2 Samuel 2
-David, as was his custom, inquired of the LORD for a big
decision and direction in his life. This would impact those who were faithful
to him in his family and the wider clan of followers. They went up at the LORD’s
discretion to Hebron, which were of the cities of Judah with his two wives and
the men who were with him along with their families. A fairly large exodus of
people by now which had to have been well over 1,000 individuals in total. “Then
the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah (2
Samuel 2:1-4).” This is an important development in the saga.
-At this time, the men of Judah told David how it was the
men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul. Therefore, David sent messengers to those
in Jabesh-gilead (to the north and east) proclaiming blessings on them from the
LORD for their kindness to Saul in his death. David extended the lovingkindness
and truth of the LORD as His favored and anointed king promising them goodness
from his kingdom. He also let them know that their hands should be made strong
and that they should be valiant due to the death of their king; plus, he
informed them as to the fact that Judah had anointed him their king at this
point (2 Samuel 2:5-7).
-But, there was trouble in the house of Israel that revolved
around the commander of Saul’s army, Abner, who had taken Ish-bosheth, the son
of Saul, to Mahanaim (east of the Jordan approximately half way between the Sea
of Galilee and the Dead Sea) and set him up as king over Gilead, the Ashurites,
Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, even all of Israel. Ish-bosheth was 40 years
old at this juncture and lasted as king for a mere two years. This caused a
rift in the nation since Judah had decided that David was their king and
followed him. Therefore, David’s kingdom, which was a division from Israel, in
Judah lasted 7 years and 6 months in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:8-11).
-Civil war soon ensued as Abner brought the servants of
Ish-bosheth from Mahanaim to Gibeon, just northwest of Jerusalem and directly
north of Hebron in the vicinity of where Saul was from in the land of Benjamin.
Joab, who was a military leader faithful to David, and the servants of David
went out and met the forces of Abner by the pool of Gibeon. There they all sat
down, one group on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the
pool. Finally, Abner said to Joab, “Now let the young men arise and hold a
contest before us.” Joab replied, “Let them arise.” The contest consisted of 12
on 12 in a sword fight. As they drew near one another the Scriptures say that “each
one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down
together.” The place of this tragic occurrence was then called Helkath-hazzurim
(the field of sword edges) which, again, was in Gibeon. This erupted a “very
severe” battle between the two clans of the sons of Abraham. Joab’s men, the
servants of David, ended up beating the forces of Abner and Israel. The three
sons of Zeruiah including Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were there, and Asahel, who
was very fast of foot, chased after Abner in straight course. As Asahel was
catching up to this commander a conversation took place. Abner first asked if
it was indeed the fleet footed Asahel to which Asahel answered, “It is I.”
Abner warned him to turn to the left or right and collect spoil from one of the
already fallen young men, but Asahel refused in his pursuit. He continued to
follow the commander at a rapid pace, and Abner spoke warning once more, “Turn
aside from me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up
my face to your brother Joab?” However, Asahel refused the directive once more
and advanced on this warrior. Therefore, the Bible tells us that Asahel was
about to catch Abner, the commander cleverly struck him in the belly with the
butt end of his spear to the point that the spear pierced through and came out
of his back. Asahel fell there where he was struck and died on the spot. All
who came to this place stood still, but Joab and Abishai continued to pursue
Abner. As the sun was going down on this bloody day “they came to the hill of
Ammah, which in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.” The sons
of Benjamin gathered there together as one band of brothers behind Abner and
stood on the top of a certain hill. From this lofty spot Abner called to Joab
saying, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter
in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from
following their brothers?” Joab responded, “As God lives, if you had not
spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from
following his brother.” Then Joab blew the trumpet signaling a halt for the
people, and they pursued Israel no longer, “nor did they continue to fight
anymore.” Abner and his men fled through the Arabah all that night. They crossed
the Jordan and walked all morning back to Mahanaim where they had begun. Joab
on his part returned from following Abner to find that 19 of David’s servants,
besides his brother Asahel, were missing (unaccounted for, presumed dead). But,
the servants of David had killed many of Abner and Benjamin’s men. In fact, 360
men had died on the side of Israel. This indicated a decisive but hollow
victory for the men of David. Asahel was taken up and buried in his father’s
tomb which was in Bethlehem. “Then Joab and his men went all night until the
day dawned at Hebron (2 Samuel 2:12-32).”
-*Application* Sometimes the decisions we make in haste can
have catastrophic consequences. David is our example here of inquiring of the
LORD before any important change in direction or action. He was blessed with a
kingdom, security, and homes there in Judah. Asahel proved to be impulsive,
raging, and unconscious of the dire straits he was putting himself into, which
ended costing him his life. This civil war need not have happened. Both Abner
and Joab would have been better off consulting the Sovereign LORD before
agreeing to a destructive contest that eventually lead to hundreds of Israeli
lives lost for virtually nothing. Wisdom is a stake here for our lives as we
meditate on the mistakes of the past. Consider God before taking next steps. It
makes all the difference in the world for blessing, honor, and favor.
Verse to Memorize:
2 Samuel 2:4
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