Hebron Before Jerusalem
November 5, 2025
Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
2 Samuel 2
God advances His kingdom through Spirit-dependent obedience, patient waiting, and merciful leadership—not through pride, ambition, or personal vendetta. Go will often take us to “Hebron before Jerusalem.” God often builds us in smaller, hidden places before He brings us to public platforms.
Imagine being an astronaut sitting in the pilot’s seat of a space rocket—helmet sealed, oxygen hissing, the cabin trembling as countdown begins. Through the tiny window you can see the launch tower bathed in orange light. Every nerve in your body is ready to explode into motion.
But for now, you wait. You don’t push the throttle; you obey the countdown. All the while in a control room, a hundred engineers monitor gauges, a thousand calculations are synchronizing, and under you in the rocket a million pounds of fuel are straining for release. Then you remember this staggering fact: Nearly 90% of all rocket fuel is spent just getting off the ground.
All that fire and energy—just to lift the vessel from the pad and overcome the pull of gravity.
That’s what Hebron is for David. It’s where God pours most of His energy into forming your foundation before He ever launches your ministry. God has placed David on the training ground of life to not only become the King of Israel, but establish a throne that will one day soon be held by Jesus Messiah.
Hebron wasn’t the destination, it was the next step. It was the waiting, training, and refining—the place where obedience outpaces ambition. David wasn’t wasting time in Hebron; he was fueling for Jerusalem. When God finally gave the green light, he didn’t explode upward in pride—he ascended in purpose.
We in the church need to be discerning of these times to (1) seek God’s direction, (2) embrace God’s timing, and (3) recognize and resist the spirit of rivalry that divides God’s people—both then and now.
For David, this has been a long time coming. He was anointed King years ago by the Prophet Samuel and since then he has been in a crucible of learning
• From anointed as king to the king’s harpist
• From playing the harp to running from spears
• From running from spears to resisting opportunity to a short cut by killing the king
He has been betrayed, on the run, and even escaped his own country to the land of Philistines.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Every turn was a test by God.
• There is no testimony without the test
• Ziklag burned; David strengthens himself in the LORD (1 Sam 30:6).
• Saul falls at Gilboa; David laments rather than gloats (2 Sam 1).
• Now: What’s next for David? Will he seize power or seek the Lord?
1.) David Seeks & Settles in Hebron (2:1–4a)
After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. (2 Samuel 2:1–4a)
Seek God’s Direction — Dependence, Not Presumption. After victory and vindication, David doesn’t assume the next step—he inquires of the LORD, not once but twice. True leadership begins with asking, not assuming. Every great movement of God starts with a man or woman on their knees.
Follow God’s Placement — Specific Guidance, Not Generic Calling. God doesn’t say, “Go anywhere you like.” He names a place—Hebron, the city of Abraham’s altar and Caleb’s inheritance. It was a Levitical city, a refuge and place of worship. When God leads, He doesn’t deal in vague inspiration but precise instruction.
Pursue God’s Presence — Fellowship Before Authority. The name Hebron means “fellowship” or “association.” Before God gives David a throne, He gives him communion. Before public authority comes private intimacy. The King of Jerusalem must first be the man of Hebron—trained in obscurity, shaped by worship, and prepared in the presence.
And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9)
Prophetic Picture: Before the King of Kings reigns in Jerusalem (Zech. 14:9), His people must be prepared in Hebron—hidden seasons of fellowship and refining. God is calling His Church back to Hebron: away from platforms, into prayer; away from promotion, into presence. Don’t despise Hebron seasons. The place of obscurity is often where the Spirit forges the heart of a king.
Refuse to Seize What God Hasn’t Yet Given. Though Saul is dead and the throne sits vacant, David doesn’t crown himself. He could have claimed what was promised, but he chose to wait for God to bring it to pass. The mark of a Spirit-led leader is restraint—the willingness to let God open doors instead of forcing them.
Let God’s Timing Do the Lifting. David allows Judah to anoint him in God’s time, not his own. Heaven’s promotion always comes through humility. When you stop chasing position and start pursuing obedience, God will raise you higher than ambition ever could.
