WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.617 Day 100 and 98 00:00:05.013 --> 00:00:10.163 ish bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he became king, and 00:00:10.163 --> 00:00:12.473 he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. 00:00:13.143 --> 00:00:15.763 Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. 00:00:16.773 --> 00:00:20.743 David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah 00:00:21.023 --> 00:00:22.753 for seven and a half years. 00:00:24.433 --> 00:00:29.243 One day, Abner led Ish bosheth's troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 00:00:29.833 --> 00:00:34.583 About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David's troops out and 00:00:34.583 --> 00:00:36.263 met them at the pool of Gibeon. 00:00:37.053 --> 00:00:41.103 The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool. 00:00:42.033 --> 00:00:46.163 Then Abner suggested to Joab, Let's have a few of our warriors fight 00:00:46.163 --> 00:00:47.773 hand to hand here in front of us. 00:00:48.653 --> 00:00:50.393 All right, Joab agreed. 00:00:51.113 --> 00:00:53.793 So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side. 00:00:54.223 --> 00:00:58.513 Twelve men of Benjamin, representing Ish bosheth, son of Saul, and 00:00:58.513 --> 00:00:59.893 twelve representing David. 00:01:00.733 --> 00:01:04.673 Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the 00:01:04.693 --> 00:01:06.923 other's side, so that all of them died. 00:01:07.583 --> 00:01:12.273 So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords. 00:01:13.303 --> 00:01:17.483 A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were 00:01:17.483 --> 00:01:19.513 defeated by the forces of David. 00:01:20.483 --> 00:01:25.763 Joab, Abishai, and Azahel, the three sons of Zeruiah, were 00:01:25.783 --> 00:01:27.553 among David's forces that day. 00:01:28.263 --> 00:01:31.953 Azahel could run like a gazelle, and he began chasing Abner. 00:01:32.488 --> 00:01:35.898 He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. 00:01:36.668 --> 00:01:41.308 When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, Is that you, Azahel? 00:01:41.878 --> 00:01:43.458 Yes, it is, he replied. 00:01:44.098 --> 00:01:46.728 Go fight someone else, Abner warned. 00:01:47.238 --> 00:01:50.188 Take on one of the younger men and strip him of his weapons. 00:01:50.828 --> 00:01:53.418 But Azahel kept right on chasing Abner. 00:01:54.578 --> 00:01:57.668 Again, Abner shouted to him, Get away from here. 00:01:57.808 --> 00:01:59.298 I don't want to kill you. 00:01:59.728 --> 00:02:02.268 How could I ever face your brother, Joab, again? 00:02:03.088 --> 00:02:07.498 But Azahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his 00:02:07.498 --> 00:02:11.768 spear through Azahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. 00:02:12.508 --> 00:02:16.578 He stumbled to the ground and died there, and everyone who came by 00:02:16.578 --> 00:02:21.398 that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Azahel lying there. 00:02:22.348 --> 00:02:27.198 When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. 00:02:27.838 --> 00:02:31.328 The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of 00:02:31.338 --> 00:02:34.978 Amma, near Gaia, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. 00:02:35.818 --> 00:02:39.338 Abner's troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the 00:02:39.338 --> 00:02:41.058 top of the hill to take a stand. 00:02:41.938 --> 00:02:46.128 Abner shouted down to Joab, Must we always be killing each other? 00:02:46.538 --> 00:02:49.318 Don't you realize that bitterness is the only result? 00:02:49.788 --> 00:02:53.428 When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers? 00:02:54.418 --> 00:02:58.898 Then Joab said, God only knows what would have happened if you hadn't spoken. 00:02:59.418 --> 00:03:01.928 For we would have chased you all night if necessary. 00:03:02.708 --> 00:03:07.308 So Joab blew the ram's horn and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel. 00:03:08.368 --> 00:03:12.128 All that night, Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. 00:03:12.888 --> 00:03:16.858 They crossed the Jordan River traveling all through the morning and didn't 00:03:16.858 --> 00:03:18.998 stop until they arrived at Mahanaim. 