#445 The Joab Mafia

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.

2 And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; 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, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?” 8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. 9 God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him, 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,[a] saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” 13 And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

17 And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18 Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

20 When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
Joab Murders Abner

26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
David Mourns Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner at 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 for Abner, saying,


“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
you have fallen.”

And all the people wept again over him. 35 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to put to death 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 this day in Israel? 39 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!” 2 Samuel 3 ESV

We see the house of David growing stronger, but we have also seen David learn from past mistakes and seek the word of God, His direction. It is sad that he who has so much going in his favor, who wrote "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path," has neither learned from the trials of those who have gone before him nor reigned in his own lust. Six wives, a sign of  greatness among the pagan kings, but not the humble nor sober thinking of one whose delight is in the law of the Lord. It is always a mess and compounded every time. I find it difficult to believe that the writer of Psalms was not also the reader of the law, how is it that he became a hearer only. 

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. Deuteronomy 17: 14-20

On the other side of this soap opera, for where there is man there is drama, we see Abner accused of going in to Saul's concubine. Now this may seem a light thing in our day, but I think it would have been seen here, even though the king was dead, as a play or disrespect to his thrown. Abner's response does not deny it, but is rather telling of his character. He is more offended that this puppet king should confront him, that anyone dare question him, do you know who I am? He admits that David is God's choice, but that he has chosen to love the house that was not, and is now switching his allegiance. We should always pray for the brother and or friend who has gone astray, as we all do in some form or another, and are quickened not from but unto life, so we should recall as we pray. David respects Abner as a fellow warrior, an Israelite, and we should always desire to be reconciled to those who once walked with us, who called themselves God's children, but not at the cost of God's truth. I think Abner knows that David should be king, but it is not for sake of righteousness or in true repentance, but that he is offended and would like revenge. He has held on for power, but it is becoming less popular and more costly a choice. 

I think it is a mistake unless it is just left out, but it does not seem prudent in such a case to enter a covenant with Abner without consulting God. David agrees but on the condition that his rightful wife is returned. Saul had given her to another, though what God has brought together no man should take apart. It is to the carnal mind a line of claim, a son, though not of birth, but by marriage. Saul would not only have that cut off, but also lift his leg to piss in such a manner on the one who God chose to replace him. It was a huge disrespect, and David will have his wife back, for he did not die nor did he give her away, but she was stolen from him. Her new husband follows her crying, but he entered into that which was such an unholy union, regardless of his feelings or how much out of pocket, it was not to be considered. We take fire to our chest, are burned as to be expected, and yet cry because that which could have been avoided still hurts. Our tears, as real as they may be, are quickly replaced by anger towards the one who points out the folly of our way. I have watched a dozen men cry about women who are not their wives, disrespect their own wife, shrug at her tears, but then wonder at how much a jerk I am that I can still suggest that they are wrong. "Go, return." 

David treats Abner well, Abner has been good to his word and pleads the case of David's throne to his people. You wanted David before, he is God's choice, so what are you waiting for? They leave on good terms, but Joab returns and finding that his enemy has been there, yet has now gone, he is enraged. He has longed for this and paints a picture of Abner as a spy and a deceiver, yet it is he who entreats Abner to meet outside the sanctuary city. He stabs him, avenging his brother's blood, but that blood that was first spilt was in self defense and also in battle. He does this as a wicked student of the law, abusing an outward knowledge, with no inner integrity. Abner is under the king's grace, and David distances himself from the act, for it was not his desire nor his command. Now we will stink, and we will seem like the Godless, ruling by way of murder and deceit. It was not his desire to make his enemy comfortable toward the kill, but rather be reconciled with a great general of Israel. Though David is strong here in his words, he is soft in his treatment. Joab and his brother are much more severe in their dealings.