2 Samuel 2

Introduction

In chapter 1, David received news that Saul and his sons were dead.

It was an Amalekite who brought the news to David … expecting a handsome reward.

He made a terrible error, though.

After being mortally wounded by Philistine arrows, Saul had fallen on his own sword and died.

The Amalekite had come upon Saul’s body in the field.

He took Saul’s royal armband and diadem and then decided to tell David that he himself had dispatched Saul.

The Amalekite would not be satisfied with a messengers reward … instead he thought that David would give him a greater reward for killing Saul.

So, he decided to lie to David.

BIG MISTAKE.

When he told David, he received a shock as David and his men stood up and rent their clothes as a sign of mourning.

And then that very evening, David had the Amalekite put to death for having dared to kill the Lord’s anointed.

So, the Amalekite’s plan had taken a terrible turn.

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As for David, he was broken hearted over the death of Saul and Jonathan.

And when we might expect David to perhaps have shown sorrow on the outside, but relief on the inside.

But David’s song which ended out the chapter revealed something very different.

David’s song does not mention Saul’s failings, but encourages a happy and proud remembrance of Saul.

Looking back, most of us see the life of Saul as a terrible tragedy … and, of course, it was.

But how interesting is it that in his lament, David eulogizes Saul as a hero?

I look back on the life of Saul and imagine that he probably was not saved.

Saul’s life was a tragedy … but did it end in tragedy?

But am I basing that on his works?

By works, none of us are saved.

Saul’s life was a tragedy … but did it end in permanent tragedy for Saul?

In his lament, David seemed to be looking at Saul through the filter of something or someone else.

David looked at Saul and saw not the man who had sinned so against him, he saw the anointed of the Lord.

I don’t understand it.

It’s as if his life ended well.

But I am reminded of the efficacy of God’s grace through His Son, Jesus Christ.

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Today, as we move into chapter 2, the focus of the text shifts to David.

While David mourned the death of Saul, it meant that he was no longer on the run.

And so, the death of Saul was the signal for David’s departure from Ziklag and the Philistines.

But the best way to proceed was not immediately clear to David.

Saul had held back a son from the battle with the Philistines … Ishbosheth.

The death of Saul was the signal for David’s departure from Ziklag and Philistine vassaldom, but the best way to proceed was far from obvious. Saul had left sons and men of power over his army who were capable of asserting their authority, and who had the backing of those who had supported Saul. In particular, they could count on the loyalty of Saul’s tribe, Benjamin. The Philistines had their outposts as far north and east as Bethshean, and had established their military hold over Israel, driving a wedge between the northernmost tribes and the central area of Ephraim and Benjamin. Israel’s territory east of Jordan was more or less intact, but the general picture was one of fragmentation and uncertainty in the absence of one commanding figure to establish a lead and unite the country.

There were also powerful men over the Israelite army who had survived the battle.

And they were not afraid to assert their authority

Both Ishbosheth and these men had the backing and support of many who had supported Saul.

In particular, they could count on the loyalty of Saul’s tribe, Benjamin. The Philistines had their outposts as far north and east as Bethshean, and had established their military hold over Israel, driving a wedge between the northernmost tribes and the central area of Ephraim and Benjamin. Israel’s territory east of Jordan was more or less intact, but the general picture was one of fragmentation and uncertainty in the absence of one commanding figure to establish a lead and unite the country.

In particular, they could count on the loyalty of Saul’s tribe, Benjamin.

The Philistines had their outposts as far north and east as Beth-Shean.

They had established a military hold over Israel.

And they had driven a wedge between the northernmost tribes and the central area of Ephraim and Benjamin.

Israel’s territory east of Jordan was more or less intact.

But overall, the Jewish people were fragmented and uncertain in the absence of one commanding figure to establish a lead and unite the country.

So, this is where we pick it up tonight with chapter 2.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for everyone here this evening. Thank You that You know each of us by name and have caused us to walk with You. Lord, we open up Your word desiring to hear from You ... not man's word or wisdom, but Your Words and Wisdom. Please soften our hearts to receive from You.

v1-4

v1-4

David was Israel’s lawful king.

He had been living in Philistine territory only to avoid Saul.

But now he couldn’t remain in Ziklag since it was in enemy territory.

It is probable that, Achish, the Philistine king, thought that David was loyal to him.