00:03:19.708 --> 00:03:22.708 Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. 00:03:23.448 --> 00:03:27.578 When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only nineteen men 00:03:27.578 --> 00:03:29.858 were missing, in addition to Azahel. 00:03:30.608 --> 00:03:33.708 But three hundred and sixty of Abner's men had been killed, 00:03:34.168 --> 00:03:35.668 all from the tribe of Benjamin. 00:03:36.538 --> 00:03:40.058 Joab and his men took Azahel's body to Bethlehem. 00:03:40.323 --> 00:03:42.423 And buried him there in his father's tomb. 00:03:43.133 --> 00:03:46.613 Then they traveled all night and reached Hebrew at Daybreak. 00:03:47.513 --> 00:03:50.423 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal 00:03:50.423 --> 00:03:52.703 to soul and those loyal to David. 00:03:53.403 --> 00:03:56.503 As time passed, David became stronger and stronger. 00:03:57.388 --> 00:04:00.688 While Saul's dynasty became weaker and weaker. 00:04:02.238 --> 00:04:04.858 These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron. 00:04:05.598 --> 00:04:09.758 The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. 00:04:10.628 --> 00:04:15.828 The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from Carmel. 00:04:16.658 --> 00:04:20.568 The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter 00:04:20.568 --> 00:04:22.478 of Talmai, king of Geshur. 00:04:23.328 --> 00:04:24.838 The fourth was Adonijah. 00:04:25.343 --> 00:04:26.543 whose mother was Haggith. 00:04:27.453 --> 00:04:30.783 The fifth was Shephetiah, whose mother was Abital. 00:04:31.553 --> 00:04:35.573 The sixth was Ithrium, whose mother was Egla, David's wife. 00:04:36.403 --> 00:04:39.413 These sons were all born to David, in Hebron. 00:04:40.903 --> 00:04:45.543 As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a 00:04:45.543 --> 00:04:48.033 powerful leader among those loyal to Saul. 00:04:48.753 --> 00:04:53.103 One day, Ish bosheth, Saul's son, accused Abner of sleeping with 00:04:53.103 --> 00:04:54.463 one of his father's concubines. 00:04:55.018 --> 00:04:57.578 A woman named Rizpah, daughter of Eah. 00:04:58.768 --> 00:04:59.988 Abner was furious. 00:05:00.258 --> 00:05:03.308 Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this? 00:05:03.518 --> 00:05:04.178 He shouted. 00:05:04.708 --> 00:05:10.018 After all I have done for your father Saul and his family and friends by not handing 00:05:10.018 --> 00:05:12.648 you over to David, is this my reward? 00:05:12.888 --> 00:05:15.028 That you find fault with me about this woman? 00:05:15.798 --> 00:05:20.878 May God strike me and even kill me if I don't do everything I can to help David 00:05:20.888 --> 00:05:22.588 get what the Lord has promised him. 00:05:23.273 --> 00:05:26.373 I'm going to take Saul's kingdom and give it to David. 00:05:26.893 --> 00:05:30.573 I will establish the throne of David over Israel, as well as 00:05:30.573 --> 00:05:35.223 Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. 00:05:36.188 --> 00:05:39.198 Ish bosheth didn't dare say another word, because he was 00:05:39.198 --> 00:05:40.818 afraid of what Abner might do. 00:05:41.758 --> 00:05:45.058 Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, Doesn't the 00:05:45.058 --> 00:05:46.828 entire land belong to you? 00:05:47.328 --> 00:05:51.778 Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you. 00:05:52.558 --> 00:05:53.208 All right. 00:05:53.478 --> 00:05:58.548 David replied, But I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife 00:05:58.548 --> 00:06:00.638 Michael, Saul's daughter, when you come. 00:06:01.818 --> 00:06:05.258 David then sent this message to Ish bosheth, Saul's son. 00:06:05.788 --> 00:06:09.138 Give me back my wife Michael, for I bought her with the lives 00:06:09.138 --> 00:06:10.578 of one hundred Philistines. 00:06:11.483 --> 00:06:16.163 So Ish bosheth took Michael away from her husband, Paltai, son of Laish. 00:06:16.823 --> 00:06:22.093 Paltai followed along behind her, as far as Behurim, weeping as he went. 00:06:22.763 --> 00:06:25.163 Then Abner told him, Go back home. 00:06:25.793 --> 00:06:27.093 So Paltai returned. 00:06:28.013 --> 00:06:30.963 Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. 00:06:31.613 --> 00:06:36.033 For some time now, he told them, you have wanted to make David your king. 00:06:36.668 --> 00:06:41.698 Now is the time, for the Lord has said, I have chosen David to save my people 00:06:41.698 --> 00:06:45.788 Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies. 00:06:46.478 --> 00:06:48.648 Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. 