Friday, March 28, 2014

Ruler over my people

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 7:4–17, “And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.  According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.”

David always understood that the Lord was in control of his life and was willing to do what the Lord commanded. However, after Nathan left David the Lord came to Nathan and told him to tell David that David was not to build the Temple. David’s job was to establish a powerful kingdom that was at peace with its neighbours. Of course, this peace was established by the power of David’s armies in a largely hostile region. The Lord told David that His Presence had been in the Tabernacle since the time that it was first built nearly 400 hundred years earlier. The Lord reminded David of what He had done for David. David was the youngest son of his father who worked as a shepherd. The Lord took David from all that and, eventually, brought him to the king’s palace in Jerusalem. David had been a man of war and it was better for him to wait until his son was king after him. This son would build the Temple and he would be given the choice of making a covenant with the Lord and keeping the Lord’d commandments just like David.
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The Ark dwelleth in curtains

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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2 Samuel 7:1–3, “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.”

The Lord warned Israel that they would need to be careful when they came into the Promised Land. He told them that He had chosen them because He loved them rather than because they were a great and mighty people. (Deut 7: 6-11) The Lord would always remain faithful even though His people were not faithful. David understood the importance of having a constant reminder that the Lord was with Israel and that He had promised never to leave them. Once the Ark was in place, David thought that it would be appropriate if He built a Temple to house the Ark. After all, when they were nomads in the wilderness the Lord told them to build the Tabernacle to house the Ark and show Israel that the Lord was always in the middle of Israel. Now that Israel was established as the monarchy that the Lord intended them to be, it was important that the Lord’s presence among His people be acknowledged in a similar way. David spoke to Nathan, his close friend and prophet, and told him that he wanted to build a Temple. Nathan believed that this was a good thing to do and told David to go ahead and follow this vision to completion.
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Thursday, March 27, 2014

How glorious was the king?

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 6:20–23, “Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.”

David was passionately committed to the Lord long before he ever became king of Israel. In fact, when he became king he continued with this passionate commitment to the Lord. The fact that David brought the Ark to his city was very important and a deeply religious moment. On the other hand, Michal didn’t understand David’s passion for serving the Lord and allowed her bitter cynicism to take control of her words. David told Michal that he had been chosen above her father and appointed him as the king in Saul’s place. David was a man after God’s own heart while the Lord rejected Saul. If Michal didn’t understand the truth about putting the Lord first in everything that she did then David told her that she would be cursed by the Lord and she was.
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David danced

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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2 Samuel 6:12–19, “And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.”

Even though David had been angry to take the Ark back to Jerusalem after Uzzah had died. He soon realised that he had made a mistake. The Lord blessed Obededom as long as the Ark was at his place. David realised that the Lord was giving him a message that he should take the Ark back to Jerusalem. David went with his men and took the Ark back to Jerusalem. Previously, they had shown a proper lack of respect of the Ark so David made sure that he did everything with the proper amount of respect and dignity. The offered many sacrifices along the way to make sure that everyone behaved properly and showed the right amount of respect for the Lord. David was deeply committed to obeying the Lord and rejoiced in his relationship with the Lord. As they returned to Jerusalem with the Ark David showed his great joy for the Lord by dancing with all his might. It seems that he was wearing a garment like a long T shirt. His wife, Michal, who was probably unhappy that she had been forced to come back to David after she had been married to another man for a long time. Find an excuse to despise David because he danced with our inhibition and exposed himself during his dancing. On the other hand, David was full of joy and gave everyone in the city some bread, meat and wine so that they could celebrate as well.
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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Obededom

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 6:6–11, “And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.”

