03. David’s house and Saul’s house ( 2Samuel 3:1 – 21)

David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Read 2Samuel 3:1 - 21 


Q1. (      ) was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of (       ) was becoming increasingly weaker. (         ) sons were born to David in Hebron.

David, Saul, six 

The birth of sons signifies that David’s house is being established, while Ish-Bosheth, the remaining son of Saul, is gradually losing influence among Saul’s remaining followers. 

Remember, Saul earnestly desired to establish his house and dynasty. 

Verse 1 serves as a summary of chapter 3.




Q2. What incident caused Abner to decide to hand over the kingdom to David? 

Abner slept with Saul’s concubine, and Ish-Bosheth rebuked him for it. 

In ancient culture, sleeping with the wife (or concubine) of a deceased king implied a claim to his kingdom. Abner’s actions could be seen as a desire to take over the throne, and perhaps that was indeed his intention. This is why Ish-Bosheth was particularly sensitive about the issue. 

This shows that Abner had become influential in the house of Saul. 



Q3. What was David’s condition for accepting Abner’s proposal? (v.12–16) 

To bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, who had been David’s wife. 

David was re-establishing his link to the previous dynasty, bolstering his political legitimacy over all Israel, not just Judah. It sent a public message: David is not just a southern (Judahite) king, but the legitimate heir to Saul’s legacy. 

Later, because God made Michal barren, God showed that He did not want her—a descendant of Saul—to share in the blessings promised to David’s house. 




Q4. Find verses in which Abner used God’s name to get what he wanted. 

Verses 9, 10, and 18. 


Note Abner’s words: although they appeared to seek God’s will, they were actually a cover for his own ambitions. 

“Make an agreement with me” (v.12). Abner likely requested the position of army commander in return for bringing all the Israelite tribes under David’s reign. 

We see that David welcomed Abner and his men (v.20) and sent them away in peace (v.21). This could have seemed like a good solution for David to unify the nation, if Abner succeeded in turning the loyalty of the other tribes. 

However, God did not want it done this way. As we will see in the following passage, Abner is killed. This shows that the Lord did not want David’s kingdom to be established through betrayal. God did not give credit to Abner. And the Lord made Ish-Bosheth to be assassinated, as a judgment on Saul’s house for resisting God's will to make David king.

The incident of Abner’s betrayal of Saul’s house stands in contrast to the birth of sons in David’s house.   







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