2 SAMUEL 4: 1-12, 5:1-5 [The Life of David]
WAITING FOR A THRONE
[Deuteronomy 17:14-20]
Chapter three closed with the funeral of Israel's strongest leader, chapter 4 gives the account of the death of Israel's puppet king, Ishbosheth. His death would remove the last remaining obstacle to David's reigning over all Israel. Chapter five begins with David's long awaited coronation over all of Israel. This section explains why the Israelites came and asked David to become their king (2 Sam. 5:1) and vindicates David of any involvement in the murder of his rival (CIT). These events also are a reminder that God is able to work His purposes both through the deeds and the misdeeds of people, in this case to bring David to the throne of Israel. [Chafin, Kenneth. The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol 8 : 1, 2 Samuel. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1989, S. 239.]
I. CORRUPTION , 4:1-8.
II. CORRECTION , 4:9-12.
III. CORONATION, 5:1-5.
News about Abner's death did not encourage Ish-Bosheth to reassert his own authority over Israel; on the contrary, it only increased his instability and brought a sense of panic to the nation as we see in 4:1. "Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was disturbed" [NASV].
Abner's control over Israel is understood by the effect his death had on the king and the people. Losing their only real leader robbed them of their courage and created a political vacuum. The king, Ish-Bosheth, had been put on the throne by Abner and functioned as his puppet. While he resented Abner's heavy-handedness, he was dependent upon him. The people looked to Abner for protection against their traditional enemies. While few thought that Ishbosheth could lead Israel, they were all aware that as long as he was king they couldn't approach David about being their king. The circumstances were ripe for intrigue and violence. [Chafin, S. 240.]
Ishbosheth's death is a story of betrayal and opportunism literally from within his own ranks as we learn in verse 2. "Saul's son had two men who were commanders of bands: the name of the one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin..." [NASV]
Two brothers who felt their hour had come decide to take things into their own hands. Baanah and Recab were both captains of raiding parties [some say divisions] and were accustomed to making quick judgments and acting on them. It's possible that they sensed the mood of the people—the resentment of the fact that a weak and despondent king stood in the way of David's being their king—and decided to take things into their own hands. The more likely scenario is that they were opportunists. They knew that Ishbosheth was through and decided to act quickly in order to ingratiate themselves to David and possibly collect a reward. They felt no loyalty to anyone but themselves, so they set their sails to the prevailing winds to advance their own ship. We live in a society where more people make decisions on the basis of self-interest than out of deep convictions. As a result every structure of society is weakened. [Chafin, S. 240.]
Within this narrative is a reference (v. 4) to Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth [originally Merib-Baal,1 Chron. 8:34. The name change is similar to that of Esh-Baal to Ish-Bosheth, but here the change was from "Baal contends" to "from the mouth of shamefulness." Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983, S. 460] The death of Saul would mean there would be a new king. The custom of the day was that, when a new king ascended to power, everyone in the previous king's family would be killed. Therefore, hearing that Saul and Jonathan had died, Jonathan's son's nurse grabbed him and ran to protect him from what she knew would otherwise come his way.
His lameness occurred when his nurse, who was carrying the young five-year-old lad out of danger, dropped him and injured him. Mephibosheth reappears later in the story as one in special need of protection (2 Sam. 9). David will be merciful and invite him to eat at his table in Jerusalem. David exhibits the thought of Matthew 5:[7] "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. & [Matthew 5:9] "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God." In contrast, the opportunistic assassins [Baanah and Recab] thought only of making a place for themselves in David's kingdom.
Sensing that Ish-Bosheth was powerless, the two Benjamite assassins—Baanah and Recab gained access to Ish-Bosheth's house at Mahanaim at midday and murder him in his bed in verse 6. "They came to the middle of the house as if to get wheat, and they struck him in the belly; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped."
The assassins stabbed him in the stomach, the same means of assassination of Abner by Joab, (3:27).
Verses 7 & 8 state that they beheaded him (4:7), and carried his head to David at Hebron (v. 8). "Now when they came into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and killed him and beheaded him. And they took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night. [8] "Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; thus the Lord has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants."
So Ish-bosheth's captains brought his head to David, no doubt thinking he would reward them for killing the one man who stood between him and the throne.