David was afraid of the Lord’s holiness after Uzzah was killed and he left the Ark at the home of Obededom, the Gittite. David hadn’t obeyed all the regulations concerning the transport of the Lord. David was also angry that the Lord had killed Uzzah because he believed that he was doing the right thing by bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem. David left the Ark as this new place and understood that it wasn’t enough to be eager to serve the Lord, he had to follow the Lord’s directions as well. After all, Saul had disobeyed the Lord by not destroying the Amalekites and said that he hadn’t done so in order to offer sacrifices.
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The return of the Ark

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 6:1–5, “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.”

David was now well established as the king of Israel. He didn’t spent a lot of time waiting to see what would happen like Saul did after he became king. He had fought the Philistines after taking Jerusalem so that he could be in complete control of his own kingdom. However, there was one issue still to be sorted out. The Lord had told Israel, while they were in the wilderness, that they should keep the Tabernacle and the Ark in the middle of their camp. This was so that they would know that the Lord God was with them and was guiding them in everything that they did. David realised that he needed to bring the ark into his new city so that the people would know that the Lord God had chosen to live among his people. The Lord had always promised that He would live among His people and He would show them a place where He would live among them. Of course, the Lord inhabits His entire creation and not just one city, but the Ark showed them that they belonged to the Lord and that He was with them from day to day. The Ark had been lost to Israel when Eli’s sons had lost it in battle against the Philistines but the Philistines had sent it back and it was kept with a man called Abinadab for a long time. Saul brought the Ark with him for a while and had been successful in some battles. However, Saul didn’t take possession of Jerusalem, the city of David. David knew that the Lord had given him Jerusalem to be his home city so he wanted to bring the Ark to his city. We know that David didn’t just do anything he felt like doing but he asked the Lord for advice so we know that David had asked the Lord about bringing the Ark to his city. They went to Bale of Judah and brought the Ark. When the Philistines took the ark and suffered from a plague, the returned ark on a cart drawn by two milch cows. David and his men continued to carry the Ark on a bullock cart. However, the Lord had told them to carry the ark on the shoulders of priests. (Ex 25: 14, 15) When the Ark was carried on the cart it looked like it was going to fall and Uzzah, one of the men who was close by, put his hand on the Ark to stabilise it and the Lord killed him immediately. The entire ceremony was being conducted without the proper amount of respect. They then brought the Ark to Abinadab’s house. After that they brought the Ark with due respect and ceremony.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

The mulberry trees

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 5:17–25, “But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.”

The valley of Rephaim was north west of Jerusalem. The Philistines hated and feared king David because he had been their major tormentor during the time that Saul was king of Israel. They wanted to defeat David before he had time to establish himself and start building his army and defences. They tried to lure David away from the highlands and bring him down into the bed of a valley. Their plan was to trap him in this valley and wipe his armies out. David came to fight them but, before he headed out, David asked the Lord for wisdom and guidance. We don’t have a record of Saul seeking the Lord’s advice in this way until the Lord had rejected Saul as king. The Lord told David to go down and fight the Philistines in open battle. David obeyed the Lord and was successful against the Philistines. The Philistines were not yet ready to accept defeat so they mustered another army and came back to same place. They must have changed their tactics in the hope of trapping David and wiping out his armies. Even though David had been successful against the Philistines earlier, he didn’t assume that the Lord would automatically support him and he asked the Lord for direction and wisdom in the battle again. This time the Philistines had set the troops in a different way and the Lord told David to march around behind the Philistines and attack them from a different direction. They were hidden in a grove of trees and David went around the trees and attacked them from behind. This time David had an even greater victory than before.
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David and Hiram

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 5:11–16, “And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.”

Tyre was a kingdom to the north of Israel on the coast. Hiram, their king realised that David was going to be a significant king and he set out to make peace with David. Hiram used his craftsmen and tradesmen to build a palace for David to live in. After these things, David finally understood that the Lord had fulfilled His promises and David was now established as the true, anointed king of Israel. David realised that the Lord was using David to unite the nation so that they could play their part in bringing the Lord’s blessings to all the nations of the earth. David settled into his kingdom and moved from being a nomadic warlord to a settled king living in his own city.
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Jerusalem

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 5:6–10, “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.”

