So, would David ever become King? Today’s lesson speaks of how he became King of Judah.
Time passes on. Israel mourns Saul’s death. It had been years since David was anointed by Samuel from The Lord. David was curious. Was this his appointed time? Eventually, David inquired of the Lord.
A TRUE SIGN
David was careful never to make his own decisions. He let God lead every step he took. That David ALWAYS inquired of the Lord before making any move forward is a true sign that he was surely God’s anointed. David knew if it was God’s will, God would bring things about when it was the proper time in His plan. God’s plan was all David was concerned with. His plan was only to follow God’s plan.
What do you do if your part of God’s plan seems to be on hold? You pray. Seeking God’s will and way is always the solution. While he was waiting in Ziklag, David finally asked God, “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” The Lord answered, “Go up.” So, David asked “Where shall I go?” The Lord told him to go to Hebron.
MOVING BACK TO THE HOMELAND
That David should leave Ziklag and move to Hebron was very necessary. He needed to be in his homeland before he was anointed their King. No King would be chosen from where he was living on the outskirts of the land of the Philistines. So, David gathered his family which consisted of Ahinoam and Abigail. All of David’s Mighty Men went with them too. Each of the men from David’s army took their families and settled in Hebron and the surrounding towns.
The news became known that David was back in town. It wasn’t long before the men of Judah came to see David in Hebron. That they came to him made it obvious that David was waiting on God to make the first move. David had not returned to overthrow the present rule. This was important for the people to see. He showed great respect for those left in Saul’s decaying government. Once they arrived in Hebron, these men anointed David King over Judah.
HONORING JABESH GILEAD
David was told about the men from Jabesh Gilead who buried Saul. He considered this a very noble thing which they did. David sent messengers to these men to pray for the Lord to bless them for showing this kindness and faithfulness. He also proclaimed that Judah had anointed him as King, and announced that he too would show them favor.
These men of Jabesh Gilead were very brave and loyal to Israel. David needed such men. Though he was only ruling over Judah, David gained their favor by showing them favor and respect.
ABNER RAISES ISH-BOSHETH
Remember Abner, the commander of Saul’s army? At one point David and Abner had fought together in battles. Even then, they had some confrontations. Later, Abner had joined in Saul’s pursuits to kill David. It must have been very strange to Abner to hear that David had become King of Judah.
Abner feared losing his high position now that Saul had died. Probably so he could hide behind his royal authority, Abner, took Ish-Bosheth (the son of Saul) over to Mahanaim. There, he made Ish-Bosheth King over Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
The prominent sons of Saul had died with him in battle. Until Saul’s death there was no mention of Ish-Bosheth who was 40 years old when he started his reign. This lack of attention to his name leads many to think he was the son of a concubine. It is obvious that Abner was using him as a puppet to hold up the government Saul had already appointed. He reigned over Israel for two years. Abner was his chief advisor during that time.
Judah, however, remained loyal to David. David was King in Hebron over Judah for seven and one-half years. This was during a time when the Kingdom of Israel had many divisions. I think David had in his heart to unite them again. He was simply moving slow and following God’s plan as directed.
MEETING AT THE POOL OF GIBEON
Abner and Ish-Bosheth left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. Joab, David’s sister’s son therefore David’s nephew, led David’s men out to met the men of Israel at the pool of Gibeon. Abner and Ish-Bosheth and their men sat down on one side of the pool. Joab and David’s men sat down on the other side of the pool. Abner spoke across the pool to Joab and said, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand-to-hand in front of everyone. Joab agreed to this.
There were twelve men appointed to fight for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth. Also, there were twelve men appointed to fight for David. This was a common way of settling disputes in those days. Instead of sending out the whole army for a slaughter, each side simply chose representatives. If their representatives won, the other side must then surrender to them. Obviously, Abner and Ish-Bosheth were plotting to gain the men of Judah back under their reign.
This was a strange way to fight. It was impossible for either side to win. Each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side. As both sides did this, they fell down together. After this battle took place they called that place in Gibeon Helkath Hazzurim, which means “field of daggers” or “field of hostilities.” It was a bloody fight, with men falling to the sword and covering the grounds.
DAVID’S THREE NEPHEWS
That day the battle was fierce. David’s men defeated Abner and the Israelites. Joab was there with two of his brothers, Abishai and Asahel. All three of these men were the sons of David’s sister, therefore David’s nephews. Asahel was a very fast runner. He chased Abner. Abner looked back and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is” he answered. “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons,” said Abner. But Asahel did not stop chasing Abner.
Again, Abner told Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?” Remember this was like a civil war in Israel. Some of the men were actually fighting their former friends and relatives. Still, Asahel was determined to keep chasing Abner. So, Abner thrust his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out his back. Asahel fell and died. The scriptures say when they came to the place where Asahel died, every man stopped. I suppose the sight was so terrible that they did not want to carry on.
ON THE HILL OF AMMAH
However, Joab and Abishai kept pursuing Abner on their own. As the sun was setting they were on the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. While they were there the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed into a group and took a stand on top of the hill. Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”
Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.” So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt. They no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.
All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours and came to Mahanaim.
19 FROM JUDAH DEFEATED 360 BENJAMITES
Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
SUMMARY OF DAVID’S RULE OVER JUDAH
David had allowed God to lead him. He did not overthrow the present government and take his rightful place. Everything happened in God’s time. Because of this loyalty and obedience to the ways and times of God, David was successful.
Soon Judah noticed and made David their King. When David showed respect and honor to the men of Judah, those who were with Saul previously rose up and tried to regain power by making one of Saul’s lesser known sons King of Israel (except for the tribe of Judah.) David had as much right as Saul’s former son-in-law, to inherit the throne of all of Israel as this concubine’s son, but David still did not fight. He simply waited on God’s providence to take place.
The men from Israel (Abner and his army under Ish-Bosheth) did not think it fair for David to be King over Judah so they challenged him to a battle. That was when David’s men prevailed and the men of Israel suffered severely.
Why do you think these things happened the way that they did and in David’s favor? I believe it is because David was in total obedience to God.
PRAYER: Father, please teach us your ways. Help us to adhere to your ways over our own. We know your ways are higher and better than what any human mind can conceive, so help us to act according to what we believe. Teach us to be as strong as David in taking a stand for your people and your ways. Amen.