February 14, 2026
Here’s the thing about choices, regardless of the motivation driving them, there are often unexpected consequences. Saul was motivated by pride, fear and self-preservation – he paid a high price, but so did the nation and his family. David was also motivated by fear and self-preservation – putting himself at risk, but also endangering those he loved.
The thread of unexpected consequences will continue…..
The 2nd part of the Book of Samuel records David’s years as king – the good stuff and the bad stuff. However, today we will switch titles to – The Chronicles of the Kings. In 1st Samuel 31 we begin to get repeat coverage in The Chronicles, so instead of going through 2nd Samuel then 1st and 2nd Kings and then repeating it all again in Chronicles, we are going to combine. In doing so, I hope to create a richer and more complex telling of the stories we will encounter.
The Chronicles were compiled and written by an unknown individual, possibly a Levite, either just before or just after the return of the Jews from Babylonian Exile in 537 BC. They provide a retrospective of the history of God’s people mainly through the activity of her kings – both faithful and unfaithful – and provide an answer to the question of why Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed - establishing a clear connection between the behavior of the kings (and the people), the corruption of the Temple services and the eventual destruction of Israel and the captivity of Judah.
For the most part, the first 9 chapters of 1st Chronicles is genealogy. I have not decided how to address those chapters yet, but never fear, we will address them….. Okay, on with the show.
According to both 1st Samuel 31 and 1st Chronicles 10, Saul and his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-shua were all killed on Mt. Gilboa - their bodies fastened to the wall of Beth Shan.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14 - Saul died because he was unfaithful to Yahweh; he did not keep the word of Yahweh and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of Yahweh. So Yahweh put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
3 days after the destruction of Israel’s army, a young Amalekite came to David reporting the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Further explaining that he when he happened across Saul, Saul had asked to be killed before the Philistines could finish him off. The young man claimed to have killed Saul and present his crown and armbands as proof.
David believed his story and asked him why he wasn’t afraid to kill Yahweh’s anointed king.
Death was the penalty for killing the king, so David ordered it with these words, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed Yahweh’s anointed.'"
Talk about choices having unexpected consequences!!! We know that Saul fell on his own sword – he committed suicide, (1 Samuel 31:4) so when the young man claimed to have killed Saul (perhaps thinking he would gain favor with David), he was lying. He died because he chose to lie.
David sung this lament for Saul and Jonathan……………
2 Samuel 1:19-27 - "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! "Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. "O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul-- no longer rubbed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. "Saul and Jonathan-- in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. "O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. "How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. "How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!"
David observed a period of mourning, but the time came when he asked Yahweh’s direction and was told to go to Hebron. David took his 2 wives and all his men and settled at Hebron and the surrounding towns.
The men of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David king of Judah – he was 30 years old when he became king and he reigned over the house Judah at Hebron for 7 ½ years.
Meanwhile, Abner, Saul’s cousin, brought Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s youngest son, to Mahanaim (east of Jordan) and anointed him king of Israel, which included Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim and Benjamin – he was 40 when he became king and he reigned for 2 years.
Abner and Ish-Bosheth’s army went to the pool of Gibeon. Joab (David’s nephew) and David’s army met them there – sitting on opposite side of the pool.
Abner suggested hand-to-hand combat between his men and Joab’s men. Joab agreed, so 12 young men from each side were chosen. Each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side – they all fell together.
The ensuing battle was fierce – Israel’s army lost and Abner ran.
Now, Joab had 2 brothers, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was a fast runner, so he chased Abner. Several times, Abner cautioned Asahel to stop chasing him or risk being killed, “But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot.”
Asahel was buried in Bethlehem and David’s army returned to Hebron.
The war between the House of Saul and the House of David lasted a long time.
2 Samuel 3:1b - David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
On the home front, David’s 7 ½ years at Hebron were busy ones:
• He came with 2 wives - Ahinoam and Abigail and added 4 more: Maacah, Haggith, Abital and Eglah.