Even though David was king over a united people, he didn’t control the entire Land. Jerusalem, Jebus, was at the head of an important road that came up from the western coastal strip up into the highlands. The Philistines had traditionally used this road to come up with raiding parties against Israel. David understood the importance of this city. It was well fortified and the people boasted that it was so secure that it could be defended by blind and lame soldiers. David called in his men to take the city and they attacked the city and took possession of it. As long as David controlled Jerusalem, he was able to keep the Philistine raiding parties from coming up and plundering his nation. This meant that David now had the united loyalty of the people and he also controlled a continuous nation. He was able to build his kingdom from that point onwards.
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David, king of Israel

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 5:1–5, “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.”

Finally the circumstances were right and David was crowned king of Israel. He spent many years waiting to be king. Even while Saul was king, David led the armies and was known as the greatest warrior in Israel. David made this major alliance with all the tribes to be their king and unite them into the one nation that God made them to be. The tribes were not really united as one nation ever since the time of Joshua but David was fit to unite them all together in the Name of the Lord.
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Friday, March 21, 2014

Ishbosheth's burial

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 4:9–12, “And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.”

David had always been willing to trust the Lord and to wait for His timing. He had opportunities to kill Saul but didn’t take them because Saul was the Lord’s anointed. David didn’t rejoice at the Saul’s death or reward the man who claimed to have killed him.David was horrified that these brothers would be so callous as to kill and innocent man while he slept. David condemned these brothers to dead because, essentially, the had plead guilty to a maliciously planned murder. He treated Ishbosheth’s body with respect and gave him an honourable burial. Ishbosheth was buried in Abner’s family mausoleum to show that he was a man who should have been treated with respect and honour.
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Baanah and Rechab

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 4:1–8, “And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.”

Saul’s son Ishbosheth had been relying on Abner to keep him in power. After he quarrelled with Abner, his position became even more precarious because he had not strong military backing any more. When he heard that Abner was dead, he and all his followers were afraid of in their developing situation. There were two brothers who decided to take advantage of the situation but they didn’t understand how a man after the Lord’s own heart would approach any matter. These men decided to kill Ishbosheth and they stabbed him while he was sleeping in the heat of the day. They took his head to David to prove that Ishbosheth was indeed dead. A small aside is added to this history to introduce a man called Mephibosheth. Jonathan, David’s best friend had a son who was still quite young when Saul and his armies were defeated. When the Israelis heard that Saul had been defeated they left their homes and ran to hide in the hills. Mephibosheth’s nurse dropped him as she ran and he lost the use of his legs.
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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Joab and Abner

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 3:22–39, “And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. And afterward when David heard it, 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 fail 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. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, 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. And all the people wept again over him. And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. And the king said unto 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; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.”

After Abner had finished his dealings with Saul and headed off, Joab came back from a raid into enemy territory. After Joab arrived home some of the people told him what had happened. Joab was angry and asked the king, David, what David had done. Joab hated Abner and didn’t trust him at all. He told David that Abner hadn’t come to support David but to trick him. After Joab left David he sent a messenger to Abner and told him that he should come for a meeting. Joab met Abner and killed him in cold blood. Joab wanted revenge for the death of his brother Asahel. Even though Asahel was legitimately killed in battle and Abner came to David in peace. When David heard what Joab had done, he cursed Joab for what Joab had done. When Abner was buried, David treated him as an honourable man and showed the rest of the people that he didn’t support Joab in any way. David fasted over Abner’s death to let everyone know that he didn’t approve of Joab’s actions.
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Abner and Ishbosheth

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 3:7–21, “And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face. And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.”

