Apparently, Jehovah’s absence is still apparent, because chaos overtakes the Israelites. David speaks to Jehovah, who instructs him to go to Hebron in Judah. While in Judah, David is anointed king of the House of Judah. David praises the people of Jabesh-gilead, for what they did in retrieving and interring the bodies of king Saul and his sons.
However, Abner, Saul’s captain, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and over all Israel.
It’s official: the kingdom is split in two. Is this what Jehovah planned? Is this why Jehovah is absent, his vision of his people and his reign over them as their god has fallen apart? Is it beyond repair. Not only did Jehovah not want to place a king, but now there are TWO among his people. Two kings instead of Jehovah. I can almost see why he is nowhere to be found.
So we have a situation where Abner and the servants of king Ish-bosheth go to Gibeon. Joab and the servants of king David also go to Gibeon, and both groups find themselves on opposite sides of a pool.
2 Samuel 2:14 – And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number 12 of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and 12 of the servants of David. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
Jehovah’s plan has really fallen apart now. No longer is there loyalty of the Israelites among their own brethren under one god, but now they kill based on the kings they serve. Wasn’t it a commandment not to kill? (implying don’t kill your own, but ok to kill the enemy). Now they are killing their own.
The “play” turns into a battle that Abner/Israel loses. In an odd story, we find Abner being chased by a man of “light foot as a wild roe.” Abner couldn’t shake the man, and he finds out the mans name is Asahel, son of Zeruiah. Abner tells him to stop chasing him otherwise he will knock him to the ground. Asahel refuses and eventually Abner runs a spear through him, killing him.
Asahel’s other brothers, Joab and Abishai also go after Abner. Abner eventually makes it to the hill of Ammah where the children of Benjamin gather as well as one group. Abner calls out to Joab telling him to stop the chase. Joab affirms, also acknowledging that if Abner hadn’t called for a halt, by the next morning a multitude of people would also be following.
2:28 – So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they anymore.
So with the sound of a trumpet, the chase and fight is halted. Joab returns to David. After the battle, we are told David lost 20 men, including Asahel. Abner and the Benjaminites lost 300 and 3 score men. Asahel was buried in Beth-lehem, and Joab ends up in Hebron.
My Biblical Journey 