Who can help smiling at the relation of David's tearing his clothes off his back, and bursting into a sorrowful lamentation for the death of a man, to whose destruction he had so freely offered to lend assistance but just before?
Upon this alteration of affairs, David, asking counsel of the Lord, was advised to leave Ziklag, and go to Hebron, one of the cities of Judah; whither he and all his men repaired.***
* 2 Sam. 10.
** Ver. 15.
*** 2 Sam. ii. 1.
There he got his partizans to anoint him king over Judah; at the same time that Abner, Saul's general, had, at Mahanaim, made Ishbosheth,
Saul's son, king over Israel.* It may be remarked here, that David did not seem to claim in right of the sacred unction bestowed on him long since by Samuel. He realized his title indeed, as soon as he could make it out, by the law of force: but if his divine title to the Hebrew crown was universally known, and if, as has been urged, Ish-bosheth had none at all, how came David's title not to be universally acknowledged? Did only one tribe believe in it? Yet David, with the divine grant, was obliged to obtain the sovereignty by arms and intrigue! just for all the world like the wicked, who attain their desires by exactly the same means, to all external appearance. Upon this division of the kingdom, a battle was fought at the pool of Gibeon, between the army of Ish-bosheth, commanded by general Abner, and that of David, headed by Joab: victory declared in favour of the latter, with small loss on either side, except that Joab lost his brother Ahasel, who was killed by Abner's own hand.**
We must here be content with general hints; being only informed that "there was long war between the house of Saul and the house, of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker."*** What very much conduced to this, was an ill-timed quarrel between king Ish-bosheth and general Abner, concerning one of Saul's concubines, with whom Abner had been too familiar:**** and his resentment of the notice taken of this amour, occasioned a treaty to be negociated between him and David, whom Abner engaged to establish over all Israel.(5) David accepted his offer, but demanded, as a preliminary, the restoration of his first wife Michal;(6) who, during the disputes between him and Saul; had been espoused to another.(7)
* 2 Sam. ii. 4, 8.
** Ver. 17, 23.
*** 2 Sam. iii. 1.
**** 2 Sam. iii. 7.
(5) Ver. 12.
(6) Ver. 13.
(7) 1 Sam. xxv. 44.
This demand he likewise made openly, by an express message to Ishbosheth, who kindly complied with it: the poor man who had since married her, following her weeping all the way.**
It is impossible to avoid noting David's amorous disposition here; which could not be content with six wives, who bare him children*** (no mention of those who did not), but was yet so warm, that it took the lead even in his most important concerns.—We will not pretend to assign the cause of that sad disorder, the symptoms of which are described in the 38th Psalm.
After Abner had traitorously endeavoured to advance the interest of David****; he had an interview with him;(5) which, quickly after he returned, coming to the ears of Joab; he, who does not appear to have been acquainted with the secret spring which actuated Abner's zeal for the cause of David; represented to him the imprudence of admitting a man among them, who to all appearance came only as a spy. Unknown to David, he sent for him back again, and privately stabbed him, in revenge for the loss of his brother Asahel.(6) This was a most base piece of treachery, worthy the servant of such a master: to assassinate a man in cool blood, in revenge for an action which was committed in the heat of battle, in self-defence, and even after fair warning given.