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2 Samuel 3 - Civil War in Israel and when Generals Run Amok

2 Samuel 3 – Civil War in Israel and when Generals Run Amok  
  
The setting of 2 Samuel 3 describes Civil War in Israel. Perhaps Bible summaries have done us a disservice by describing David as the Second King of Israel after Saul and that is right, to some extent. But before David was king, there was Civil War in Israel where David was king in Judah, and Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was king over the Benjamin, and the rest of Israel.

2 Sam 3:1 documents for us:

“There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.”

We as readers know what will happen, for 1 Samuel already describes for us a time when Saul’s kingdom will go to David.

But 2 Sam 3 is important for us. In both kingdoms, there are two generals, who overrule their kings. Abner overrules Ish-bosheth and Joab overrules David in these two kingdoms.

First Abner, who by this time has grown to be an important figure in the narrative, takes one of Saul’s concubines, an act which Ish-bosheth calls him out. But 2 Sam 3:1 prepares us for this, because the house of Saul was already growing weak, and one would hardly care for a weak king. He’s unable to control his men and Abner mocks the powerless king and decides in his heart that he will switch allegiance.

He goes to David pledging to help transfer the kingdom to David. But in the previous chapter he had murdered Asahel the brother of Joab who is one of David’s fiercest warriors. Indeed Joab had wanted to take revenge the last time but was unsuccessful. It was told to Joab that Abner was in the building.
It was then that he overruled David from making alliance with Abner and decides to call him back, and have him killed.

Two kingdoms, two generals, overruling their king. The narratives are played out side by side by the author. What does he want us to know?

Do we know of a place where there are generals overruling the king?

Yes. The church. When we think we are better than others, using our influence to "run the place". Perhaps caught up in our self-importance, we think the place will collapse without us. 

We are the Abners and Joabs who have overruled our king.

2 Samuel 3 ends of with these verses:

“And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”


May we not be like Abner, and Joab, but instead be like the gentle king Jesus. 

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