Bible Reading Plan

Day 147 - Read 2 Samuel 3-4

David continued to have success while the house of Saul weakened. Abner vowed to bring Israel under the leadership of David as was appointed by God. David called for Ish-bosheth to send Michal, Ish-bosheth’s sister and Saul’s daughter, to be his rightful wife as promised. Joab, David’s nephew, did not trust Abner. He tricked Joab into meeting him and killed him because Abner killed his brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. David mourned the death of Abner. Saul’s house dispersed and Ish-bosheth was killed in his bed and beheaded. The head was taken to Hebron and given to David. David had the men who killed Ish-bosheth put to death.

Duration:: 9m
Broadcast on:: 17 Sep 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

Hello and welcome to our daily Bible reading. Today we're looking at 2 Samuel chapters 3 and 4. David continued to have success while the house of Saul weakened. Abner vowed to bring Israel under the leadership of David as was appointed by God. David called for Ishbo-Cheth to send Michael, Ishbo-Cheth's sister and Saul's daughter, to be his rightful wife as promised. Joab David's nephew did not trust Abner. He tricked Joab into meeting him and killed him because Abner killed his brother Asahhel in the battle at Gibeon. David mourned the death of Abner. Saul's house dispersed and Ishbo-Cheth was killed in his bed and beheaded. The head was taken to Hebron and given to David. David had the men who killed Ishbo-Cheth put to death. Follow along with me as I begin to read 2 Samuel chapter 3 starting in verse 1. There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. And sons were born to David at Hebron. His first was Amnon of Aynoham of Jezreel. And his second kiliab of Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And the third Absalom, the son of Makah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Gesher. And the fourth Adonaja, the son of Hagith. And the fifth Sheffatai, the son of Abatal. And the sixth Ethril of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rispa, the daughter of Aya. Anishbo Sheff said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?" Anishbo Sheff said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?" Anishbo Sheff said, "Am I a dog's head of Judah?" To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him. To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Bathsheba. Anishbo Sheff could not answer Abner another word because he feared him. An Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you." And he said, "Good, I will make a covenant with you." But one thing I require of you, that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michael, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face. Then David sent messengers to Ishbo Sheff, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michael, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred four skins of the Philistines." And Ishbo Sheff sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel, the son of Laish. But her husband went with her weeping after her all the way to Bahiram. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." And he returned, and Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.'" Abner also spoke to Benjamin, and then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do. When Abner came with 20 men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my Lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spool with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner the son of Nure came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace." Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? You know that Abner the son of Nure came to deceive you, and to know you're going out, and you're coming in, and to know all that you are doing." When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the sister of Sarah. But David did not know about it. And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel, his brother. Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Nure. May it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leopress, or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." So Joab in Abishai, his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. Then David said to Joab, "And to all the people who were with him, tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner, and King David followed the beer. They buried Abner at Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept, and the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen, and all the people wept again over him. Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still yet day. But David swore, saying, "God do so to me and more also if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to put to death Abner, the son of Nure. And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evil doer according to his wickedness." Chapter 4 When Isboshath, Saul's son heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands. The name of the one was Bana, and the name of the other, Rekop, sons of Riemann, a man of Benjamin from Beeroth. For Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin. The Beerothites fled to Gitom and have been sojourners there to this day. Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Israel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephebosheth, now the sons of Riemann, the Beerothite, Rekop, and Bana set out in about the heat of the day they came to the house of Isboshath, as he was taking his noon day rest. And they came into the midst of the house as if to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekop and Bana, his brother, escaped. When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the araba all night, and brought the head of Isboshath to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Isboshath, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The Lord has avenged my Lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring." But David answered Rekop and Bana, his brother, the sons of Riemann, that Beerothite, as the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity. When one told me, "Behold, Saul is dead," and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 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 at your hand and destroy you from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Isboshath and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.