become king of Israel, Ish-Bosheth accused me of something I had not done. It was something big, and if he worked hard to make the people of Israel believe him, I could be killed. 


How ungrateful.


I had put up with a lot from him. As a king he could do good or bad and get away with it. In truth, though, my loyalty only reached so far. The day he falsely accused me was the day I left his palace.


I made sure he knew he made a bad choice, screaming every word. "Am I a dog's head on Judah's side? To this very day I have been loyal to Saul and his house. I didn't hand you over to David, and I could have done it at any time. With all my loyalty you have the gull to accuse me of something this big? Something I never did?


"You have lost my loyalty, Ish-Bosheth. I am going to get David on the throne of Israel as the Lord decreed." 


I didn't care that my throat hurt from screaming. That ungrateful son of Saul did not deserve to be king of Israel.


Ish-Bosheth cowered back like a scared mouse. He didn't speak to me again. A wise choice on his part.


I sent a messenger with the following to word to David. I now agree you should be king. Make an agreement with me and I will help put you on the throne of Israel.


David sent a message back. I will agree under one condition. Saul took my wife from me. Bring my wife with you and I will make the arrangements with you as you asked.


I went before the elders of Israel and held a meeting. "For some time you have wanted David to be king over Israel and I have fought you. I have changed my mind. The Lord said He would rescue us from the Philistines with David's hand. We need to put David on the throne."


I then went to the Benjamites, the tribe Saul, our first king and now his son, king Ish-Bosheth also came from. I reminded them of the Lord's promise to rescue us with David's hand. I spoke kindly of king Saul, but recommended we put David on the throne. They agreed to help.


After these meetings, I went to Hebron to speak with David. I presented him with his wife. He prepared a great feast for my men and me. The next day I spoke with David "If you will let me go, I will prepare a coronation before all Israel to set you on the throne. I am no longer a servant of king Ish-Bosheth."


David agreed and gave me a farewell hug. "It is good to be on the same side, Abner. Now Israel can be one, as God intended."


I admit I made a mistake. The Lord appointed David as next king, not Ish-Bosheth. At least the wrong could still be changed and the Lord's will be done.


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photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com


1. Abner left ___________ to go to ______________
2. Why did Abner switch sides?
3. David agreed under what conditions?
4. Once David agreed, who did Abner speak to first.
5. Who did Abner speak to second? Why them and no other tribe?
6. How did David greet Abner, who had been his enemy for years?
7. What did Abner want to leave to do?

Ish-Bosheth Crowned King Instead of David

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 2

A Spy in Saul's Camp Reports

Abner had taken charge. Most of the men didn't mind. He was, after all the captain of Saul's army.


He knew that David had been chosen by God as Israel's next king, but he also knew one of Saul's sons still lived. Abner gathered the people of Mahamaim together and crowned Saul's son Ish-Bosheth king.


Most likely Ish-Bosheth also knew David had been chosen to be the next king, but greed gets into the hearts of men. At age forty, he agreed to be crowned king of Israel. He quite enjoyed the ceremony.


Abner and the army under him led the royal party southwest to Gibeon.


In the meantime, David's men heard the news and sent an army, led by Joab, to meet them. At the pool in Gibeon, Abner, Ish-Bosheth and their army sat on one side of the water and David's men, sat on the other. The distance was close enough for them to speak to each other.


Abner spoke first. "Why should our armies fight? Choose twelve of your men to fight, and we'll chose twelve of ours. The winner represents his army."


Joab agreed. 


Both sides chose twelve men. The opponents lined up against each other and because of their great fighting skills, no one won. All twenty four men died in a short time. Since no one remained alive to claim victory for his side, the armies chose to go to war.


Saul fought to have Ish-Bosheth in charge of all Israel. David's men fought to have David the official king of all Israel. 


The battle was fierce, but David's men took the advantage. When Abner realized his army suffered, he turned and ran from the battle. 


Joab's brother, Asahel could run like the swiftest animal. He chased Abner, keeping his eyes held firm on his enemy's every turn.


Abner looked back as he continued to run. "Is that you Asahel?"


"It is."


The men kept running, jetting to the right and left. Abner couldn't loose Asahel not matter how hard he tried. "Asahel, stop chasing me. I don't want to kill you. How could I look your brother, Joab in the face if you died?"


"Very funny, Abner. Maybe you should be more worried about what might be said when I kill you."


"Fine. I'm tired of running." Abner suddenly stopped and jabbed the butt of his spear into Asahel. Joab's brother fell dead.


Abner saw Joab and David's army closing in on his position. He fled as fast as he could. Joab, his other brother, and the rest of his army continued chase.


Abner his surviving men stopped running at the top of a hill. He called down to Joab and David's army. "When is the bloodshed going to stop? How long is it going to take for you to order your men to stand down?"


Joab called back. 'If you had not asked us to stop we would not have done so. We would have chased you until morning if necessary." He blew his trumpet signaling David's men to stop the chase.


Abner took Isb-osheth back to Manhamain, the place he had been crowned king. David's men returned to their home in Hebron.


The war had ended . . . for now.


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1. Who was Abner? What job did he have?
2. Who did Abner crown king of Israel?
3. What happened at the pool of Gibeon?
4. Joab's little brother, Asahel, could run how fast?
5. What happened to Joab's brother?
6. David's men had been winning the battle. How did the battle end?
7. Why did Joab stop fighting?