Chapter 69—David at Last Crowned King
This chapter is based on
2 Samuel 2
to 5:5.
The death of Saul removed the dangers that had made David an
exile. The way was now open for him to return to his own land. “David
inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of
Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither
shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.”
David and his followers immediately prepared to obey. As the
caravan entered the city, the men of Judah were waiting to welcome
David as the future king of Israel. Arrangements were at once made
for his coronation. “And there they anointed David king over the house
of Judah.” But no effort was made to establish his authority over the
other tribes.
Upon learning of the brave deed of the men of Jabesh-gilead in
rescuing the bodies of Saul and Jonathan and giving them honorable
burial, David sent the message, “Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye
have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have
buried him. And now the Lord show kindness and truth unto you: and
I also will requite you this kindness.”
The Philistines did not oppose the action of Judah in making David
a king. They hoped that because of their former kindness to David the
extension of his power would work to their advantage. But David’s
reign was not to be free from trouble.
God had chosen David to be king of Israel, yet hardly had his
authority been acknowledged by the men of Judah, when Ishbosheth,
the son of Saul, was set upon a rival throne in Israel. Ishbosheth
[507]
was a weak, incompetent representative of the house of Saul, while
David was pre-eminently qualified. Abner, the chief agent in raising
Ishbosheth to kingly power, was the most distinguished man in Israel.
He knew that David had been appointed by the Lord to the throne, but
he was not willing that the son of Jesse should succeed to the kingdom.
436