David Anointed King Over Judah

2 Samuel 2:1-32

Key verse 4

Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, 

and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

Read verses 1-4a. What does David inquire of the Lord? (1a) What is the Lord’s answer? (1b) What does David ask further? (1c) What happens when he and his men settle in Hebron? (2-4a) How does David’s becoming king of Judah fulfill one of God’s prophecies? (4a, Ge 49:10)

Read verses 4b-7. What does David do when he is told that men from Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul? (4b-6) How does David encourage the men of Jabesh Gilead? (7)

Read verses 8-17.  How does Ish-Bosheth become king of Israel? (8-9, 1 Sam 14:50-51) How long does he reign? (10) Where does the first conflict between Judah and Israel take place? (11-13) What does Abner suggest that they do(14-16)?  What is the outcome of the battle? (17)

Read verses 18-32.  How does Joab’s brother Asahel die? (18-23) How do Abner and Joab bring a stop to the battle? (24-28) What are the results? (29-32) 

David Anointed King Over Judah

2 Samuel 2:1-32

Key verse 4a

Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, 

and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

Introduction)

David had been waiting for a long time to be a king after Saul. Today’s passage shows how he depends on the Lord his God even when he knew he would be king. It is because he had learned how to trust in the Lord through God’s holy training. May the Lord help us to learn of him and grow to be a man of faith.

Read verses 1-4a. What does David inquire of the Lord? (1a) What is the Lord’s answer? (1b) What does David ask further? (1c) What happens when he and his men settle in Hebron? (2-4a) How does David’s becoming king of Judah fulfill one of God’s prophecies? (4a, Ge 49:10)

1-1) Read verses 1-4a. 

“In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The LORD said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the LORD answered. 2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.”

1-2) What does David inquire of the Lord? (1a) 

In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?”

David inquired of the Lord.  Since David was waiting to be a king so long, he could become a king without inquiring of the Lord. But he prayed despite obvious situation. We can learn from him that he wanted to be right with God. He learned that he needed to inquire of the Lord in any and all situations.

Righteous relationship with his God is more important than God’s blessing itself. 

David doesn’t rush blindly and seize his kingship. Instead, he carefully sought the Lord and his advice. 

David knew the promise was from God. So he knew God could fulfill it.

1-3) What is the Lord’s answer? (1b) 

 “Go up.” 

The Lord God faithfully answers his prayer and he was pleased with his humble faith. 

1-4) What does David ask further? (1c)

“David asked, “Where shall I go?”” 

Now David asked another specific question. It shows that he was seeking God’s guidance in every step of his life. This humility was given to David through many years of trials and hardship under Saul.

At that time he is still in Ziklag, one of the cities of the Philistines. 

David doesn’t want to be opportunistic. Rather he humbly asks the Lord for His guidance. David learned how to rely on the Lord in great detail instead of his own plan. 

1-5) What happens when he and his men settle in Hebron? (2-4a) 

 “So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.”

David did not seize the throne like Napoleon. The elders of Judah approached and anointed him as king over the tribe of Judah. Likewise we should wait on God’s time and serve him according to his time and his way. That is the best way to advance His own kingdom.

1-6) How does David’s becoming king of Judah fulfill one of God’s prophecies? (4a, Ge 49:10)

a) “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Ge 49:10)

Although it seems to be a small beginning, God was still fulfilling the word of promise. 

When David waits God’s time and way, God is forcefully advancing his kingdom at his steadfast step. Praise the Lord!

b) Our job description as God’s kingdom builder is to pray and keep our absolute faith in the word of promise. 

Simply speaking when we try to seize power or authority for us in our way, only side instead of the kingdom of God effects appears. 

May the Lord help us to be faithful in trusting the Lord our God only.

Read verses 4b-7. What does David do when he is told that men from Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul? (4b-6) How does David encourage the men of Jabesh Gilead? (7)

2-1)Read verses 4b-7. 

“When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

2-2) What does David do when he is told that men from Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul? (4b-6)

“When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.” 

1 Samuel 31:11-13 reads, “When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.”

1 Samuel 11:1-11 reads, “Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gougeout the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all weptaloud. 5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. 6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel,proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand. 9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.” 11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.””

