Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

David returns to Ziklag and a young Amalekite tells him about the death of Jonathan and Saul in 2 Samuel 1.  When he claims to have been the one that caused the death of the King, it isn’t one of the smartest things that he did.  David has him killed.  It seems to be the murder of someone who was not guilty of the crime.  That is why we have so many safeguards against this kind of atrocity.

The poet from Bethlehem composes a song for Saul and Jonathan.  His admiration is declared.  He speaks of his love and respect for the Prince.  Mourning is declared despite the many events where David was treated as an enemy, not the dedicated servant that he was.

God sends David to Hebron in Judah and the story is told in Second Samuel chapter two.  He stays there for seven years and rules the tribe of Judah.  Ish-Bosheth, one of Saul’s sons is appointed as king over Israel.  As always happens, this causes a war between David’s men and Abner, who had led the army for Saul.  This provides a very interesting story that will have implications later in our reading.

Joab and Abner decide to start by having twelve men from each side fight one on one.  David’s men defeated Ish-Bosheth’s and gave chase.  Joab’s younger brother pursues Abner and when he couldn’t outrun him, he stabbed him with his spear.  This ended the battle.  Joab and David’s men return to Hebron.

David’s strength continued to grow as the two factions fought.  We are told of this in 2 Samuel 3.  One of the ways that the kingdom of Israel under Ish-Bosheth loses strength is by losing Abner to the Judean king and being murdered by Joab as an act of revenge against the man who killed his brother in combat.

Both men were friends of the new King.  Abner had watched this youth grow into a strong man.  Joab had been one of David’s closest companions during the years that Saul pursued the young monarch and his small army.  Note the actions of the ruler of Judah in response to this crime.

The death and stupidity continue in 2 Samuel chapter 4.  Two gentiles who lived in the land of Benjamin go into the home of the Israelite King and murder him.  The ignorance of these men is mentioned by David as he talks to them when they bring the head of the son of the former king to him.

They believe that Saul and his entire family were David’s enemies and he would be pleased with their deaths.  The King of Judah respected the first king of Israel and loved his children.  This is not the first or the last time he will take revenge on those who murder innocent people.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger