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A Family Affair
Even though Joab, linked to David’s family (see 1 Chron. 2:13–17) had the responsibility of being in charge of David’s troops, we get a glimpse of his true character for the first time in 2 Samuel 2. Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. Judah readily appointed David as king. Joab’s counterpart in King Saul’s army was Abner, who somehow survived the battle in which Saul and his sons had fallen.
Abner and David had a history. It was Abner who had led Saul’s troops on numerous manhunts for David. Abner was not about to accept as king the man he had been hunting. Accordingly, Abner puts Ishbosheth (vss. 8,9), the fourth son of Saul, who was not in the battle, on the throne of Israel and starts a war against Judah and David. Although Israel was numerically stronger, David’s kingdom went on from strength to strength.
Read 2 Samuel 2:17–23 and summarize what takes place.
During the skirmish, Joab’s younger brother unwisely chases Abner. Abner warns him off repeatedly, but the rash young man won’t hear of it, and Abner kills him in self- defense. Joab never forgets this event.
After a while, Abner realizes that things are going nowhere under Ishbosheth, who is a very weak king. And so he defects to David and offers to bring over the other tribes (2 Sam. 3:1–22). Meanwhile, Joab has been away. On returning home he learns of these new developments, which greatly unsettle him.
How does Joab cope with this change that he did not initiate? 2 Sam. 3:23–27. Contrast what Joab says to David and the reason why Joab ultimately kills Abner. See also 2 Sam. 3:30. How does Joab attempt to portray Abner’s motives? What does this reveal about him?
Perhaps Joab truly believed he was acting in David’s best interest when he killed Abner. This brings out an important point: think about your actions. What are the real reasons for some of the things you do, as opposed to reasons you use to justify them in your own mind? How can you learn to know the difference between the two when they are, indeed, different?
| SUNDAY | November 14 |
Even though Joab, linked to David’s family (see 1 Chron. 2:13–17) had the responsibility of being in charge of David’s troops, we get a glimpse of his true character for the first time in 2 Samuel 2. Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. Judah readily appointed David as king. Joab’s counterpart in King Saul’s army was Abner, who somehow survived the battle in which Saul and his sons had fallen.
Abner and David had a history. It was Abner who had led Saul’s troops on numerous manhunts for David. Abner was not about to accept as king the man he had been hunting. Accordingly, Abner puts Ishbosheth (vss. 8,9), the fourth son of Saul, who was not in the battle, on the throne of Israel and starts a war against Judah and David. Although Israel was numerically stronger, David’s kingdom went on from strength to strength.
Read 2 Samuel 2:17–23 and summarize what takes place.
During the skirmish, Joab’s younger brother unwisely chases Abner. Abner warns him off repeatedly, but the rash young man won’t hear of it, and Abner kills him in self- defense. Joab never forgets this event.
After a while, Abner realizes that things are going nowhere under Ishbosheth, who is a very weak king. And so he defects to David and offers to bring over the other tribes (2 Sam. 3:1–22). Meanwhile, Joab has been away. On returning home he learns of these new developments, which greatly unsettle him.
How does Joab cope with this change that he did not initiate? 2 Sam. 3:23–27. Contrast what Joab says to David and the reason why Joab ultimately kills Abner. See also 2 Sam. 3:30. How does Joab attempt to portray Abner’s motives? What does this reveal about him?
Perhaps Joab truly believed he was acting in David’s best interest when he killed Abner. This brings out an important point: think about your actions. What are the real reasons for some of the things you do, as opposed to reasons you use to justify them in your own mind? How can you learn to know the difference between the two when they are, indeed, different?
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