00:06:49.458 --> 00:06:53.158 Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and 00:06:53.168 --> 00:06:55.058 Benjamin had agreed to support him. 00:06:56.038 --> 00:07:00.328 When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained 00:07:00.328 --> 00:07:01.608 them with a great feast. 00:07:02.098 --> 00:07:06.188 Then Abner said to David, Let me go and call an assembly of all 00:07:06.208 --> 00:07:08.368 Israel to support my lord the king. 00:07:08.918 --> 00:07:12.758 They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule 00:07:12.758 --> 00:07:14.668 over everything your heart desires. 00:07:15.373 --> 00:07:17.823 So David sent Abner safely on his way. 00:07:19.013 --> 00:07:23.943 But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of 00:07:23.943 --> 00:07:25.953 David's troops returned from a raid. 00:07:26.253 --> 00:07:27.763 Bringing much plunder with them. 00:07:28.603 --> 00:07:32.733 When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the 00:07:32.733 --> 00:07:35.283 king and had been sent away in safety. 00:07:36.443 --> 00:07:39.533 Joab rushed to the king and demanded, What have you done? 00:07:39.893 --> 00:07:42.223 What do you mean by letting Abner get away? 00:07:42.563 --> 00:07:45.613 You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find 00:07:45.613 --> 00:07:46.813 out everything you're doing. 00:07:47.558 --> 00:07:51.138 Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with 00:07:51.138 --> 00:07:52.978 Abner, asking him to return. 00:07:53.658 --> 00:07:57.118 They found him at the well of Syrah and brought him back, though 00:07:57.118 --> 00:07:58.588 David knew nothing about it. 00:07:59.448 --> 00:08:03.898 When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway 00:08:03.918 --> 00:08:05.558 as if to speak with him privately. 00:08:06.288 --> 00:08:10.618 But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge 00:08:10.628 --> 00:08:12.398 for killing his brother Azahel. 00:08:13.463 --> 00:08:17.163 When David heard about it, he declared, I vow by the Lord that I 00:08:17.163 --> 00:08:21.133 and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. 00:08:21.873 --> 00:08:24.253 Joab and his family are the guilty ones. 00:08:24.913 --> 00:08:29.813 May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open 00:08:29.813 --> 00:08:35.583 sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food. 00:08:35.593 --> 00:08:39.013 So Joab and his brother Abishai. 00:08:39.273 --> 00:08:42.553 Killed Abner, because Abner had killed their brother 00:08:42.573 --> 00:08:44.843 Asahel at the Battle of Gibeon. 00:08:45.993 --> 00:08:49.913 Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, Tear 00:08:49.913 --> 00:08:52.133 your clothes and put on burlap. 00:08:52.693 --> 00:08:54.233 Mourn for Abner. 00:08:55.153 --> 00:08:58.523 And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. 00:08:59.373 --> 00:09:04.823 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. 00:09:05.663 --> 00:09:08.263 Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner. 00:09:09.213 --> 00:09:11.633 Should Abner have died as fools die? 00:09:12.178 --> 00:09:13.658 Your hands were not bound. 00:09:13.918 --> 00:09:15.608 Your feet were not chained. 00:09:16.198 --> 00:09:17.688 No, you were murdered. 00:09:17.928 --> 00:09:19.788 The victim of a wicked plot. 00:09:21.028 --> 00:09:23.088 All the people wept again for Abner. 00:09:23.603 --> 00:09:26.873 David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and 00:09:26.873 --> 00:09:28.613 now everyone begged him to eat. 00:09:29.393 --> 00:09:33.903 But David had made a vow, saying, May God strike me and even kill me 00:09:33.923 --> 00:09:35.903 if I eat anything before sundown. 00:09:36.873 --> 00:09:38.743 This pleased the people very much. 00:09:38.953 --> 00:09:41.383 In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 00:09:42.098 --> 00:09:46.598 So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not 00:09:46.598 --> 00:09:48.368 responsible for Abner's murder. 00:09:48.978 --> 00:09:52.898 Then King David said to his officials, Don't you realize that a great 00:09:52.898 --> 00:09:54.988 commander has fallen today in Israel? 