Prophetic Parallel: In today’s culture, the spirit of self-promotion has infected even the Church—platforms built before altars, influence sought before intimacy. David models the opposite: the Spirit exalts the humble (James 4:10).
Application: The true anointing never rushes God. It refuses to seize what must be received. The truth we all must learn is that sometimes setbacks are actually God’s setup in our lives.
2.) A Kindness to Jabesh-gilead (2:4b–7)
When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” 5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. 6 Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them. (2 Samuel 2:4b–7)
Bless When Others Deserve Bitterness. Instead of gloating over Saul’s defeat, David honors those who honored him. He rewards loyalty even when it’s linked to a former rival. That’s not weakness—it’s spiritual strength. A godly heart refuses to let past wounds poison present opportunities.
Lead with Hesed, Not Manipulation. David’s kindness to Jabesh-Gilead isn’t a political stunt; it’s hesed—the steadfast love of God in motion. Real leadership doesn’t leverage people for gain; it loves them because of grace. Mercy is the mark of a king who knows the heart of the King of kings.
Prophetic Lens: In an age of outrage and division, this spirit of mercy is rare. The spirit of Abner and Joab—revenge, power, control—still stalks our culture. But the spirit of Christ calls us to overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21).
Application: When others curse, bless. When others divide, build bridges. This is Hebron leadership—strength under surrender.
3.) Abner Crowns Ish-bosheth; A Divided Kingdom (2:8–11)
But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. (2 Samuel 2:8–11)
Remember Who Abner Is — The Power Behind Saul’s Throne. Abner isn’t a new name in Israel’s story—he was Saul’s cousin and commander-in-chief, the man who had led armies and shaped policy for decades (1 Sam 14:50). He’s a seasoned general, loyal to Saul’s legacy but blind to God’s plan. When Saul fell, Abner didn’t repent—he regrouped. He represents that spirit of fleshly control that can’t surrender influence, even when God is clearly moving in another direction.
The Kingmaker’s Coup — When Flesh Tries to Force God’s Hand.The battlefield is quiet, the dust of Saul’s defeat still hanging in the air. Instead of seeking the Lord as David did, Abner fills the silence with strategy. He sets up Ish-bosheth, Saul’s surviving son, as king in Mahanaim—a throne propped up by nostalgia, not anointing. It’s politics disguised as providence.
Man-Made Crowns Never Last. Ish-bosheth’s rule rests entirely on Abner’s ambition. It’s a kingdom held together by manipulation, not by the Spirit. History—and Scripture—both prove that what man builds for his own glory eventually collapses under its own pride.
We’re living in an age of Abners, where power brokers build kingdoms without consulting the King” It is the ambition that builds systems without submission. It’s political religion, corporate Christianity, and the illusion of unity without truth. The spirit of Ish-bosheth is compromised leadership that pleases men but lacks divine power.
4.) Skirmish at Gibeon; Spiraling Rivalry (2:12–17)
Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15 Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is at Gibeon. 17 And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. (2 Samuel 2:12–17)
The contest between Abner and Joab’s young men turns deadly. What began as a ‘friendly’ competition ends in bloodshed. This is the same spirit dividing believers today—tribalism, competition, denominational pride, and digital warfare between brothers. The enemy loves to see the army of the Lord turn its swords inward.
Application: Rivalry within the body is the greatest weapon against revival. The Church must trade competition for cooperation.
5.) Asahel’s Zeal & Death (2:18–23)
And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23 But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still. (2 Samuel 2:18–23)
The battlefield dust hasn’t even settled when another chase begins. Asahel, the youngest brother of Joab and Abishai, is fast—Scripture says he was “swift of foot as a wild gazelle.” His adrenaline is pumping, his heart pounding. He locks his eyes on Abner, the seasoned commander who once served Saul, and he takes off. Every stride kicks up dirt, every heartbeat echoes with pride and passion: “If I can take Abner down, the glory will be mine.”
