2 Samuel - Chapters 2-4

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

After king Saul and Jonathan had died, David asked the Lord if it was time to leave the Philistine city of Ziklag and go to his tribe of Judah? The Lord said yes, and that he should go to Hebron. David obeyed the Lord, and he and his two wives and his men and their families moved to Hebron, and there the tribe of Judah made David king. The problem was the rest of Israel, through the leadership of Abner, Saul's commander of the army, had made Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, king of Israel. There were various battles, one of which Abner killed Asahel because he refused to give up pursuing Abner. Asahel was Joab, David's commander of the army's brother. Through the war, David grew stronger and the house of Saul became weaker. Abner became offended by Ish-Bosheth, so he made peace with David to make him king over all Israel, if they would bring David his first wife, Michal to him. They did. Joab was furious, called Abner back without David knowing, and killed him to avenge his brother's death. David and the people mourned Abner. David cursed Joab and his family, and he fasted until evening. David's actions proved to the people that he had nothing to do with Abner's death. The people still wanted David to be their king, and two of Ish-Bosheth's men, who were raiders, came to him while he was in bed, killed him, cut off his head, and brought it to David. They thought this would please him, but it brought their deaths. We are also told in 4:4, that Jonathan had a son. At the time of Jonathan and Saul's death, he was 5 years old, and when they ran to escape the Philistine invasion, the boy fell and was crippled in both his legs. This plays a part in the future chapters of 2 Samuel.