2 Samuel 1

 

1 Now after the death of Saul, when David returned from striking the Amalekites, David stayed in Ziklag two days; 2 On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head: and when he came to David, he fell to the earth, and bowed himself. 3 And David said to him, Where have you come from? And he said to him, I escaped out of the camp of Israel.

 

  • God was at war with Amalek perpetually because of their evil (Exodus 17:16).
  • The Amalekites were the bandits of the desert. They had attacked the Israelites as they left Egypt.

 

4 And David said to him, What happened? How did the battle go? And he answered, The people fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said to the young man that told him, How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, By chance, as I happened to be on mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here I am. 8 And he said to me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 And he said to me again, I beg you stand over me, and kill me: for agony has seized me, because my life is still whole in me. 10 So I stood on him, and killed him because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.

 

  • The word agony is correctly translated ‘coat of mail.’
  • The Amalakite said that Saul was leaning on his spear with the point at his heart but couldn’t get it through the coat of mail.
  • However, 1 Samuel 31:4 says that Saul leaned on his own spear to kill himself.

 

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and so did all the men that were with him: 12 They mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

  • God wants us to love our enemies.
  • Saul had been an enemy to David for years but not one word of hatred was ever uttered by David about Saul.
  • This shows David’s honorable and loving heart.
  • Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 So that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

 

13 And David said to the young man that told him, Where are you from? And he answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite. 14 And David said to him, Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men and said, Go near him, and fall on him. And he struck him so that he died. 16 And David said to him, Your blood is on your head; for your own mouth testified against you saying, I have killed the LORD’s anointed.

 

  • This man thought that David would reward him for killing Saul, though he hadn’t done it.
  • He confessed to the crime and was executed for it.
  • Much anguish is wasted today over people who admit to crimes they didn’t commit.
  • What comes to them is not the fault of the executioner, but the person who admitted to the crime.
  • They did it to themselves.
  • 1Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, on whom the end of the world has come.
  • Matthew 12:36 But I say to you, That every idle word that men speak, they will give account of in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

 

17 And David chanted this dirge over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 18 (Also he had them teach the sons of Judah the song of the Bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 19 The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, let the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 21 Mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, on you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were beloved and delightful in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles: they were stronger than lions.

 

  • David remembered the good things about Saul and Jonathan.
  • Philippinas 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.

 

24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 25 How the mighty are fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed in your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: you were very pleasant to me: your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. 27 How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

 

 

                                            2 Samuel 2

 

God gives perfect advice

 

1 And afterwards David asked of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said to him, Go up. And David said, Where shall I go up? And he said, To Hebron.

 

  • David had been running for his life from king Saul for eight years.
  • Now Saul was dead and David asked God, shall I go back home?
  • The word Hebron means communion.
  • David needed to dwell in constant communion with God to be the leader that God designed him to be.
  • Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
  • John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you stay in me. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it will be done unto you.
  • Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

 

2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were with him David brought up, every man with his household: and they lived in the cities of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, It was the men of Jabesh-gilead that buried Saul.

 

  • David and his men had been on the nations most wanted list for many years.
  • Now they dwell in peace...Hebron, communion.
  • God sent Samuel to anoint David as king in 1063 BC.
  • David was crowned king in 1055 BC.
  • David lived faithful to God through the eight long, hard years before God brought about His plan.
  • God anointed Christ king of the universe, all of creation, before the world began and it has been a long hard road to that end (Psalm 2).
  • God chose you before you were born (Jeremiah 2:2) to sit with Him on His throne forever (Revelation 3:21).
  • t’s not an easy road, but it will be forever and eternally worth every bit of it.

 

5 And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, Blessed are you of the LORD, that you have showed this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.

 

He shows us kindness and truth

 

6 And now the LORD show kindness and truth to you: and I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.

 

  • God’s truth is the only light we have in this world of evil.
  • We don’t need part of the truth. We need all the truth.
  • All else is evil.
  • If we are not living by God’s whole truth, then part of what we are thinking and doing is evil.
  • Three major denominations of the church in America require that the Lectionary Bible be used Sunday mornings. The Lectionary Bible only covers 1/6 of the Bible, if all four passages are used.
  • Matthew 4:4... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
  • Jeremiah 26:2 Thus says the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them; diminish not a word:

 

8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

 

  • God appoints kings.
  • God had anointed David king over Israel.
  • Saul’s descendants and many of the Israelites did not acknowledge that anointing.
  • Daniel 2:21 And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
  • Revelation 1:6 And has made us kings and priests to God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish- bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and make sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And each man seized the head of his brother (Israelite), and thrust his sword in his brother’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called the Field of Knives, which is in Gibeon. 17 And the battle was very hard that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

 

  • What began as ‘sport,’ soon became the grim reality of violence and irrevocable loss of life of their brother Israelites.
  • Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was swift on his feet like one of the wild gazelles of the field. 19 And Asahel ran after Abner; and he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Are you Asahel? And he answered, I am. 21 And Abner said to him, Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize on one of the young men, and take his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn aside from following me: why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?

