Abner
perpetuated the hostility between the camps of Saul and David when he made the
surviving son of Saul the king of Israel. Ish-bosheth, the son, was
a weak man and he became a puppet king whom Abner used and manipulated. As
commander, Abner seemed to have some successes in dealing with the Philistines
and was able to gradually restore Ephraim and Benjamin. Being ambitious and
restless, Abner sought to gain control over Judah as well. But David was
reigning over the people of Judah peacefully in Hebron. He was in no hurry for
the throne of Israel for he knew that in God’s time, he would be king over all
Israel. So he left the timing to God. It is a strategy that we all believers
should adopt. God has His timing in the programs of our lives. Our part is to
keep equipping ourselves while keeping pace with God and His timing.
Due
to Abner’s ambition and the existing hostility between Saul’s and David’s
camps, skirmishes between them were to be expected. While Abner was the
commander of Saul’s army, Joab was David’s. Who was this Joab? He and his two
brothers, Asahel and Abishai, were the sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister. These
three nephews of David served with him in Hebron. While Joab was loyal to
David, we can see that he was an impetuous man lacking self-control.
In
2 Samuel 2:12-18 we get to see one of those skirmishes between the camps
of Saul and David. It took place at the side of a pool in Gibeon some 26 miles
from Hebron where David was ruling. Interestingly, Mahanaim, where
Ish-bosheth was made king, was also about the same distance away from Gibeon.
It was here that Abner went out with Ish-bosheth’s servants to meet Joab and
the servants of David. These two groups met at the pool of
Gibeon. One group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other
side. In verse 15 we saw Abner’s strategy. He wanted each side to be
excited by the merciless sight of needless slaughter. So each side was to send
in some young men to fight each other. Twelve young men from each side went
forward and fought each other. The twenty-four men went for each other’s
jugular. They seized each other by the head and thrust their sword into each
other’s side. The blood that was spilled so enraged both sides that it
escalated into a severe battle. Of course, David’s more sturdy
men beat the men of Abner and they fled. Needless blood was shed that day.
What
lessons can we pick up from such a bloody scene? The contest between Saul's and
David's camp did not serve any purpose. It only increased the rivalry and
tension between Judah and the other tribes of Israel, especially the tribe of Benjamin.
If Joab had just taken a step back the whole hostility would not have escalated
into another level. In a situation like this, Proverbs 17:14 leaves us with a
very good admonition. It says, “The beginning of
strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks
out.” It is always better to back away then to go head-on into a
needless fight. Why? Because the result of any fight is never good for either
side. Paul’s counsel in Romans 12:18 is this, “If
possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
And again in Roman 14:19, he said, “So then let us pursue what makes
for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” For heaven’s sake, live in peace
with all!
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