There was a time when I would read stories like this in the Old Testament and think how horrible it would have been to live in such an era. Yet violence in our homes, murders in our streets, and escalating acts of terrorism have led me to believe that the light of God's revelation in Christ is just as needed in the places of our own darkness and in our world.
II. CORRECTION , 4:9-12.
David's reaction was swift and decisive [as verses 9-12 relay]. [9 "David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,]
David's response to this deed, which was done obviously to gain his favor, was identical to his reaction when he learned of Saul's death (vv. 9-11; 1:11-16). First, he reminded the brothers of his response to the man who claimed to have slain Saul in verse 10. "when one told me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news."
Second in verse 11 he accused them of being worse than the one who had slain God's anointed Saul. "How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hand and destroy you from the earth?"
David regarded their act as an unjustified assault on a defenseless man. Saul had been wounded in battle and had asked to be killed. Ishbosheth had been asleep in his own home. [David did not refer to Ishbosheth as God's anointed, for it was common knowledge that no prophet had anointed him and that Abner had put him on the throne as an expression of his own ambition. People who cannot be king but would be kingmakers have been around for a long time.] David call him "a righteous person." David understood that being God's man is all about trusting the God to make him king in His time and His way. What David is to do is patiently honor God as his king as he waits upon the Lord.
In verse 12 the king ordered the murderers slain and mutilated. "Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron" [NASV].
He ordered the two to be executed, [their hands and feet to be cut off,] and their corpses to be hanged publicly in Hebron. This meant that they were to be treated like common criminals whose bodies were exhibited and not buried. In contrast, David had the head of Ishbosheth buried in Abner's tomb [Chafin, S. 242]. No doubt David's stern measures of retribution also reflected his genuine love for Saul and his family, even though they had opposed him [Walvoord & Zuck, S. 460]. [The repugnance of the punishment of this crime was matched only by David's abhorrence of the murder of an innocent man upon his bed.] David's judgment of the brothers was a severe reminder that vengeance belongs to God. It also sent a clear message that even though God had anointed him to be king, he didn't approve of coming to power in that way. Authenticated by previously passing up several opportunities to kill Saul.
That terrible episode finished, chapter 5 brings us to our third point, the
III. CORONATION, 5:1-5.
With the removed of the only obstacle which lay between him and ruling over all Israel David can now be King of all Israel. Like many of the incidents that precede this one, it shows that God stands over the events of history, both good and bad, in order to bring about His purpose which here is to bring David to the throne.
With Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, now dead, the way was clear for David to assert his sovereignty or rule over the Northern tribes of Israel as well as over Judah in 5:1. "Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
There was a general recognition in the North that David should be made their king, so a delegation from all the tribes went to Hebron to establish David's rule over them. They pointed out that they were his kinsmen, his own flesh and blood, that is, all were descendants of Jacob.
The delegation states that he had distinguished himself as a hero of Israel in verse 2. "Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.' " They were also conscious of the calling and anointing of the Lord in bringing David to power to shepherd them. Anointing speaks of the empowering, the authority, the ability to do that which God has called one to do. The first time David was anointed was in 1 Samuel 16 when he was anointed before his family. [This is always where the first anointing comes. If it doesn't work at home, it doesn't work at all. If you're interested in some ministry, but it isn't manifested at home in the eyes of your family, forget about it. David's brothers looked at their younger sibling and saw Samuel pour out the oil from the horn upon his head. They couldn't figure it out—but they knew it was real.
His brothers questioned him, even chastised him (1 Samuel 17:28)—until they saw him kill Goliath. Your calling begins at the point your brothers, your family, your husband, wife, or kids say, "There is an anointing on you. I can't figure out why. It seems like I should be the one. But I have to admit that giants are falling; things are getting done; you are truly communing with the Lord." As his brothers castigated, questioned, and doubted him, David learned to say, "I know that even if my brothers don't fully understand, even if it doesn't seem I'm the most likely candidate, I know God has called me. So I'm going to trust the Lord will do what He's called me to do. I'll watch my father's sheep. I'll take my brothers' taunts. I'll do the menial jobs and let them go off to war. If I stay home and don't go to the battlefield—or the mission field—that's okay. I'm going to live my life in hope and humility." Courson, Jon: Jon Courson's Application Commentary : Vol 1: Genesis-Job. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2005, S. 910.]
