Old Testament 2 Lesson 6

Joab was not there when all of this took place, because he and his men
had fought and won a battle. When he came in from the battle and found
out that Abner had been there and made a league with David, he was very
angry. Although Abner had killed Asahel in self-defence, Joab was ready to
take revenge upon him for killing his brother. Joab sent messengers after
Abner to bring him secretly to the gate of Hebron. Then he took him aside
in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him under the fifth rib, so
that he died (II Samuel 3:19-27).
When David heard about it, he refused to take any of the blame. He said:
...I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of
Abner the son of Ner: Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s
house; and let there not fall from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or
that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that
lacketh bread
— II Samuel 3:28-29
Then David commanded Joab and all the people to tear their clothes, put
on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David himself followed the
casket to the burial, and wept at the grave, saying:
...Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into
fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou...
— II Samuel 3:33-34
David refused to eat the rest of the day until the sun went down. The
people all understood that David had no plans to slay Abner. David told his
servants, “Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day
in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king...” (II Samuel 3:
38-39).
When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner was dead, he felt helpless
and weak. Abner had been the captain of his armies, and had helped set
him up as king of Israel. In fact, “all the Israelites were troubled” (I Samuel
4:1).
Two brothers, Baanah and Rechab, who were Benjamites, were convinced
that David would soon reign over all Israel, so they decided to do something
to win David’s approval. They were captains of raiding bands, and had
access to the king’s house. They came in the heat of the day when the king
was resting, pretending they had come to fetch wheat. Instead, they killed
Ishbosheth, cut off his head, and travelling all night, brought it to David,
expecting his praise.
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