David Punishes Ishbosheth's Murderers

By Mary Vee

II Samuel 4

From David's Journal

I can't believe this has happened again. 


If God had not shown us His mercy in terrible times like today, we, the Israelites, would not survive.

Two men from Ishbosheth's army arrived at my camp. They seemed rather pleased and excited to share their news. I agreed to meet with them.

My guards let them into my tent. As they stepped in I saw the head of Isbosheth in their hands. "My lord, here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy and the one who wanted to take your life. The Lord has avenged you from Saul and his descendants today."

Why did they think I would want the king dead? And why did they take it upon themselves to kill the king? This would not please God or the people of Israel, or me. They needed to be punished and quick before the country erupted in a riot.

"As the Lord lives, He is the one who has redeemed my life from all adversity. Didn't you hear what happened to the Amalekite who proudly told me his news, "Look, Saul is dead."? He thought I would be happy. But I wasn't. I had him arrested and executed in Ziklag. This same man thought I would reward him for his news.

"You have been more wicked by going into a righteous person's own house and killing him in his bed. He had no protection. No way to fight back. You deserve what you have done. I shall remove you from the earth."

I called my young men to come at once. "Take these two men, Rechab and Baanah, and execute them. Cut off their hands and feet, and hang them by the pool in Hebron. Let all the people see and remember to honor those whom God has placed in authority."

After Rechab and Baanah had been taken away I led a funeral procession to bury Ishbosheth's head in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

Oh that this needless killing would end.

*****************************

1. Why did Rechab and Baanah go to David's camp?

2. What did they hope to get?

3. Did David approve of what they did? Why or why not?

4. What did David do to Rechab and Baanah?

5. What did David for Ishbosheth?

6. Rechab and Baanah felt they were helping to put David on the throne? Why was this wrong?

Trouble in Saul's Family

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 4

A Servant in the Palace

I was chosen to tell this story since I worked in the palace at the time. This news I share is painful for me. I have grown to love Saul, his sons, and grandsons. And now, to tell of these events, well, it is a difficult but a needed task.


Ishbosheth, Saul's son, has been on the thrown since his father's death. Abner, the captain of Saul's army became angry with Ishbosheth and left the palace to join sides with David. Need I say how upset Ishbosheth became? Not angry upset. Scared upset.


More news came last night. A messenger arrived and asked to speak with the king. Ishbosheth gave him permission to speak. "My lord, Abner has been slain. Joab and his brother killed him at the gate of Hebron."


Ishbosheth opened his mouth but words didn't come out. His eyes grew wide with fright. Everyone who heard the news, realized Saul's family was not safe in the palace.


Two soldiers from Ishbosheth's army came to the king's house. They arrived around the noon hour when he slept away the heat. The two soldiers, Baanah and Rechab, announced their presence and requested to resupply their wheat. Since they belonged to the army, no one doubted their task.


Baanah and Rechab walked through the palace corridors, greeting those they saw along the way. No one questioned their reason for approaching the king's chamber, not even me.


 I saw them go into the king's bedroom and close the door. I continued my work and happened to be in the same corridor moments later when the two men hurried from the king's bedroom. Something they concealed under their cloak dripped blood. I hurried inside the king's room and discovered his dead body, and no head!


I ran into the corridor screaming at the top of my lungs. "The king has been murdered. His killers are getting away!"


Fearing the life of Jonathan's son too, his nurse scooped up his five-year-old body and ran for the stairs. In her haste, she dropped him and broke his legs. Servants ran to his aid and took him to a safe place for medical treatment. The boy's name was Mephibosheth.


I hardly know what else to say. I only wish Saul had not turned away from the Lord.


**************************
1. Trouble continued to brew in Saul's family even in today's story, which happened after Saul's death. Why did his family have these troubles?
2. Who is Ishbosheth?
3. Why was he frightened when told about Abner?
4. Why were Baanah and Rechab able to walk into the king's chamber?
5. What did they do?
6. Who else in Saul's family needed to escape?
7. What happened to Mephibosheth?

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.


**************************************
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.


***********************************


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?