But Abner knows this young warrior—he’s seen zeal like this before. Twice he shouts back over his shoulder: “Turn aside, Asahel! Stop pursuing me! Why should I strike you down?” The warnings fall on deaf ears. Asahel doesn’t slow; he closes the distance. One more step, one fatal thrust—Abner pivots and drives the butt of his spear backward, and Asahel falls dead in the path. The pursuit ends in silence. The men who come behind stand still, staring at the lifeless body of a brother whose passion outran his wisdom.
Zeal Without Wisdom Becomes Self-Destruction. Asahel’s courage was real, but it was reckless. He mistook speed for strategy. Many today run fast after good causes but without discernment, charging ahead of God’s counsel. Passion is powerful—but without direction, it kills more callings than apathy ever could (Prov 19:2).
Warnings Ignored Become Lessons Learned the Hard Way. Abner’s repeated plea reveals God’s mercy—He often warns us through His Word, His Spirit, and His people before we crash. Asahel heard the truth but didn’t heed it. The wise stop when God says stop.
Experience Without Humility Breeds Conflict; Zeal Without Wisdom Breeds Death. Abner’s experience and Asahel’s zeal represent two ditches of leadership. One clings to control; the other runs without counsel. The balance is Spirit-led obedience—courage guided by wisdom, action anchored in prayer.
Prophetic Parallel: In the last days, Jesus warned that many will be zealous but deceived (Matt 24:4–5). The Church must balance zeal with knowledge, courage with counsel, fire with fear of the Lord.
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. (Matthew 24:4–5)
Passion is powerful—but without wisdom, it becomes a weapon against your own calling. Many start with a genuine desire to serve God, but they confuse movement with maturity. Zeal can ignite revival, but if it isn’t tempered by prayer, counsel, and humility, it can also ignite chaos. Asahel ran fast but not wise; he pursued victory instead of obedience.
In ministry and in life, unchecked passion can burn bridges, wound others, and leave you exhausted on the battlefield of self-will. The Spirit’s fire was never meant to consume you—it was meant to illuminate Him. Passion must always kneel before discernment.
Guardrail truth: Never let your gift run faster than your character, and never let your excitement outrun your ear for God’s voice.
6.) Standoff & Truce (2:24–28)
But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” 27 And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore. (2 Samuel 2:24–28)
The pursuit stretches long into the fading daylight. The field is littered with the fallen; hearts are heavy, tempers hot. Abner—battle-worn and weary—calls out across the canyon of conflict: “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter?” (v. 26). It’s a moment of rare clarity from a man who started the fight. His voice trembles with the fatigue of war.
Joab pauses. The men behind him are ready to strike again, vengeance burning in their eyes for their fallen brother Asahel. But Joab hears truth in Abner’s cry. With one deep breath, he raises the trumpet to his lips and blows.
The sound cuts through the chaos—sharp, holy, final. The battle stops. The silence that follows is heavy, sacred. Mercy has spoken louder than momentum.
Abner’s question still echoes through every generation: “Shall the sword devour forever?” The world today is weary of its own warfare—political, cultural, even spiritual. The same spirit of division that drove Israel’s sons to slay each other now drives nations, churches, and families apart. Yet there is coming a day when the true King, Jesus Christ, will blow the final trumpet—not to call for truce, but to usher in everlasting peace (1 Thess 4:16–17; Isa 2:4). Until that day, He calls His people to live as peacemakers in a culture addicted to conflict.
I remember one night, years ago, when I was serving as a state trooper. A high-speed pursuit had erupted—adrenaline pumping, lights flashing, the radio crackling with tension. We’d been chasing a suspect for miles, and every instinct screamed don’t stop until he’s caught. But I still remember the moment I felt the Spirit whisper in my gut: “End it. Back off. This isn’t worth the cost.”
Everything in me resisted. We’d been trained to win, to control, to finish. But something deeper said, “It’s time to blow the trumpet.” Choose mercy over momentum. Strength isn’t always found in striking back—it’s often revealed in standing down. Joab’s greatest victory that day wasn’t over his enemies, but over his own rage. In a world that rewards retaliation, the Spirit-filled believer carries a different trumpet—the sound of reconciliation.
