The House of David Strengthened
(1 Chronicles 3:1–9)
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 1Ki 14:302Sa 2:17Job 8:7Pro 4:18-19Eph 6:12Job 17:9Psa 84:71Ki 15:16
And sons were born to David in Hebron: 1Ch 3:1-41Sa 25:42-432Sa 13:1-29Gen 49:3-4
His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
his second was Chileab, 1 by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; 1Sa 27:81Ch 3:11Sa 25:31Sa 25:422Sa 13:20-282Sa 13:37-382Sa 2:2Deu 3:14
his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;
his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; 1Ki 1:5-181Ki 2:13-25
his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah.
These sons were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins David
During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. 2Sa 2:8-92Ch 25:82Ki 10:23Isa 8:9-10Jol 3:9-13Mat 12:30Pro 21:30 Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” 2Sa 21:8-111Ki 2:171Ki 2:21-222Sa 12:82Sa 16:21-22
Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 2Sa 9:82Sa 16:91Sa 15:281Sa 24:14-152Ki 8:132Sa 3:182Sa 3:92Sa 5:2 May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: 1Sa 15:281Ki 19:21Ch 12:231Sa 28:17Rut 1:171Sa 14:441Sa 16:1-131Sa 25:22 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 1Sa 3:20Jdg 20:11Ki 4:252Sa 17:112Sa 24:2
And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 1Ch 12:38-401Ch 11:1-32Sa 19:142Sa 19:412Sa 19:62Sa 3:212Sa 3:272Sa 5:1-3
“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” Gen 43:31Ch 15:291Sa 18:20-281Sa 19:11-172Sa 3:20-23Gen 44:23Gen 44:26
Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 1Sa 18:271Sa 18:252Sa 2:10
So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel 2son of Laish. 1Sa 25:44 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. 2Sa 16:52Sa 19:161Ki 2:82Sa 17:18Pro 9:17-18
Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’” 1Sa 15:28Psa 89:19-231Sa 9:16Psa 89:3-41Sa 13:141Sa 16:11Sa 16:12-132Sa 3:9
Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. 1Ch 12:291Sa 10:20-21Psa 68:27 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. Est 1:3Gen 26:30Gen 31:54
Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” 1Ki 11:372Sa 3:122Sa 3:102Sa 2:9Php 2:21Psa 20:4
So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace. When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! 2Sa 19:5-72Sa 3:392Sa 3:8Jhn 18:35Num 23:11 Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” Deu 28:6Isa 37:28Num 27:171Sa 29:4-62Ki 18:322Sa 10:32Sa 3:27Gen 42:12
As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it. Pro 26:23-26Pro 27:4-6
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. 1Ki 2:52Sa 20:9-101Ki 2:32Deu 27:242Sa 2:19-23Jer 41:2Jer 41:6-7
Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. Num 35:33Deu 21:1-9Exo 21:12Gen 4:10Gen 9:6Mat 27:24 May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” 2Sa 1:16Psa 109:8-191Ki 2:31-341Sa 2:32-362Ki 5:12Ki 5:27Act 28:4Jdg 9:24
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) 2Sa 2:19-23Act 28:4Pro 28:17
David Mourns for Abner
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. Gen 37:342Sa 1:112Sa 1:2Jdg 11:35Jos 7:62Ki 19:1Gen 37:29Luk 7:14
When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. Pro 24:17Job 31:281Sa 30:42Sa 1:122Sa 18:33Luk 19:41-42 And the king sang this lament for Abner: 2Ch 35:252Sa 1:172Sa 13:12-13Luk 12:19-20Ecc 2:15-16Jer 17:11Pro 18:72Sa 13:28-29
“Should Abner die
the death of a fool?
Your hands were not bound, 2Sa 1:12Hos 6:9Jdg 16:21Job 24:14Psa 107:10-11
your feet were not fettered.
As a man falls before the wicked,
so also you fell.”
And all the people wept over him even more.
Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” 2Sa 1:122Sa 12:17Jer 16:7Rut 1:17Ezk 24:17Jdg 20:261Sa 3:172Sa 3:9
All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. Mrk 7:372Sa 15:6Mrk 15:11-13Psa 62:92Sa 15:13 So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? Job 32:91Sa 14:50-512Sa 2:82Sa 3:12 And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!” Psa 28:4Psa 101:81Ki 2:33-34Pro 25:5Psa 62:121Ki 2:5-62Ch 19:6-72Ti 4:14