David was Israel’s lawful king and couldn’t remain in Ziklag since it was in enemy territory. It’s likely that Achish, the Philistine king, thought that David was still under his authority, but David knew that he must return to his own land and begin to reign over his own people. David was in the habit of seeking the Lord’s will when he had to make decisions, either by having Abiathar the priest consult the ephod () or by asking Gad the prophet to pray to God for a word of wisdom ().

He had been thinking that David was loyal to him prior to this … was even going to take David into battle against Israel with him as his personal bodyguard.

This presented a moral problem for David, however, because David was loyal to Israel.

Remember that Achish’s military commanders, however, had not trusted David and his men to participate in the battle.

So, David had been sent back to Ziklag.

While Achish had agreed to send David back, there is no textual evidence to suggest that Achish had changed his mind about David.

But David knew that he must return to his own land and begin to reign over his own people.

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From chapter 23 through the end of 1 Samuel, we have seen David making inquiries of the Lord using the ephod under the guidance of Abiathar the priest.

It may also be that he asked Gad the prophet to pray to God for guidance as Gad had done in chapter 22.

From chapter 23 through the end of 1 Samuel, David is making oracular inquiries of the Lord by means of the ephod under the guidance of Abiathar the priest. It is likely that is also what is happening here. In an oracular inquiry a yes-no question was posed to the deity, and a binary mechanism was used to determine what the answer was. The normative means laid out for this process in Exodus was the Urim and Thummim (which were kept in a pouch in the ephod).

Either one of those things … or perhaps both are what is happening here.

It’s a good sign of things to come … David was in the habit of seeking the Lord’s will.

David was in the habit of seeking the Lord’s will when he had to make decisions, either by having Abiathar the priest consult the ephod () or by asking Gad the prophet to pray to God for a word of wisdom ().

This was extremely important to David’s success as king.

With a few rare examples, David was faithful to make inquiries of the Lord.

Israel needed that kind of King … but not only one seeking the Lord’s will desiring for the Lord’s will to be done.

This was something that Saul was lacking.

He had sought the Lord on a number of issues, but was more interested in doing things his way than according to the command of God.

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David was from Judah, so it was logical that he go to live among his own people, but in which city should he reside?

It was 12 to 18 years before this (16 or 17 chapters ago) that David was anointed king over Israel.

And now finally, it looks like everything has come into place for the promise to be fulfilled.

But David doesn’t rush into it to seize it by force.

Instead, he carefully and patiently sought the Lord.

The promise was from God, so David knew God could fulfill it without his having to intervene.

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In verse 1, God gave David permission to return to Judah and told him to live in Hebron.

Hebron was located about 25 miles NE from Ziklag … about twenty miles south of Jerusalem.

The archaeological site of Hebron is about 12 acres and appears to have been occupied since about 1200 B.C.

It was a great location for a large population because there are more than 24 springs in the area and the topography helps with defense from enemies.

This move put David back with his own people but still under the shadow of the Philistines, so the ability to defend it was important.

Hebron would serve as David’s capital for 7 and 1/2 years, during which it was at it’s most prominent.

Hebron was also important in Jewish history before David.

Somewhere near the city was the tomb of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah.

The city was in the inheritance of Caleb, another important figure in Jewish history ().

Abigail, one of David’s wives, had been married to a descendent of Caleb, and back in David had inherited her property which was near the wilderness of Maon.

Of the towns and cities of the region, Hebron was probably the most important.

So, according to God’s instruction, David moved there with his men, and they lived in the towns surrounding Hebron.

For the first time in ten years, David and his men were no longer fugitives.

His men had suffered with him, and now they would reign with him.

David was not just an ancestor of Jesus Christ, but he was also a foreshadowing in many ways, as we’ve already noted.

And here we have a foreshadowing of what Paul wrote in :

2 Timothy 2:12 NKJV

If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

A very literal Greek translation of this is, “If we remain with, we shall also reign with.”

“If we remain with, we shall also reign with.”

In the early days of the church, it was very hard to be a Christian.

Today it can still be something of an endurance test.

There is virtually nothing in our society that encourages a person to live for Christ and to seek to live a holy life.

In fact, just the opposite is true.

but today it can still be something of an endurance test.

Just about everything encourages us to sin, be self-centered, and to avoid any kind of sacrifice.

For the believer, this hardship, reveals impurities which then get scraped off like so much dross from a pot of heated gold.

This leaves behind that which is good and desirable.

God doesn’t throw away the gold … He deals with the dross.

But hardship can also reveal who is saved and who is not.

I’m sure there were those with David and his men who deserted.

They were not with David in the first place … they were simply in the camp for self-serving reasons.

