The War of the Two Houses

I. How it Began

It begins with a power conflict between the puppet-king Ishbosheth and David

Political debates in ancient Israel were very different. It had nothing to do with who was the better man or had the better policies. It was all about family and familiarity:

Abner was Saul’s cousin; Benjamin was Saul’s tribe; the Northern tribes knew Saul better.

Joab was David’s Nephew - his mother Zeruiah was David’s Sister; Judah was David’s tribe, and the people there knew him better because of his wanderings there.

It was also about a power vacuum - David reigned for 7.5 years, but Ishbosheth only two. But David took all Israel shortly after Ishbosheth died, so for about five years the northern tribes didn’t accept David’s reign, but didn’t have any replacement, either. This vacuum could not continue.

David didn’t force himself on anyone as King. He waited for Judah to annoint him King; he didn’t try to conquer the northern tribes in that time.

Abner, however, wasn’t so picky. He made Ishbosheth King, rather than the people choosing their next king.

It became, therefore, the culturally expected King vs. God’s Annointed King; the one imposed on the people vs. the one the people chose.

Ishbosheth (lit. Man of Shame; original name “Man of Baal” 1 Chron 8:33 ) was an inferior king. he seems to be quite weak, and really Abner was the power behind the throne.

II. Representative Combat to Avoid Battle

III. Appeal to Avoid Self-Defense

IV. Speech to Avoid Bitterness

Galatians 5:15 NKJV

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!