While Abner said that he followed Ishbosheth as king, it seems as though he was more interested in being king himself. When a king was conquered the victor would take the former king’s wives and rape them. This showed that he was the true power now. Kings often took wives as part of treaty deals. A new king would demonstrate that he was taking control of the old kingdom and all its treaties. Abner made a public statement that he was really Saul’s successor, even though he didn’t really have any popular support. When Ishbosheth reprimanded Abner for his treason, Abner showed his true colours and decided that he would prefer to support David as king, because he despised Abner and Ishbosheth was a afraid of Abner. Abner approached David and told him that he was transferring his loyalty to David. David said that he was willing to accept Abner and the rest of the breakaway kingdom but he wanted to have his first wife Michal to show that he was genuine and that Saul’s family would support him in this new kingdom. David was given his first wife back even though her current husband was deeply upset by the move. Abner managed to find support for David among his tribe and they met together in peace to celebrate the new arrangements.
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

David in Hebron

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 3:1–6, “Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron. And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.”

A civil was devastates a nation but it seems as though Abner was determined to be rich and powerful so he persisted. On the other hand, David lived in Hebron in Judah and started to have his family. David, as a king, had more than one wife. This was mainly to keep all the different groups of people, who supported him, happy. Abner was more concerned with his own status than the good of the nation.
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Bitterness in the end

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 2:25–32, “And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.”

The men of Benjamin had a fearsome reputation as fanatical fighters. (See Judges 20: 18-24) They came together with their leader Abner and took the best strategic place that they could find, the top of a hill. If Joab and his men wanted to attack them they would have to come up the hill to fight. Joab’s men surrounded the hill. At that stage, Abner called out and told Joab that many people would die unnecessarily that day if they chose to fight. Joab knew that Abner was right so he blew a trumpet and told his men to go home. Abner and his men went to Mahanaim, where they had been stationed and Joab did a head count to see who had survived the battle. Joab found that he had lost nineteen men including his brother. They returned to their own home as well.
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Asahel

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 2:18–24, “And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.”

After the battle Joab and his brothers, along with their troops chased Abner’s troops so that they could kill all of them. Joab’s brother, Asahel, was a very fast runner and he decided that he would kill Abner. Abner ran away from the battle hoping to escape and recover. Asahel chased Abner so that he could achieve his goal. Asahel was a young warrior while Abner was very experienced. Abner warned Asahel that he would kill him if he wanted to fight a personal battle that day. Abner told Asahel to go and fight someone else but Asahel refused so Abner turned and killed him, in order to save his own life. The battle continued till the end of the day.
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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Joab and Abner

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 2:8–17, “But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 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 twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve 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 Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.”

Abner was the son of Saul’s uncle Ner (1 Sam 14: 50), it was in his best interest to support Saul’s descendant as king, in the short term. He took Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, the other sons were killed in the battle at Gilboa, and made him king of Israel. They went over to the eastern side of the Jordan River and proclaimed Ishbosheth king of that area. They included Benjamin in this kingdom because Saul and his sons were from that tribe even though it wasn’t really continuous with the territory on the eastern side of the river. Ishbosheth ruled as king for two years but he wasn’t king over all Israel because Judah was loyal to David.  David’s men, led by Joab, and Ishbosheth’s men met together in Gibeon, on the eastern side of the River. It seems as though they came in peace but Joab wasn’t to be trusted. They arranged a competition and Joab chose twelve of his men to fight a mock battle with Abner’s men. However, Joab’s men killed all of Abner’s men, surprising them with an ambush. Joab did this to provoke a battle and Abner’s army was soundly defeated in the ensuing battle.
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Monday, March 17, 2014

