Study Desk

David was in an extremely difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him, for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Then they gave him some pressed figs and two clusters of raisins. After he ate he revived, for he hadn’t eaten food or drunk water for three days and three nights.

but all the corrupt and worthless men among those who had gone with David argued, “Because they didn’t go with us, we will not give any of the plunder we recovered to them except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”

And it has been so from that day forward. David established this policy as a law and an ordinance for Israel and it still continues today.

When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.”

Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for I’m mortally wounded, but my life still lingers.’

They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword—for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel.

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood is on your own head because your own mouth testified against you by saying, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

Mountains of Gilboa,let no dew or rain be on you,or fields of offerings,for there the shield of the mighty was defiled—the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things,who decked your garments with gold ornaments.

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.You were such a friend to me.Your love for me was more wondrousthan the love of women.

Therefore, be strong and valiant, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel; he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David’s soldiers.

May God punish Abner and do so severely if I don’t do for David what the Lord swore to him:

Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal. I was engaged to her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

When Abner and twenty men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the city gate, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother.

and the king sang a lament for Abner: