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flee. Joab’s brother, Asahel, pursued after Abner. He was “as light of foot as<br />
a wild roe.” Abner warned him several times to turn back, but he refused.<br />
Abner did not want to kill him, because he was Joab’s brother. But when<br />
Asahel, who had no armour, continued to pursue Abner, Abner smote him<br />
with his spear, so that he died. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, 379 men<br />
had died, but only nineteen of them were David’s servants (II Samuel 2:17-<br />
31).<br />
A civil war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David for<br />
quite some time, but “David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of<br />
Saul waxed weaker and weaker” (II Samuel 3:1).<br />
Meanwhile, Abner had a quarrel with his king. Ishbosheth accused him<br />
of going in unto one of Saul’s concubines. This so angered Abner that he<br />
vowed he would help bring all Israel under David’s dominion. The king<br />
could not answer, because he feared Abner.<br />
Then Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying:<br />
...Whose is the land?...Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be<br />
with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee<br />
— II Samuel 3:12<br />
David promised that he would make a league with Abner on the condition<br />
that he would not see Abner’s face unless he brought Michal, Saul’s<br />
daughter, with him. After David had fled from Saul’s house, Saul had given<br />
her to another man. Michal was taken away from her husband, despite the<br />
man’s weeping protests. In fact, he followed her until he was told to return<br />
home.<br />
Then Abner spoke to the elders of Israel:<br />
...ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: Now then do it: for the<br />
LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save<br />
my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all<br />
their enemies<br />
— II Samuel 3:17-18<br />
He then spoke to the men of Benjamin the same thing. Then he came to<br />
Hebron with his men to confer with David, and to tell him that the elders<br />
of Israel and the men of Benjamin were ready to submit to his leadership.<br />
David made a feast for Abner and his men, and sent Abner away in peace.<br />
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