Justin Houtz

2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

DateVersionReading Plan
April 27, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

2 Samuel 2

Observation & Interpretation

Following his lament over the death of Saul, David inquired of the LORD to see if he was to go up into any of the cities of Judah (v. 1). The LORD was responded that he was indeed to go up and when David asked which city, the LORD told him Hebron (v. 1). David went up there along with his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, and the men of Judah anointed David king over the house of Judah (v. 2-4). When David was told that the men of Jabesh-gilead were the ones who had buried Saul, David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to bless them by the LORD because of the loyalty they had shown their lord in burying Saul (v. 5). David said he would do good to them for having done this and that their hands were to be strong because their lord Saul was now dead and the house of Judah had anointed David as king over them (v. 6-7).

However, Abner, commander of Saul’s army, made Ish-bosheth the king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel (v. 8-9). Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign and reigned two years, but the house of Judah followed David (v. 10). David was over the house of Judah for seven years and six months (v. 11).

The remainder of the chapter details the civil war and in-fighting among the leaders of Israel, between Joab, Abner that involved their relatives and compatriots. The conflict ends when “Abner pled with Joab to stop this needless civil war.” (BBC). Joab returned from his pursuit of Abner to find that nineteen of David’s servants were missing besides Asahel who had been killed by Abner (v. 30). The men who were missing had struck down 360 of Abner’s men of Benjamin, revealing “the overwhelming victory David’s forces achieved and suggest God’s favor on David.” (CSB Notes)

Application

Through the LORD’s guidance of David and the internal discord, we see the abundance of God’s grace against the backdrop of sin and its destructive effects. The LORD had appointed David as king of Israel, but “not all the tribes of Israel wanted to recognize David as their monarch” (BBC), so Abner acted in rebellion by making Ish-bosheth king of all Isreal. As a result, the events that follow are rife with enmity, strife, retaliation and death. How great is the capacity of the human heart to reject God’s will and good design, to act in our own accord through selfish motive to exert power and control. The sovereign Lord of all has graciously given us the commands by which we can live in joyful surrender and obedience to Him, but we revolt and are subject to the disastrous consequences of our treason. May this crush the hearts of the saints for our mutinous disposition toward our great God and Lord and fall before Jesus in utter faith and gratitude for His gracious salvation.

Resources