David at Last Crowned King
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Abner was ambitious and unprincipled. He had been influenced
by Saul to despise the man whom God had chosen to reign over Israel.
His hatred had been increased by the cutting rebuke that David had
given him when the cruse of water and the spear of the king had been
taken from the side of Saul as he slept.
Determined to create division in Israel whereby he himself might
be exalted, he employed the representative of departed royalty to
advance his own selfish ambitions. He knew that Saul’s first successful
campaigns had not been forgotten by the army. With determination,
this rebellious leader went forward to carry out his plans.
Mahanaim, on the farther side of Jordan, was chosen as the royal
residence. Here the coronation of Ishbosheth took place. His reign
extended over all Israel except Judah. For two years the son of Saul
enjoyed his honors in his secluded capital. But Abner, intent upon
extending his power over all Israel, prepared for aggressive warfare.
And “there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of
David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul
waxed weaker and weaker.”
At last Abner, becoming incensed against the incompetent Ish-
bosheth, deserted to David, with the offer to bring over to him all
the tribes of Israel. His proposals were accepted. But the favor-
able reception of so famed a warrior excited the jealousy of Joab,
commander-in-chief of David’s army. There was a blood feud between
Abner and Joab, the former having slain Asahel, Joab’s brother, during
the war between Israel and Judah. Now Joab basely took occasion to
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waylay and murder Abner.
David, upon hearing of this treacherous assault, exclaimed, “I and
my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever from the blood of
Abner the son of Ner. Let it rest on the head of Joab.” In view of
the unsettled state of the kingdom and the power of the murderers,
David could not visit the crime with just retribution, yet he publicly
manifested his abhorrence. The king followed Abner’s bier as chief
mourner, and at the grave he pronounced an elegy which was a cutting
rebuke of the murderers.
Died Abner as a fool dieth? ...
As a man falleth before wicked men,
So fellest thou.