00:09:55.638 --> 00:10:02.008 And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah, Joab and 00:10:02.008 --> 00:10:04.068 Abishai, are too strong for me to control. 00:10:04.618 --> 00:10:08.308 So, may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds. 00:10:09.788 --> 00:10:14.088 When Ish bosheth, Saul's son, heard about Abner's death at Hebron, 00:10:14.528 --> 00:10:18.878 he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear. 00:10:19.798 --> 00:10:24.288 Now there were two brothers, Baana and Rechab, who were captains of 00:10:24.308 --> 00:10:25.978 Ish bosheth's raiding parties. 00:10:26.598 --> 00:10:30.868 They were sons of Rimen, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, who lived in Beoroth. 00:10:31.653 --> 00:10:35.943 The town of Beoroth is now part of Benjamin's territory because the original 00:10:35.943 --> 00:10:40.413 people of Beoroth fled to Gittayim, where they still live as foreigners. 00:10:41.323 --> 00:10:46.263 Saul's son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. 00:10:46.713 --> 00:10:50.513 He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and 00:10:50.513 --> 00:10:52.193 Jonathan had been killed in battle. 00:10:52.843 --> 00:10:57.263 When the child's nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled, but as 00:10:57.263 --> 00:10:59.073 she hurried away, she dropped him. 00:10:59.513 --> 00:11:00.693 And he became crippled. 00:11:01.793 --> 00:11:06.813 One day Rechab and Bayanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beoroth, went 00:11:06.813 --> 00:11:11.133 to Ishbosheth's house around noon as he was taking his midday rest. 00:11:11.778 --> 00:11:16.278 The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. 00:11:16.938 --> 00:11:19.608 So Rechab and Bayanah slipped past her. 00:11:20.438 --> 00:11:24.058 They went into the house and found Ish bosheth sleeping on his bed. 00:11:24.738 --> 00:11:27.668 They struck and killed him and cut off his head. 00:11:28.418 --> 00:11:31.588 Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the 00:11:31.588 --> 00:11:33.108 Jordan Valley through the night. 00:11:33.788 --> 00:11:38.068 When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ish bosheth's head to David. 00:11:38.538 --> 00:11:39.028 Look! 00:11:39.388 --> 00:11:40.688 they exclaimed to the king. 00:11:41.068 --> 00:11:42.848 Here is the head of Ish bosheth. 00:11:43.043 --> 00:11:45.413 The son of your enemy Saul, who tried to kill you. 00:11:45.983 --> 00:11:51.063 Today the Lord has given my Lord the King revenge on Saul and his entire family. 00:11:52.123 --> 00:11:56.403 But David said to Recav and Baanah, The Lord, who saves me 00:11:56.403 --> 00:11:58.973 from all my enemies, is my witness. 00:11:59.628 --> 00:12:04.218 Someone once told me, Saul is dead, thinking he was bringing me good news. 00:12:04.808 --> 00:12:07.358 But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. 00:12:07.868 --> 00:12:10.278 That's the reward I gave him for his news. 00:12:11.018 --> 00:12:15.538 How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man 00:12:15.558 --> 00:12:18.098 in his own house and on his own bed? 00:12:18.808 --> 00:12:21.258 Shouldn't I hold you responsible for his blood? 00:12:21.868 --> 00:12:23.008 Rid the earth of you. 00:12:24.128 --> 00:12:27.638 So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. 00:12:28.348 --> 00:12:33.118 They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. 00:12:34.038 --> 00:12:38.708 Then they took Seth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb in Hebron. 00:12:40.258 --> 00:12:44.278 Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, 00:12:44.608 --> 00:12:46.118 we are your own flesh and blood. 00:12:47.013 --> 00:12:50.673 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who 00:12:50.673 --> 00:12:52.563 really led the forces of Israel. 00:12:53.143 --> 00:12:56.733 And the Lord told you, you will be the shepherd of my people Israel. 00:12:56.893 --> 00:12:58.633 You will be Israel's leader. 00:12:59.693 --> 00:13:03.423 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord 00:13:03.513 --> 00:13:05.213 with all the elders of Israel. 00:13:05.923 --> 00:13:08.413 And they anointed him king of Israel. 00:13:10.333 --> 00:13:13.183 This concludes today's Immerse Reading Experience. 00:13:13.323 --> 00:13:14.503 Thank you for joining us.