And there are those who say they are Christians, yet will desert.

Quite simply, those who do not endure were never believers in the first place.

Quite simply, those who do not endure were never believers in the first place.

Believers persevere (remain faithful until the end) because God preserves those who are His.

But they will

We are clothed in Christ.

If we were clothed in our own righteousness, we would fall away.

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When David returned to Judah and settled in Hebron, this was the signal for his people to recognize him as their leader.

So the men of Judah anointed David and made him a king.

This was the 2nd time he was anointed.

The first time was God’s anointing him as the future king of Israel back in

This time was the men of Judah receiving David as king of Judah … a tribal king.

It may have been that more tribes would have recognized David as king, but were probably oppressed by the Philistines.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, there would have been confusion about succession with 3 of Saul’s sons having been killed in battle, leaving one remaining.

In fact, had Saul’s captain Abner also accepted God’s will and submitted to David, a costly civil war would have been averted.

Had Saul’s captain Abner also accepted God’s will and submitted to David, a costly civil war would have been averted, but loyalty to the old regime (Abner was Saul’s nephew) and a desire to protect his own interests motivated Abner to fight David instead of follow him.

But Abner was Saul’s nephew, and loyalty and a desire to protect his own interests motivated Abner to fight David instead of follow him.

We know from that while David was living in Ziklag, volunteers had come to him from the tribes of Benjamin, Gad, and Manasseh.

This meant he not only had a large and experienced army but also representatives from some of the other tribes.

Before long, David would win the allegiance of all the nation of Israel.

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In his ascent to the throne of Israel, again David illustrates the career of Jesus Christ.

Like David when he was a shepherd, Jesus came first as a humble servant and was anointed without fanfare.

Like David when he was an exile, Jesus is King today but doesn’t yet reign on the throne of David.

Like Saul in David’s day, Satan is still free to obstruct God’s work and oppose God’s people.

While the great enemy is defeated, satan still is free to harass and trouble us.

One day, Jesus will return in glory, Satan will be imprisoned, and Jesus will reign in His glorious kingdom.

And today we pray “Thy kingdom come” ( kjv) and eagerly await the return of our King.

David was thirty years old when the elders of Judah made him their king and Jesus began his ministry at age 30.

As we will see, David reigned in Hebron for seven and a half years () before becoming king of all Israel.

Jesus is today the recognized King of some, but will one day be the King recognized by all.

We will see as we continue that Judah was truly blessed for receiving David as their king.

v5-7

David was a man with a shepherd’s heart who cared about his people.

One of his first concerns was the fate of Saul and the three sons who died with him.

He inquired about the burial of the royal family, and was told how the men of Jabesh Gilead had risked their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons.

When he asked the leaders of Judah about the burial of the royal family, they told him how the men of Jabesh Gilead had risked their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons.

Remember from how incredibly valiantly the bodies had been recovered!

The bodies were badly mutilated, so they had burned away the flesh, and then bury the bones back at Jabesh under a Tamarisk tree.

Saul had rescued their city many years before () and they were inspired to retrieve the bodies.

Jabesh Gilead was located across the Jordan in the tribe of Gad.

The men who recovered the bodies had to travel northwest and cross the Jordan River to reach Beth Shan, a trip of about 12 miles.

They had to get past guards and lookouts and remove the bodies from the city wall.

Then they had to sneak back out carrying the bodies and make the trip back home.

It was risky and courageous, and David thanked them for their devotion to Saul and to the kingdom of Israel.

They had displayed “kindness,” and the Lord would show them “kindness and faithfulness.”

David would also repay them for their actions.

By this, David implied that he will soon be in control.

Twenty-five years later, David would disinter the remains of Saul and the sons who died with him and rebury them in their native tribe of Benjamin ()

Twenty-five years later, David would disinter the remains of Saul and the sons who died with him and rebury them in their native tribe of Benjamin ()

He virtually invites this city, to give him its allegiance as the people of Hebron have done.

Jabesh Gilead was strategically placed on the east side of the Jordan, about 80 miles to the north of Hebron and would have been important to David as he moves toward ruling all Israel.

which strategically placed on the east side of the Jordan, about 80 miles to the north of Hebron

There is no reply recorded, but at least the word he sent would have been appreciated and remembered.

Twenty-five years later, David would disinter the remains of Saul and the sons who died with him and rebury them in their native tribal land of Benjamin ().

Unfortunately, the people of Jabesh Gilead didn’t choose to submit to David but instead followed Abner and Saul’s weak son Ish-Bosheth.