David in Hebron

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 2:1–7, “And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
One of the reasons that David was a man after the Lord’s own heart was that he would ask the Lord for guidance before he set out on any venture. David had been anointed by Samuel to be the king of Israel and the previous king was now dead. David wanted to know if he should go into the cities of Judah, his own tribe. Before that David had been confined to the desert and to the Philistine territory because Saul wanted to kill him. David wanted to leave his fugitive life behind him but he didn’t want to go and be killed because the people were still loyal to Saul. The Lord told David that it would be quite safe for him to go back and settle in Judah. In fact, the Lord told David to go to Hebron. Hebron was part of Caleb’s inheritance and was also a priestly city. At that stage it was probably Judah’s most significant city because Caleb had been Judah’s leader when Israel came into the Promised Land. As befitted his status as a highly decorated and important military leader, and the anointed king, David brought his family with him. David and his troops moved into the area and took up residence. The people of Judah came to David and made him their king. When David was settled as king of Judah, his tribesmen told him about the people from Jabeshgilead and how they had taken Saul’s body and buried it after his body was desecrated by the Philistines. David blessed them in the Lord’s Name. David also told them that they didn’t have to be afraid, even though Saul was dead for he had been anointed king in Judah and he would give them his protection, even though they lived on the other side of the Jordan River.
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Tell it not in Gath

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 1:17–27, “And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

David genuinely loved the Lord and His chosen nation Israel. He grieved over the fact that the Lord’s Name was dishonoured by the great defeat at Gilboa and he sorrowed over Saul’s, the Lord’s anointed, death. As the sweet singer of Israel David felt it was important to compose a Lament over the death of Saul and Jonathan. Jonathan was also one of David’s best friends and strongest supporters during his lifetime. The Lament was composed to sung as a memorial to Israel’s first king in the future the Israelis would be able to compose this song and take a warning. Saul had not put the Lord first in everything that he did, Saul was a king like the kings of the neighbouring nations and Israel needed to remember the pain that choosing this kind of king had caused them.
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Friday, March 14, 2014

Thy blood be upon thy head

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 1:11–16, “Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.”

David was a man after the Lord’s own heart. (1 Sam 13:14, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”) He was loyal to the Lord and to the Lord’s firstborn, Israel. He had already devoted his life to serving the Lord and Israel. He and his men wept and mourned for the shame of Israel major defeat in battle and the loss of their king. They mourned and fasted for seven days according to the correct protocol. David asked the Amalekite why he was willing to harm the Lord’s anointed and ordered that the man be executed. It was a crime to kill the Lord’s anointed and a serious breach of royal protocol. David condemned the man because he had, essentially, pleaded guilty to the crime of regicide.
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An Amalekite

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
2 Samuel 1:1–10, “Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.”

David was unaware of the outcome of the battle between Israel and the Philistines. He had to go south from his place in Ziklag while Gilboa was three days march in the north. When he arrived home he rested for two days and, on the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp. The man had earth on his head and his clothes were torn to show that he was in mourning. When the man arrived, David asked him where he had come from and the man told him that he had come from Israel’s battle camp. David, of course, was interested in the outcome of the battle and he wanted to know what had happened to Saul. This man told David that Saul and his sons were dead. It is obvious that the man was looking for some kind of reward. David asked the man how he knew that Saul was dead and the man told him that he had seen Saul wounded and ready to die when Saul asked him to kill him. Obviously the man had seen the battle and knew some of the details even though he hadn’t been on Mount Gilboa with Saul during Saul’s last moments. This man, who was a foreigner, an Amalekite, claimed the credit for killing Saul. He had gone to the site of the final battle after the Philistines had gone home and taken Saul’s crown and his royal armband to show that Saul was dead. By this stage the Amalekite must have been feeling pretty pleased with himself.
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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Saul and his three sons

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
1 Samuel 31:8–13, “And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.”

