Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Second Samuel-Part 2

We are going to look at 2 Sam 1.19-27 briefly, which is a beautiful piece of Hebrew poetry. This song is a great scripture for veterans or Memorial Day services. We will go over this verse by verse with our commentary in parenthesis.

“The beauty (lit “gazelle”), O Israel, is slain on your high places (Mount Gilboa)! How have the mighty (“givorim”) fallen (Saul fell long before this)! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not (root for “proclaim” is “basar” or “good news” where we get the word “gospel” from in English) in the streets of Ashkelon (that Saul is dead-both are Philistine cities); lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exalt.”

“O mountains of Gilboa, let not the dew or rain be on you (poetical speech for David’s abhorrence to what happened there) nor fields of offerings (have nothing to offer God); for there the shield of the mighty was defiled (they threw them away to run in disgrace), the shield of Saul not anointed with oil (but with blood).”

“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back (he did not shoot his arrows in vain-they hit their mark), and the sword of Saul did not return empty (he killed many). Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life (to one another), and in their death they were not parted (Jonathan died close to his father); They were swifter than eagles (to help the distressed), they were stronger than lions (fighting their enemies).”

“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet (enriched them by the spoil he brought back after his victories), who put ornaments of gold in your apparel. How have the mighty fallen in the midst of battle!”

“Jonathan is slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan (David was married to Jonathan’s sister, so he literally was his brother-in-law, but he was his friend and brother-in-arms, a severe loss to David); you have been very pleasant to me (in his visits and conversation). Your love to me (he risked his life for David many times when his father was trying to kill him) was more wonderful than the love of women (The Targum Jonathan says, “more than the love of two women” meaning Ahinoam and Abigail. This means he was loved more affectionately by Jonathan then by them, and they loved David very much). How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished (Saul and Jonathan were the “shields” that defended the people).”

In 2 Sam 2.1-32 we have several issues going on. David inquired of the Lord where to go from Ziklag, and he was directed to go to Hebron. The word “Hebron” means “communion” and it is a type of “heaven” and “Abraham’s Bosom” in the Scriptures. That is an important concept to remember as we move forward and we will see how this applies in the life of David shortly. Hebron was a city for the priests and a city of refuge.

Twenty years or so earlier David was anointed king over Israel (1 Sam 16.12-13) and now he is anointed king by the elders of Judah over the house of Judah (Gen 49.10). He is told that the men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul, and David blesses them and said they showed kindness to Saul, and he would show them kindness in return at a later time, but he needed them because of their courage. David knows that the enemy will resent their kindness, but David will protect them.

Now, Saul had a first cousin named Abner (“father of light”-1 Sam 14.50) and he was the commander of the army. He first met David in 1 Sam 17.55-57 when David went out to fight Goliath. We know that Saul had three sons who died with him in battle (1 Sam 31.6), but there was another one. Ishboshet (“man of shame”) is not mentioned before this as a son of Saul, and he may have been illegitimate or a son of a concubine, or by marriage like David (1 Sam 18.17-30).

Abner made him king over all Israel because he had a right to it with the other sons dead, and so he could be the power behind the throne of a weak leader (2 Sam 2.9), and he reigned for two years. David was patient with this situation. The tribes accepted Ishboshet (who was also called Eshbaal in 1 Chr 8.33 meaning “man of Baal.” The word “boshet” means “shame” and “Ish” or “Esh” means “man”) because the Philistines would have really “lost it” had they accepted David as king. In the same way, to support the “son of David” (Yeshua) is met with disapproval, too. But, the real power behind Ishboshet is Abner.

As a result, a civil war broke out between Judah and the other tribes. David reigned in in Hebron (heaven) for seven years and six months and he is waiting on God’s timing (2 Sam 5.5). Eschatologically, Yeshua will be anointed king at the beginning of the Birth-pains (Dan 7.9-10, 13-14; Rev 4-5) and reign for seven years in heaven (Hebron), before coming to Jerusalem to reign on earth. Then he will reign for the remainder of the 1000 year Atid Lavo (Day of the Lord).

During these two years Abner was scheming on how to bring Israel under one government. He sets out with the servants (“avadim” meaning warriors) of Ishboshet. Joab (“Yehovah is father”) is one of David’s men and his nephew through his sister Zeruiah (1 Chr 2.16), along with Joab’s two bothers Abishai (“gift of God”) and Asahel (“made by God”), and he is with the servants (warriors) of David. They meet Abner, and Abner suggests a small group duel between the “ne’arim” or young men. These were not just “young men” but were elite, hand-picked troops and “special forces.” This duel will end in a draw, so this led to a larger battle where Abner and his men were beaten before the warriors (servants) of David.

Asahel starts pursuing Abner and after being warned to turn around by Abner, Asahel refuses to stop and Abner kills Asahel with his spear. But Joab and Abishai pursue Abner until the sun was going down, and they came to the top of the hill of Ammah (“mother, origin”), which is in front of Giah (“to break forth”). Abner was joined there by the sons of Benjamin, and Abner wanted an end to the fight, but it was Abner who started the whole thing back in 2 Sam 2.14 by saying, “Now let the young men (warriors) arise and hold a contest before us.” Joab blew a trumpet and the people halted in their pursuit. Abner and his men went through the Judean aravah (wilderness) all night to make sure Joab didn’t come after them, then they crossed the Jordan, and went to Machanaim from where they came, and where they left Ishboshet (2 Sam 2.8).

When Joab returned from following Abner, nineteen of David’s men were missing, besides Asahel. They took the body of Asahel and buried him in the tomb of their father in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men went all night until they came to Hebron where David was.

We will pick up here in Part 3.

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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