 

  • Abner did not want to kill Joab’s brother.
  • Abner was a seasoned soldier.
  • Asahel was a young man just starting out.
  • Abner told him to get armor so he would have a chance.
  • Not many years before these two were fellow citizens in Israel.

 

23 However he refused to turn aside: so Abner struck him with the back end of the spear under the fifth rib so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it happened that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. 24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long shall it be then, until you tell the people to turn back from following their brothers? 27 And Joab said, As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

 

  • God is the Source of all life and breath.
  • Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things in it, seeing he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, ... seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things;

 

28 So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the people stood still, and no longer pursued after Israel, nor did they fight any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the Arabah, and crossed the Jordan, and walked all morning and came to Mahanaim. 30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. 32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulcher of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

 

  • David’s men had twenty casualties.
  • Abner’s men had 360 casualties.
  • Jesus will put a final end to war when He returns to earth.
  • He is sovereign over death. It is not luck or chance in life when one succeeds and another fails.
  • God has told us plainly in scriptures the only sure key to success in all areas of life.
  • Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
  • Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law he meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also will not wither; and whatever he does will prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly will not stand in the judgment, or sinners in the congregation of the righteous. :6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly will perish.
  • Revelation1:18 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
  • Isaiah 2:4 And he will judge among the nations, and will rebuke many people: and they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more.

 

                                          2 Samuel 3

 

The LORD rewards the evildoer according to the evil that he does

 

1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 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; 4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

 

  • David was strong because he leaned on God.
  • There has been speculation about which of David’s women was the one God created for him—bone of his one, flesh of his flesh—In the original Hebrew of Genesis 2:23 Adam was called Ish and Eve was called Ishah.
  • Verse 5 of this chapter says ‘Eglah David’s Ishah’. So Eglah was bone of David’s bone and flesh of his flesh. Also, Kings were not to multiply wives to themselves (Deuteronomy 17:17).

 

6 And while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in unto my father’s concubine? 8 Then was Abner furious over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, Am I a dog’s head that is to Judah? I deal with kindness today to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into David’s hand, but you charge me to day with a fault with this woman?

 

  • This could have been considered a bid for the throne. Abner’s reaction us shows that wasn’t his intent.

 

9 May God do to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him; 10 To transfer 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 because he feared him. 12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf saying, Whose is the land? Make your league with me, and behold, my hand will be with you, to bring all Israel around to you. 13 And he said, Good; I will make a treaty with you: but one thing I require of you, that is, You will not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face. 14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went along with her weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, Go, return. And he returned.

 

  • Michal was this man’s bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh.
     

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel saying, You sought for David in times past to be king over you: 18 Now then do it: for the LORD has 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 spoke 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.

 

  • Abner gathered the leaders of Israel together to recommend they join with David. Then Abner took the concerns of Israel’s leaders regarding the nation to David. Jesus will make a very similar feast in the near future. The kingdom of this world will have been taken away from Satan. There will be much rejoicing.
  • Isaiah 25:6 And in this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

 

21 Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a treaty with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

 

  • God will make Jesus king over all forever.
  • Psalm 2:6 I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
  • Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he will reign forever and ever.

 

22 And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from raiding a troop, and brought great plunder with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 And when Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab saying, Abner, the son of Ner, came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you! Why have you have sent him away, and he is already gone? 25 You know Abner, the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to learn of your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.

 

  • Joab thought Abner had come to spy.


26 And when Joab went out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David did not know it. 27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and stuck him there under the fifth rib, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

 

  • The fifth rib was the exact place Abner had put his spear into Asahel (2 Samuel 2:23).

 

28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are innocent before the LORD forever from the blood of Abner, the son of Ner: 29 Let it whirl about the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an infection, or that is a leper, or crippled, or that commits suicide, or that lacks food. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.


  • David pronounced a curse on Joab and his family.
  • Jesus has made us all innocent before the Lord forever.
  • John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

 

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron: the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 And the king wailed over Abner,and said, Should Abner die like a fool? 34 Your hands were not bound or your feet put into bronze shackles: you fell as a one falls before evil men. And all the people wept over him again. 35 Then when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David swore saying, May God do this to me and more if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: whatever the king did was good in the eyes all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to his servants, Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel today? 39 And I am weak this day, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: the LORD will reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.


  • Isaiah 3:10 Say to the righteous, that it will be well with him: for they will eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! it will be ill with him: for the reward of his hands will be given him.

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY: 2 Samuel 1-3

 

  • God gives perfect advice
  • He shows kindness and truth
  • He is the Source of all life, breath, and blessing
  • He will reward the evildoer according to the evil that he does