Tuesday, October 13, 2015

II Samuel 3: Palace Intrigue

A shifting of Abner's loyalties from Ishbaal to David helps put into motion the machinery by which David will become king over all Israel, yet also ends up costing Abner his life at the hands of Joab.

Chapter 3 tells us that a long war was waged between the House of David and the House of Saul.  As the struggle wore on, David's forces grew stronger while Saul's became weaker.  At one point, King Ishbaal offended his right-hand man General Abner by insinuating that he had slept with one of Saul's concubines.  Enraged at this insult to his honor, Abner begins working for David within the government of Ishbaal.  Abner lines up support for David in a bid to make him king over Israel.

David and Abner meet to discuss these developments and plan strategy.  Joab, however, who still has hard feelings toward Abner over the death of his brother Asahel, does not trust Abner and instead assassinates him.

David is appalled by the murderous actions of Joab.  David is so distressed that he publicly rebukes Joab and his family and calls for mourning to be done for Abner.  The people are pleased to see by these signs that David had nothing to do with the assassination.  With such clean hands in the matter, he remains a favorite of all the people as the arc of his fame bends inexorably toward national kingship.

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