seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Samuel 3:6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”
13 “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.
17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”
19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Here's the link to the commentary I use.OK, time to recap and set characters again.
David is now king of Judea. He's living in Hebron. He has about 600 men.
Ish-Bosheth, is one of Saul's sons. He's been put on the throne by Saul's commander of the Army.
Abner is Saul's Commander of the Army. He's been loyal to Saul.... until now.
David had 6 wives who gave him sons at the time. I left out the list of the women and the sons they gave David. Each woman gave him one son. The commentary says God doesn't like polygamy. Hummmmm... on that we may just have to look at the time.
HOWEVER... David had another wife. Back in 1 Samuel 18, David paid for the hand of Saul's daughter Michal. He paid Saul for her hand. He actually handed over the foreskins of 100 Philistines [Palestinians]. David cut the skin off of the thingy of the men he killed. Saul wanted it for Michal's hand. David earned her.
MEANWHILE... Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with the royal concubine. Poor Abner... He had been loyal to Saul and his whimpy son all this time and that whimpy son had the nerve to accuse him of betraying the throne by snubbing his nose, sleeping with the king's whore.
Well, that really angered Abner. That's it and that's all.... He went to David.
Now David knew that Abner could make things right concerning the cutting of the thingys for Michal's hand.
David and Michal were really in love. She helped him escape from Saul. Sure, her current husband would be sad, but come on... 100 foreskins! That's a gory task.
David told Abner to bring his wife to him. Abner brought his wife.
Abner switched sides!!!!
