2 Samuel 2:8-11: Abner Sets Up Ishbosheth As King Over Israel
‘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.”
- 2 Samuel 2:8-11 (KJV)
“Abner the son of Ner:” Abner was Saul's cousin as we read in The First Book of Samuel:
“And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.”
- 1 Samuel 14:50 (KJV)
Abner was the commander of Saul's armies for many years and he first met David when David was a young man, as we also see in The First Book of Samuel:
“And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is. And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.”
- 1 Samuel 17:55-57 (KJV)
David once challenged Abner when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but did not. David pointed out that Abner failed to protect his king.
“Ishbosheth Saul’s son:” Saul had three sons who died with him in battle as we also read in The First Book of Samuel:
“So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.”
- 1 Samuel 31:6 (KJV)
There is no previous mention of Ishbosheth among the sons of Saul, so it is possible that he was an illegitimate son or the son of a concubine.
We shouldn't forget that David was also a son of Saul by marriage. David married Michal, the daughter of Saul, which we also see in The First Book of Samuel:
“And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.”
- 1 Samuel 18:17 (KJV)
“And made him king:” Abner made Ishbosheth king, probably so he could be the real power behind the throne of a weak king.
“And reigned two years:” For two years David allowed Ishbosheth to reign over most of Israel. These two years show remarkable patience, longsuffering, and trust in God on David's part. Ishbosheth was not the Lord's anointed like Saul; David seemed to have every right to crush this man who stood in the way of his calling. Yet out of trust in the LORD and respect for Saul's memory, David waited.
Why would many of the tribes want Ishbosheth instead of David? Since the Philistines had overrun many of the other tribes, they were even more hesitant to come out-and-out for David. "We'll just make the Philistines mad" they thought. In the same way, to come out and out for the Son of David you have to be ready for the disapproval of the Philistines.
“Seven years and six months:” This describes the period of time David had his headquarters in Hebron. For the first two years of this time he ruled over Judah alone and Ishbosheth (propped up by Abner) ruled the rest of Israel.
David would not force his reign on anyone, and neither will the Son of David. He will battle against pretenders to the throne, but He will not force His reign on you, yet.
God bless!
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