15 yrs later David was anointed a second time before his tribe, the men of Judah as their king in 2 Samuel 2:4. Then for seven and one-half more years, he didn't take things into his own hands. He didn't kill Saul when he had an opportunity. He didn't kill Ish-bosheth. He didn't even want to see Abner killed. Instead, he had faith in God and plugged away day after month after year. I'm sure his advisors were saying, "Take control of the situation, David." But David wouldn't do it. He simply faithfully served his tribe and had faith that God would do what was right in due season.
[Likewise, not only your family, but also your peers will sense that the Lord is doing something in and through you as you are faithful in whatever task God puts before you. "Despise not the day of small beginnings," Zechariah declares (4:10). You might not be at the full orb of what you desire to be or to do. But if you are faithful to do what is before you—regardless of how big or small it might be—your "tribe" will confirm that God's hand is upon you.]
With no further hesitation they installed him as king over the entire nation in verse 3. "So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel."
The third time David is anointed is before the entire nation. After Saul had died, after Abner had died, after his enemies were removed from the scene, and after David had mourned for them all. David was anointed when the people saw him as a man of grace, mercy, and love. [Courson, 910.]
David reciprocated by entering into covenant with them. Samuel's earlier oil-anointing of David (1 Sam. 16:13) demonstrated God's choice of David. This third oil-anointing, like his second anointing in Hebron over Judah (2 Sam. 2:4), was the people's confirmation of that choice and a public installation. David's covenant probably involved an oath in which he pledged to follow the Mosaic requirements for kingship (Deut. 17:14-20).
Verses 4 & 5 conclude the coronation event. "David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. [5] "At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah."
Throughout Scripture, the age of thirty seems to be significant. Joseph began his reign as prime minister of Egypt when he was thirty. The priests began their ministry in Israel when they reached the age of thirty (Num. 4:3; 1 Chron. 23:3). And, of course, our Lord Jesus began His public ministry when He was thirty. [Jerusalem was located on the border between Judah and the Northern tribes.] Though David was 30 when he became kind over Judah he wait 7 ½ years to be recognized as king over all Israel.
[The distinction between Israel and Judah (2 Sam. 11:11; 12:8; 19:42-43; 24:1, 9) may indicate that 2 Samuel was written after the nation was divided in 931 b.c. into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.] [Walvoord & Zuck, p. 461.]
IN CLOSING
The promise that God made to Israel and David took a long time being fulfilled. This should serve as a reminder to us that there is often a great distance between the beginning of a dream and its fulfillment. Even as the civil war continued to sort itself out for over 7 years, David exemplifies patience during a tough time of transition. The promise is fulfilled only after two decades of delay and a great deal of adversity.
This is typical of the way God brings about His promises and purposes. God is not in a hurry. There must have been times when David seriously doubted that he was God's anointed because of the trials he went through as a fugitive and an exile. It's in theses times of waiting on the Lord that many have failed in their faith and endurance. Like David, waiting is a significant part of each of our lives and God will reward us if we are patient and faithful as we await the promised blessing of His anointing. [Deffinbaugh, Bob. Quicknotes. 1 Samuel-2 Kings. Vol. 3. 2009. Barbour Publ. Uhrichsville, OH: p. 67.]
We live in a society that is obsessed with instant everything. This mentality has also affected how we view the Christian life. We often want now what it takes God time to bring into being. The Fruits of the Spirit do not become ours from a hurried-up, crash course on Christian living. The dream that Joseph had as a youth took almost twenty years to fulfill and included abuse, slavery, temptation, prison, and betrayal. Often we think only of the destination that God has for us and forget the journey. David's pilgrimage had included both triumph and persecution, deep friendships and dedicated enemies, but in it all God was moving David's life forward toward its goal. [Chafin, S. 244.]
He is doing the same in your life as He works to conform you to the image of His dear Son (Rom. 8:29) with whom He is well-pleased. Be patient in His time God will finish what He has promised you (1 Jn 3: 1-3; Phil. 1:6).