25 years later, David would disinter the remains of Saul and the sons who died with him and rebury them in their native tribal land of Benjamin ().

The people of Jabesh Gilead allowed their affection for Saul to blind them to God’s plan for the nation.

They had a good motive, but they made a bad choice.

But David used this occasion as an opportunity to invite the brave men of Jabesh Gilead to cast their lot with him. They had been valiant for Saul, and now they could be valiant for David. Some warriors from Gad had already joined David’s army while he was in Ziklag (), affirming their confidence that he was God’s anointed king. Unfortunately, the people of Jabesh Gilead didn’t choose to submit to David but instead followed Abner and Saul’s weak son Ish-Bosheth.

Good Christians often allow human affection and appreciation to supersede the truth of God given in His written Word.

Jesus Christ is King and He deserves our submission, loyalty, and obedience.

To put human leaders ahead of or on level with God’s anointed King is to create division and weakness in the ranks of the Lord’s followers and invite many troubles.

Augustine of Hippo, an early church theologian said, “Jesus Christ will be Lord of all or He will not be Lord at all.”

The people of Jabesh Gilead allowed their affection for Saul to blind them to God’s plan for the nation. They had a good motive, but they made a bad choice. How often in the history of the church have God’s people allowed human affection and appreciation to overrule the will of God! Jesus Christ is King and He deserves our submission, loyalty, and obedience. To put human leaders ahead of God’s anointed King is to create division and weakness in the ranks of the Lord’s followers and invite multiplied problems for the Lord’s people. As Augustine of Hippo said, “Jesus Christ will be Lord of all or He will not be Lord at all.”

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25 years later, David would disinter the remains of Saul and the sons who died with him and rebury them in their native tribal land of Benjamin ().

v8-11

We know from that Abner was Saul’s cousin.

He was also the commander of his army.

Abner brought David to Saul after David killed Goliath (17:55–58).

And it was Abner who with Saul pursued David for so many years.

It was Abner who was rebuked and humiliated by David when he failed to protect the king back in .

So, we might make an understatement and say that Abner had no special love for David.

The people of Israel honored David above Saul and eventually the nation would learn that David was God’s choice as king of Israel.

But David already had a commander, Joab.

So, when David became king, what would happen to Abner?

Most of what Abner did during those 7.5 years wasn’t for the glory of God or for the benefit of Israel.

In fact, it was all for his own self-interest.

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The people of Judah obeyed God’s will and anointed David as their king.

But Abner disobeyed the Lord and made Saul’s one remaining son, Ish-Bosheth, the king of, as it says in verse 9, “all Israel.”

Abner knew that David was God’s choice.

David was a gifted leader and a brave soldier.

But he deliberately rebelled against the Lord and appointed IshBosheth.

Back in , Israel had asked for a king “like all the nations.”

In other nations, when a king died, the king’s eldest son took the throne.

Jonathan would have been that successor.

He was a godly man, but was not God’s choice for king … David was the man after God’s own heart.

Jonathan and 2 more of Saul’s sons had died in battle.

So then, IshBosheth was all that remained of the royal family.

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Scripture doesn’t say much about IshBosheth.

But it is clear that he was a weak puppet ruler and he was manipulated by Abner.

In fact we’ll see in chapter 3:

2 Samuel 3:11 NKJV

And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

For some reason, IshBosheth was not in the battle with his father and brothers.

He was certainly old enough to fight in the army with his father and brothers, but Saul left him home to protect the dynasty.

He was certainly old enough to fight in the army with his father and brothers, but Saul left him home.

He did that for two reasons:

First and foremost, it was to protect the dynasty.

Saul’s final rebellion against the Lord was to try to leave an heir to take over the throne, rather than accept that David was the Lord’s anointed successor.

Saul and Abner both knew that God had taken the dynasty away from Saul ().

Knowing that he and his sons would die in the battle, Saul probably arranged to make his fourth son king.

Secondly, IshBosheth was weak as we will see … probably not a good soldier.

Saul and Abner both knew that God had taken the dynasty away from Saul ().

Saul and Abner both knew that God had taken the dynasty away from Saul ().

Knowing that he and his sons would die in the battle, Saul probably arranged to make his fourth son king.

IshBosheth may have been crowned by the general, but he was never anointed by the Lord.

In , IshBosheth is called Esh-Baal.

It means, “Man of the Lord.”

The word “baal” means “lord” and was also the name of a Canaanite deity.