• 1 Chronicles 3:1-3 - These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron: The 1st born was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; the 2nd, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel; the 3rd, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the 4th, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the 5th, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the 6th, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.
Meanwhile, back in Israel: Abner was busy strengthening his own position. Eventually, Ish-Bosheth accused him of sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines.
We might think, “Saul has been dead for several years, what’s the big deal if Abner sleeps with one of his concubines?” In that culture, however, it was a big deal. It would have been seen by Ish-Bosheth as a power move – perhaps even an attempt on Abner’s part to take the throne.
We are not told if Abner slept with the woman, only that Ish-Bosheth accused him. Regardless, Abner was so offended that he informed Ish-Bosheth that he would now do all in his power to make sure David became king of Israel. Ish-Bosheth said nothing further because he was afraid of Abner.
Abner sent word to David, on Ish-Bosheth’s behalf, offering to give Israel to him. David said, “Great! However, you may not come into my presence unless you have Michal with you.”
Ish-Bosheth gave the order and Michal was taken from her husband, Paltiel. Paltiel was heartbroken. He followed her to Bahurim, weeping all the way. Abner, finally said, “go home, man!”
Joab and the army were away when Abner and all the elders of Israel went to Hebron and endorsed David as king.
When they arrived back and were told of all the developments, Joab was not having it. Secretly he sent a message to Abner, asking him to return to Hebron. When Abner returned, Joab met him and killed him, “to avenge the blood of his brother, Asahel.”
Abner had killed Asahel in battle and only after repeated warnings.
Joab assassinated Abner: (1) because he didn’t trust Abner and feared his power and (2) as an act of revenge.
Joab’s actions cast suspicion on David’s integrity, so David publicly put a curse on Joab and his “house” for his act of personal revenge, “I and my house are innocent concerning the blood of Abner. May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."
By doing so, the people realized that David had nothing to do with Abner’s death and they approved of his response.
Now that Abner was dead, Ish-Bosheth was unprotected and in deep trouble. 2 men, Rechab and Baanah, decided to kill him. They went to his home and during the afternoon rest, went into his bedchamber, killed him and decapitated him.
It is here that we are told that Jonathan had a son - Mephibosheth. He was 5 years old when Jonathan died. In her haste to flee, his nurse had picked him up, but he fell and was left a cripple. We will hear from Mephibosheth again.
Meanwhile, the men who had murdered Ish-Bosheth brought his head to David, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day Yahweh has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring."
David: Let me tell you a story…. Thinking that he was bringing me good news, a young man reported that he was responsible for the death of Saul. His reward? Death! You killed a righteous man, in his house, on his bed…… Your reward? Death!
Israel and Judah were a United Kingdom once again.
Having reigned at Hebron for 7 ½ years, David now turned his attention to Jebus.
When David and his army arrived at Jebus, the Jebusites were less than impressed, "You will not get in here,” they said. “Even the blind and the lame can ward you off."
The Jebusites confidence was well founded. The Israelites had failed in all their previous attempts to dislodge the Jebusites (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21; 3:5-6) in part because Jebus was a fortified city, strategically located on a hill surrounded by valleys, surrounded by more hills.
Never the less, David did capture Jebus and did so by entering the city through a secret water shaft.
From now on Jebus will be known as Jerusalem.
David took up residence in the fortress and renamed it the City of David.
2 Samuel 5:12 - And David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
1 Chronicles 11:9 - And David became more and more powerful, because El-Shaddai was with him.
David reigned at Jerusalem for 33 years. During those years he accumulated more wives and concubines (see Deut. 17:17) and had more children:
• 1 Chronicles 3:4b-9 - these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These 4 were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel. There were also Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet— 9 in all. All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.
1st Chronicles 11: 10-47 lists David’s mighty men – included in that list is Uriah, the Hittite.
1st Chronicles 12: 1-22 lists the men who joined David while he was at Ziklag and verses 23-40 lists the men who came to David at Hebron to make him king.
David’s exploits against the Philistines
2 Samuel 5:17-25 - When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you." So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Until Next Time…………..
