2 Samuel 3

V 1: STRENGTHENING In the ensuing war between the house of Saul and the house of David, David is increasingly strengthened, while the opposition is increasingly weakened. V 2–5: SONS David has six sons born to him in Hebron by different wives. V 6–11: SPLIT A split arises between Abner, the country’s military commander, and Ishbosheth, his king. This starts because Abner goes into Saul’s concubine, and objects strongly when Ishbosheth remonstrates with him. He threatens to take Israel over to David as king. Ishbosheth is frightened of Abner. V 12–21: SWING Abner approaches David, who accepts the approach and is willing to make a covenant with Abner, as long as he gets his wife, Michal, back. Abner delivers Michal, and promises David that he will lead Israel’s swing back to him as king. V 22–30: STEALTH Joab, leading a strong faction, enters the drama. Although a commander of David’s men, he has a private score to settle with Abner for the death of his brother, Asahel. On hearing that Abner has been sent away in peace by David, he entices him from Hebron, a city of refuge, and murders him just outside the city and thus away from its protection. David regrets this and states that this will be on the head of Joab and Zeruiah, his father. V 31–39: SADNESS David mourns and commands Joab to mourn for Abner. He laments that he died as a fool, because had he stayed in the city of refuge, he could not have been attacked. David is not yet strong enough to confront the sons of Zeruiah, much as he would like to.