Baal was used to mean “lord” in many Hebrew names, but there are a couple of theories as to why it changed.

During the time of the Judges, Baal was used in Hebrew names, but later generations were reluctant to speak the name “baal,” so “bosheth” was substituted to make the new name IshBosheth.

Later generations were reluctant to speak the name “baal,” so “bosheth” (shame) was substituted

OR it may have been that the name was purposefully changed by scribes to make a point about this man’s shameful ascent to the throne.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Esh-baal

Later generations were reluctant to speak the name “baal,” so “bosheth” (shame) was substituted

So that may be why his name was changed to IshBosheth.

Abner took IshBosheth to Mahanaim, on the east side of the Jordan. This was a Levitical city of refuge where he would be safe (), and there Abner established a capital for “all Israel.” But it’s likely that it took at least five years for Abner to pursuade the tribes (minus Judah) to follow their new king. Ish-Bosheth was crowned at the beginning of David’s reign of seven years and six months and was assassinated after reigning only two years over “all Israel.” This would have been the last two years of David’s reign in Hebron. Ish-Bosheth didn’t have a long reign over “all Israel,” but everybody knew that Abner was in charge anyway.

Whatever the case, Abner took IshBosheth to Mahanaim (Mah-hah-Nie-Yim), on the east side of the Jordan.

This was one of the Levitical cities of refuge … and there he would be safe.

Later, it is where David sets up headquarters when he has to flee from Absalom.

Even later, it is destroyed by Pharaoh Shishak’s invasion during the time of Solomon’s son.

Abner established a capital for “all Israel” there.

Abner established a capital for “all Israel” there.

But when we do a little math we find that it took at least 5 years for Abner to persuade the tribes (without Judah) to follow their new king.

IshBosheth was crowned at the beginning of David’s 7.5 year reign and was assassinated after only 2 years on the throne.

That would have been the last 2 years of David’s reign in Hebron.

So that leaves 5 years which would have been the time it took for Abner to convince the other tribes to accept Ishbosheth as king.

IshBosheth didn’t have a long reign over “all Israel,” but everybody knew that Abner was in charge anyway.

There’s a modern touch to this scenario, for our political and religious worlds are populated by these same three kinds of people.

It was not unusual for a military strongman to sponsor someone who was weak to sit on the throne.

That was something that happened many times prior to this and would happen again over the years.

It was not that unusual for a military strongman to sponsor a weak heir to the throne. In earlier Egyptian history at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Ay, a military commander (and perhaps father-in-law) of Akhenaten is the principal sponsor and advisor of young Tutankhamun son-in-law of Akhenaten.

In Egypt at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Ay, a military commander (and father-in-law) of Akhenaten was the sponsor and advisor of young Tutankhamun, the son-in-law of Akhenaten.

We have weak people like Ish-Bosheth, who get where they are because they have “connections.”

In our text, Abner got what he wanted, but within a few years, he lost it all.

We have strong, selfish people like Abner, who know how to manipulate others for their own personal profit.

We also have people of God like David who are called, anointed, and equipped but must wait for God’s time before they can serve.

During more than fifty years of ministry, I have seen churches and other ministries bypass God’s chosen men and women and put unqualified people into places of leadership just because they were well-known or had “connections.”

Abner got what he wanted, but within a few years, he lost it all.

v12-17

When Abner made IshBosheth king, he was actually declaring war on David.

But by now Abner had all the tribes except Judah behind him.

When Abner made Ish-Bosheth king, he was actually declaring war on David, and he knew it. But by now Abner had all the tribes except Judah behind him and he felt he could easily defeat David in battle and take over the entire kingdom. Confident of victory, Abner called for a contest between the two armies, to be held at the great cistern about twenty-three miles north of Gibeon. This was not unlike the challenge Goliath issued when he called for one of Saul’s soldiers to fight him (). But Abner was rebelling against God while David was God’s chosen leader!

He was confident that he could easily defeat David in battle and take over the entire kingdom.

Confident of victory, Abner called for a contest between the two armies.

That contest was to be held at the great cistern about twenty-three miles north of Gibeon.

This was not unlike the challenge Goliath issued when he called for one of Saul’s soldiers to fight him ().

Sometimes instead of a full on battle, armies would choose their best soldier to represent them.

The winner then would be as if the whole army had won the victory.

While this was merciful to all the other soldiers who might have perished in an all out battle, Abner was rebelling against God.

David was God’s chosen leader.

In this case, 12 soldiers were chosen from each side to compete.

This then erupted into an all out battle.

