Division Between David And Ishbosheth
March 7, 2022
Commentary
Now that Saul was dead there was a powerful vacuum in the land, particularly in Judah. Saul and three of his sons by his wife Ahinoam were gone. (Saul had two other sons by his concubine Rizpah, 2 Sam. 21:8, 11). David and most people including Israel’s enemies knew that David would now be king. Having sought the mind of the Lord David was told to got to Hebron where he was formally installed as king over Judah (vv. 1-2) (Anointed by Samuel 15 years earlier (I Sam. 16:13). This was a decisive and important move for it immediately alienated him from the Philistines with whom he had taken refuge and made an alliance; and it asserted David’s reign as being in rivalry with that of Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, who succeeded his father in the North.
We should recognize the fact that both Saul and Jonathan had sons, and one of them would have been the normal one to come to the throne had not God intervened. Abner who had been captain of Saul’s hosts, moved immediately to make Ishboseth king. Abner, Saul’s general gave his support to Ishboseth, perhaps fearful that he would be killed if David became king (vv. 3-11). Ten tribes followed Ishboseth, and two tribes (Judah and Simeon) followed David. Ishboseth was a very weak leader and had a brief tenure of only two years. He was intimidated by Abner who was the leader of the army and maintained a considerable amount of political powers as well. David quickly began to show his diplomatic skills. The men of Jabesh-Gilead had cremated and buried Saul so David sends a thank you to them for their kindness. He also asks them to join him and the people of Judah in order to present a united front before the common enemies of Israel (v. 5-7).
Application
Although David knew he would become king and although the time seemed right for him to take over when Saul died, David still asked God if he should assume the leadership. This points to the fact that before moving ahead with what seems obvious I need to bring the matter to the Lord who alone knows the best timing in every circumstance.
2 Samuel 2:1– 11 (NET)
1 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord replied, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities of Hebron. 4 The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people of Judah.
5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this kindness to your lord Saul by burying him. 6 Now may the Lord show you true kindness! I also will reward you, because you have done this deed. 7 Now be courageous and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”
8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish Bosheth and had brought him to Mahanaim. 9 He appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. 10 Ish Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people of Judah followed David. 11 David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven-and-a-half years.