Guardrail truth: Sometimes the most courageous act of war is to call for peace.
7.) The Toll of Civil Strife (2:29–32)
And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to Mahanaim. 30 Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner’s men. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron. (2 Samuel 2:29–32)
The trumpet has sounded. The battlefield grows quiet. All that remains is the sound of weary footsteps and the cries of the wounded. Abner’s men cross back over the Jordan to Mahanaim, counting their dead—three hundred and sixty in all. Joab’s men carry nineteen fallen brothers plus one name that breaks every heart: Asahel. They bury him in Bethlehem, and then they march all night back to Hebron—home, but hollow. The day has been won, but the victory tastes like ash.
Every man carries more than a sword that night; he carries the weight of what could have been avoided. The nation is divided, families torn, and the promise of unity still feels a world away.
This is where every flesh-driven war ends—fatigue, loss, and regret. Even when you “win,” you lose something you can’t get back. The same tragedy plays out in the modern Church: believers who once fought side by side now fight face to face, forgetting the real enemy is not each other but the accuser of the brethren.
Jesus foresaw this battle when He prayed, “That they may be one, even as We are one” (John 17:21). Division within the body dulls our witness, drains our strength, and delays our mission. When God’s people turn their swords inward, the world stops listening to the sound of our message and starts watching the spectacle of our fights.
The spirit of civil war still stalks the Church—online, in pulpits, and in pews. And just as in David’s day, it’s not the enemy who wins in those moments—it’s the division itself.
Application: Unity is costly, but division is deadly. It’s easier to take up a sword than to extend a hand, easier to prove a point than to make peace. But reconciliation is the first fruit of revival—the proof that the Spirit of God is ruling our hearts more than our pride.
Guardrail truth: Every argument you “win” in the flesh costs you something in the Spirit. Choose unity, even when it means marching home in humility. This is where every flesh-driven war ends—fatigue, loss, and regret. Likewise, the Church that wars internally loses sight of its mission. But Jesus prayed, “That they may be one…” (John 17:21).
Unity is costly, but division is deadly. Reconciliation is revival’s first fruit.
Theological & Prophetic Threads
Hebron before Jerusalem: God shapes private hearts before public crowns. The Church must rediscover hiddenness before harvest.
Humility over Ambition: The Antichrist rises through self-exaltation (Dan 11:36); Christ reigns through self-emptying (Phil 2:5–11). Choose the right pattern.
Rivalry vs. Revival: The spirit of Abner still works to divide, delay, and distract God’s people. The only antidote is Hebron humility—walking in covenant fellowship with God and others.
Zeal with Wisdom: True spiritual warfare is not fought in rage but righteousness (Eph 6:14).
Christ Typology: David’s patience prefigures Jesus—He waited, suffered, and forgave, refusing shortcuts to His throne (Matt 4:8–10; Phil 2:8).
Why Hebron? Because God builds foundations before towers. Abraham built altars there; Caleb conquered there; David ruled there. Every revival starts with Hebron—a return to covenant fellowship.
Our culture exalts Ish-bosheths—figures who appear strong but stand on human approval. The Church must discern the difference between a king made by men and one called by God.
Key Takeaways
• Seek before you step. Inquiry precedes movement.
• Wait for Hebron. Let God form you before He promotes you.
• Honor hesed. Bless loyalty—even from unexpected places.
• Resist Abner’s spirit. Don’t crown what God hasn’t called.
• Temper zeal with wisdom. Holy fire needs holy fear.
• Blow the trumpet of peace. Be a reconciler, not a rival.
Conclusion
Hebron represents the fellowship of preparation—a prophetic picture of the Church’s present hour. We are
between the promise and the throne, between anointing and appearing. The world’s Abners and Ish-bosheths are building systems of control and deception, but the true King is coming. Until then, God calls His people to Hebron—to intimacy, humility, and unity—so that when Christ returns to Jerusalem, He will find a bride prepared.
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