In fact, the battlefield received a new name—“the field of sharp edges” or “the field of daggers.”

Abner was defeated that day, a portent of things to come.

Abner was defeated that day, a portent of things to come.

And it was a bloody battle, but David’s men were victorious.

But Abner was rebelling against God while David was God’s chosen leader!

While this was merciful to all the other soldiers who might have perished in an all out battle, Abner was rebelling against God.

David was God’s chosen leader.

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Now, this is the first time we meet Joab, David’s nephew and the commander of his army.

The 2 armies met at the reservoir, and twelve soldiers from the army of Benjamin faced twelve men from Judah—and all twenty-four men were killed!

Joab and Abner wasted no time getting their troops in battle formation, and “The battle that day was very fierce.” Abner was defeated that day, a portent of things to come.

v18-23

Zeruiah was David’s sister and she had 3 sons, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel.

Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were David’s nephews, the sons of his sister Zeruiah (see ).

Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were David’s nephews, the sons of his sister Zeruiah (see ). Whether on his own initiative or at his brother’s orders, Asahel went after Abner, for he knew that slaying the enemy general could mean confusing and scattering the whole enemy army. If Joab commanded the fleet-footed young man to go after Abner, perhaps he was thinking of his own future, for Abner might threaten to take his position as head of the army.

However, that doesn’t mean David was older than them.

Since David was the youngest of eight sons they may have been about the same age or even older than David.

In the midst of the battle, Asahel got close to Abner and Asahel went after him.

He knew that slaying Abner, the general of the enemy army, could be the thing that brings victory.

If Joab commanded the fleet-footed young man to go after Abner, perhaps he was thinking of his own future, for Abner might threaten to take his position as head of the army.

Abner had no desire to harm or kill him, but Asahel persisted.

First Abner told him to turn aside and take what he wanted from one of the dead enemy soldiers.

Then he warned Asahel that if he killed him, this would create a “blood feud” that could cause trouble for years to come.

It appeared that Asahel had the advantage, but Abner had the experience.

And since Asahel was not going to give up, Abner stopped short causing Asahel’s momentum to impale him on his spear.

How was it that Asahel was impaled by the butt end of the spear?

Well, the butt end of a spear was often sharpened so the spear could be thrust into the ground and be ready for action ().

In fact, the Hebrew word that is translated “blunt” would be better translated “butt” or “rear.”

(Remember from how Saul’s spear was stuck in the ground next to him while he slept.)

While the butt end wasn’t as sharp as the pointy end … momentum was enough to do the trick.

Asahel fell to the ground and died.

And it appears that Abner had no plans or even desire to kill him.

v25-32

Asahel’s two brothers, Joab and Abishai, must have been following close behind.

And despite what happened to their brother, they continued the pursuit.

In fact, they are probably even more motivated with the death of their brother … seeking revenge.

But Abner’s troops rescued him.

And he and the Benjamites retreated to the hill of Ammah … a defensible place.

Abner knew he was beaten.

In fact, verses 30–31 tell us that of Abner’s men 360 died, while of David’s men, 20 died ... so he called for a truce.

He may have suspected that the death of Asahel would encourage Joab and Abishai to stop fighting and take care of burial.

Judah and Benjamin were brothers, both sons of Jacob.

So the tribes were brethren ... and why should brother fight brother?

But it was Abner who had initiated the battle, so he had only himself to blame.

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However, Abner had another plan … remember, he was in this for himself.

He had a plan in mind that would give him both armies without having to shed blood.

And perhaps he thought that he would be able to control David the way that he was controlling Ishbosheth.

We’ll find out more about that scheme in chapter 3 … but it will end terribly for Abner.

And it will cause Joab to do something he should not have done.

Joab knew the heart of David, that he wanted unity and peace, not division and war, so he blew the trumpet and stopped his troops from pursuing.

But here in our chapter we might recognize that Joab knew how David would want him to respond.

David wanted unity and peace, not division and war.

So Joab blew the trumpet and stopped his troops from pursuing.

Had they pursued, Abner and his army would have been decimated.

Unfortunately, the first verse of chapter 3 says that a result of Joab’s decision to relent was a long war.

He said to Abner, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary” (v. 27 nlt).

But that was also a result of Abner’s pursuit of self interests.

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Abner and his men walked all night to return to Mahanaim.

Joab and his army returned to Hebron, stopping at Bethlehem along the way to give Asahel a proper burial.

During that all-night march, Joab and Abishai grew angrier over the death of their brother.