After a battle the victors would return to the battle site the next day and take all the weapons and clothing from their dead enemies. This was called “stripping the slain” and could yield a large amount of booty for the winners. The Philistines came back to Gilboa on the day after the battle to take booty and they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons. When a famous enemy was killed the winners would take that man’s head to prove that he was really dead. Saul’s armour was also famous because Saul was a very tall man. The Philistines who had been fighting Saul took his head and his armour to let all the other Philistines know that Saul was dead. They put the trophies they took from his dead body in the temple of their god, Ashtaroth, to honour their god because they believed she had given them the victory. Saul’s body and those of his sons were hung from the wall of a city called Bethshan. This city was as the Jordan river end of the valley of Jezreel near the site of the battle. They did this to give a warning to the Israelis so that they wouldn’t come and fight the Philistines again. When the people of Jabeshgilead heard about Saul’s body the went and took the bodies and burned them then buried the bones with respect. The men of Jabeshgilead owed a special debt to Saul because, soon after Saul became king, Nahash the Ammonite threatened to take the right eye from all their men. Saul had brought and army with him and saved them from this tyrant. (1 Samuel 11:1–11)
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On Mount Gilboa

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
1 Samuel 31:1–7, “Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.”

While David was away retrieving his family and the families of his men, Saul was fighting against the Philistines. The Lord promised Saul that he would die in the battle but Saul was courageous and went to the battle anyway. The Lord kept His promise and Saul was defeated in the battle. It was important, for the Lord’s plan of redemption, that Israel had a godly king for it was through this line that the promised Messiah would eventually come. Saul had proven himself to be unworthy of the task so the Lord ensured that Saul and his sons were all slain in the battle so that there would be little competition for the crown after the transition period. At this stage, the nation was not completely united, even though Saul had been king for a considerable time. (There is considerable debate among scholars as to how long he reigned, between 12 and 42. According to the apostle Paul, who was a trained Jewish scholar [Acts 22: 3], he reigned 40 years [Acts 13: 21]). Saul was an old man but he still commanded the army because he had been chosen for his ability to be a leader in battle, rather than his ability to obey the Lord. Saul didn’t really trust Jonathan, even though Jonathan was a tested warrior (1 Sam 20: 30-34). However during the battle Saul was seriously wounded even though he had taken the best tactical position before the battle started. Jonathan, Saul’s, firstborn and heir, was also killed as were his other two sons. Saul knew that he was going to die but he didn’t want to be captured and taunted by the Philistines because he was a proud man. A defeated king could be expected to be made into a spectacle for the victorious kind to parade. (compare Judg 1: 6, 7) In order to save himself the shame of defeat and the aftermath, Saul decided to take his own life. He asked his armour bearer to kill him but the armour bearer was afraid so Saul fell on his own sword and died. There are many examples of this in history where a person will place their sword under his solar plexus and fall down so that it comes up into his heart. When Saul’s armour bearer saw that Saul was dead, he followed his master’s example. The Philistines saw that they had won the victory and began to take spoil from the battle. A conqueror would happily live in their enemies homes to show that they were indeed victorious and their foes couldn’t do anything about it.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The two hundred men

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
1 Samuel 30:21–31, “And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart. Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD; To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir, And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa, And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites, And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach, And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.”

Some men had joined David’s group because they wanted to enrich themselves with the plunder that David’s raiding parties took. They had fought in that battle and they wanted to keep all the plunder for themselves rather than share with the men who had stayed behind. It is obvious from this history that David and his men had left some of their materiel behind when they had launched the last battle against the Amalekites so the men who were left behind acted as guards to that the baggage would be safe. However, David ordered that the men who had stayed behind should also receive their fair share of the plunder. Those men may well have taken a greater share of the burden in the earlier journey up to Jezreel and so were more tired than the other who went to the battle. When David returned he sent presents to the leaders of all the local Judean towns nearby. He was Judean himself and also understood that these men could easily betray him to his enemies if they wished. We know that people from other towns, like the Ziphites, had betrayed David. David knew nothing of the major battle taking place between Israel and the Philistines. The Lord had effectively removed him from the scene for this entire period. No one would ever be able to say that David had anything to do with the battle or that David had ever fought against Saul at any time. David remained true to his promise that he would not put his hand out to harm the Lord’s anointed.
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