2 Samuel 3 - Study the King James Bible

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10.

To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

11.

And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12.

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

13.

And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14.

And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15.

And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16.

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

17.

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

‘MAKE JESUS KING’
‘And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought of David in times past to he king over you: Now then do it.’
2 Samuel 3:17
Whether these words were spoken by Abner with actual sincerity of heart and purpose, it is not for me to say. But he had played the hypocrite, first with David, and then with Ish-bosheth, and at last he has come and thrown himself down at the feet of David, whom he knew had been anointed by God to be king over Israel. He had come with the declaration that he wanted David to be king; and you remember how David met the attempt of this man to win his favour towards himself: “One thing I require of thee” ( v. 13). Brethren, the great David always has that to say, when men come to Him and announce Him as King: ‘One thing I require of thee.’ And what is that? ‘ That thou give Me back My own; and that My bride be Mine instead of another’s.’
I. It is when men and women crown Jesus Christ Lord of all that they begin to be truly and lastingly blessed.—Now I desire to set before you this fact. You remember that immediately before Saul’s death, David was brought to the very lowest point at Ziklag. The people wanted to stone him; but David encouraged himself in his God. And the Lord Jesus Christ, before He was brought to the throne, was brought to the very lowest, forsaken of all, and despised and rejected of men: not only did they speak of stoning Him, but they crucified Him as a malefactor. And while there were just a few who came to meet David at Ziklag, no sooner did God send him to Hebron (which means fellowship) than company after company came to acknowledge him as king. So was it with Jesus Christ. From the very day that God took Him to the place of fellowship in heaven, and put His own Beloved on the throne of glory, company after company has come to the Master, exactly as these companies came to Hebron to David to declare that they would make him king. But David waits. Seven-and-a-half years did he tarry in Hebron, as Jesus waits on the throne.
II. And now, if you look for a moment at the case of this man Abner, you see one who had every opportunity of knowing David, but he had set his face towards the world, and had sought to gain precedence and glory for himself, without recognising the purpose of God towards David. And there are large multitudes of people who have named the name of Christ, but who have not departed from iniquity. They have gone after Ish-bosheth, the man of shame. There are men and women here who, if they were questioned, would have to acknowledge the fact that David has had a formidable rival in the flesh. Even while they know God’s purpose concerning David, they have had an Ish-bosheth in their life, to whom they have given fealty. There are men and women, leaders in the hosts of Israel, whose consciences tell them that whereas they could have been captains in the Lord’s host to bring their fellows to David’s feet, they have gone after the man of shame, and sojourned with him in disgrace.
III. Then comes the terrible awakening.—And I believe that long before we get much comfort or blessing or peace, many of us will have to come to that period of awful conviction which came upon Abner—a conviction of shame that he had wronged God. Your heart tells you, perhaps, that you have been making a compromise with the Spirit of God, and that your David is not receiving His right. And at last, as you awake—God grant it may be now!—you say, ‘I have served the wrong king and I now in humility acknowledge my crime.’ And that great King will say, in effect, ‘One thing I require of thee: I will not see thy face until thou yieldest Me My rights.’ And you will have to do it; and when you have done it you will become messengers to bring others. You know how David won the faith of Israel back to himself. He was willing even to receive Abner; and that makes me think that David believed in the sincerity of Abner. Oh! that Christ may believe in the sincerity of heart of those who are assembled here! Oh! that David, God’s Beloved, may be able to say to many of us here, ‘Now go and fetch all Israel to My feet.’
Prebendary Webb-Peploe.
Illustration
‘Abner set himself with great vigour to fulfil the promise made by him in his league with David. First, he held communication with the representatives of the whole nation, “the elders of Israel,” and showed to them his own self-condemnation, how God had designated David as the king through whom deliverance would be granted to Israel from the Philistines and all their other enemies. Next, remembering that Saul was a member of the tribe of Benjamin, he took special pains to attach that tribe to David, and as he was himself likewise a Benjamite, he must have been eminently useful in this service. Thirdly, he went in person to Hebron, David’s seat, “to speak in the ears of David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.” Finally, after being entertained by David at a great feast, he set out to bring about a meeting of the whole congregation of Israel, that they might solemnly ratify the appointment of David as king, in the same way as, in the early days of Saul, Samuel had convened the representatives of the nation at Gilgal. That in all this Abner was rendering a great service both to David and the nation cannot be doubted. He was doing what no other man in Israel could have done at the time for establishing the throne of David and ending the civil war.’

18.

Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19.

And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20.

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

21.

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22.

And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

23.

When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24.

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25.

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26.

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27.

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28.

And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29.

Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

30.

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31.

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

32.

And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33.

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

34.

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

35.

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

36.

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37.

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38.

And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39.

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.