David shows his gratitude to these men who risked their lives to honor Saul who saved them. They were the ones who remembered the grace of God in their lives although it had happened 40 years ago. David acknowledged their gratitude and appreciated it.

2-3) How does David encourage the men of Jabesh Gilead? (7)

“Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

David knows that he needs brave men like these to secure and advance his kingdom. So David asked their co-work with him.

Read verses 8-17.  How does Ish-Bosheth become king of Israel? (8-9, 1 Sam 14:50-51) How long does he reign? (10) Where does the first conflict between Judah and Israel take place? (11-13) What does Abner suggest that they do(14-16)?  What is the outcome of the battle? (17)

3-1) Read verses 8-17.  

“8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”

“All right, let them do it,” Joab said. 15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%2520samuel%25202&version=niv#fen-NIV-8066a"a] 17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.”

3-2) How does Ish-Bosheth become king of Israel? (8-9, 1 Sam 14:50-51) 

“8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.”

1 Sam 14:50-51, “His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle. 51 Saul’s father Kishand Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.”

1 Samuel 17:55, “As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is that young man?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

1 Samuel 26: 14, “He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

Abner is now a king maker. 

3-3) How long does he reign? (10) 

“10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David.”

David allowed Ishbosheth to reign over most of Israel. These two years means patience and trust in God on David’s part. 

Out of trust in the LORD and respect for Saul’s memory, David waited continually. Patience is fruit of the Holy Spirit.

3-4) Where does the first conflict between Judah and Israel take place? (11-13)

 “11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.”

a) Joab was apparently one of the 400 men who joined David at Adullam Cave, or he joined David during the waiting period.

Joab had two brothers: Abishai and Asahel, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were David’s nephews, the sons of David’s sister Zeruiah

1 Chronicles 2:10-16, “ Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah. 11 Nahshon was the father of Salmon,[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%2520chronicles%25202&version=niv#fen-NIV-10318e"e] Salmon the father of Boaz, 12 Boaz the father of Obed and Obed the father of Jesse. 13 Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; the second son was Abinadab, the third Shimea, 14 the fourth Nethanel, the fifth Raddai, 15 the sixth Ozem and the seventh David. 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab and Asahel. 17 Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.”

3-5)  What does Abner suggest that they do(14-16)?  

“14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.” “All right, let them do it,” Joab said. 15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.”

It was a tough confrontation between Abner and Joab. 24 young men got into fierce fights and die together. They killed their own people.

3-6) What is the outcome of the battle? (17)

“17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.”

David’s men wins and it was God’s will (2 Samuel 3:1) behind scene. 

On the surface it is a crazy fight in vain but God work spowerfully for David. 

Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Read verses 18-32.  How does Joab’s brother Asahel die? (18-23) How do Abner and Joab bring a stop to the battle? (24-28) What are the results and what happens after the battle? (29-32) 

4-1) Read verses 18-32.  

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” he answered.

21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”

23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. 25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%2520samuel%25202&version=niv#fen-NIV-8079b"b] and came to Mahanaim.

30 Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

4-2) How does Joab’s brother Asahel die? (18-23) 

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” he answered.

21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”

23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

4-3) How do Abner and Joab bring a stop to the battle? (24-28) 

“24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. 25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.”

a) Abner proposed to stop battle. Joab agreed.

Joab could have won the battle completely and turned over the kingdom to David. But it was delayed. God’s thought and plan are higher than that of man’s!

4-4) What are the results and what happens after the battle? (29-32) 

29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%2520samuel%25202&version=niv#fen-NIV-8079b"b] and came to Mahanaim.

30 Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

Conclusion)

Finally David is about to become a king. But he was not in a hurry, but prayed before the Lord. 

In contrast his men engaged in merciless fight. David was a man of peace because he trusted God’s time and God’s way. But his men want to expedite the time for his kingship by their human strength and power. Which way do we need to choose between God’s way and human way in our spiritual journey? Spiritual fight through prayer and God’s word vs physical fight in and through pushing our ways? The answer is obvious to wait for the Lord. But in reality we may end up choosing the opposite. May the Lord help each of us to follow Jesus’ footstep by denying himself and taking up his cross. Amen.

Ephesians 6:10 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

One word: Faithfulness and kindness!