Ish-bosheth Murdered

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

2 Samuel 4:1-12
1 When Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.
2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin;
3 the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day).

David’s kingdom was shaken by the murder of Abner, with David taking charge, openly declaring a curse on Joab, openly mourning over Abner’s death, and personally fasting over the circumstances that caused this injustice. In all his actions, the Word speaks of the people of Hebron, nay, all the people and all Israel recognizing the actions of the king, and being pleased.

2 Samuel 3:36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
2 Samuel 3:37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.

As a study in contrasts, the writer of 2 Samuel provides Ish-bosheth’s mighty acts of leading his people. Doh – not so mighty, for Ish-bosheth crawled up into a fetal position (metaphorically speaking of course!) and waited.

Now I don’t suppose I would venture a guess as to what he was waiting for, but in times of numbing fear, it is fair to say that nothing else enters the mind. Fear is a controlling, all powerful emotion that consumes the one living in it.

Ish-bosheth waited. And his people were dismayed, even terrified at the outcomes of his leadership, at the condition of their nation. Meanwhile, these same subjects of Ish-bosheth were looking south. That David sure was a leader!

Ish-bosheth’s days were numbered, for David will surely come into his decapitated, weak nation, take it militarily and rid the united nation of Israel of any future threat of the lineage of king Saul. Ish-bosheth would have to die!

Enter Rachab and Baanah, two brothers that had a past. During the conquest of Canaan, under the leadership of Joshua, those of Beeroth, along with three other Hivite towns deceived Joshua with a ruse, entered into a treaty with Israel that caused dissension in the ranks of the Israeli army, and was a blot on Joshua’s leadership. Read about this deception and the result of it in Joshua 9

They were a people that were to be conquered, not assimilated into the covenant nation!

Joshua made sure that this deception would be noted in the annals of Israel’s history, for he pronounced a curse on them, stating they would be restricted to areas of service to the nation of Israel only.

Joshua 9:23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

Over three centuries later, the Beerothites were still a presence in the nation, with these two men serving as men leading raiding bands for Saul, and Saul’s son.

The term for “raiding bands” has a wide definition, ranging from a formal division of an army, to describing a marauding band of robbers, effectively mercenaries, guns for hire, men who had no allegiance but to the mighty buck!

Yes Ish-bosheth’s days were numbered, but not from the armies of David, but of his own, from treachery within his own ranks.

Ish-bosheth was a man used by Abner, who trusted Abner, obeyed Abner and was abandoned by Abner. Is it any wonder that the Word constantly instructs us to trust the Lord and not man?

Trust Him today for whatever challenges you may be facing. He is good to those of a pure heart and a humble spirit.

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