The second chapter of 2 Samuel begins a new season Anointed Me King Over Them, in David’s life. Saul is gone, yet David does not rush ahead according to his own plans. Instead, he first seeks God’s direction. While one tribe anoints David as king, another follows Saul’s son, creating division within Israel. Through it all, God continues unfolding His covenant, reminding us that His promises are fulfilled in His timing—not ours
Obedience • God’s Covenant • Judgment • Grace • Faith • Redemption Plan • Jesus Christ
📖 2 Samuel 2:1–3 (NIV)
“2 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.
The Lord said, “Go up.”
David asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
“2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.”
📖 2 Samuel 2:4–12 (NIV)
“4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.”
“When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
“8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.”
“10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.”
“12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.”
Rather than assuming it was time to take the throne, David asked, “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” The Lord answered, “Go up…to Hebron.”
David obeyed immediately, bringing his family and followers to Hebron. There the men of Judah anointed him king over Judah, fulfilling another step in God’s promise made years earlier through Samuel.
When David learned that the men of Jabesh Gilead had courageously buried Saul, he did not condemn them for honoring the former king. Instead, he blessed them for their loyalty and prayed that the Lord would show them kindness and faithfulness.
Meanwhile, Abner, commander of Saul’s army, crowned Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, as king over the remaining tribes of Israel. Instead of uniting the nation under God’s chosen leader, political loyalty created division.
The conflict soon escalated into battle at Gibeon. What began as a contest between selected warriors quickly became a fierce civil war. During the fighting Asahel relentlessly pursued Abner despite repeated warnings to stop. Eventually Abner was forced to defend himself, killing Asahel.
The battle finally ended only after both commanders recognized that continued fighting would bring greater bitterness among fellow Israelites.
Asahel was carried home and buried in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem.
📖 2 Samuel 2:13–18 (NIV)
“13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.”
“14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”
“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.
“15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.[a]”
“17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.”
“18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.”
Although he already knew he had been anointed years before, he still sought God’s timing.
Obedience means asking God before taking the next step.
Faith trusts His direction even when His promises seem obvious.
David teaches us that success begins by listening before moving.
📖 2 Samuel 2:19–24 (NIV)
“19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“It is,” he answered.
“21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.”
“22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”
“23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.”
“24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. “
The men of Jabesh Gilead had risked their lives to recover Saul’s body, and David rewarded their faithfulness rather than criticizing their loyalty.
Grace sees honorable actions even among those who once stood on the opposite side.
Godly leadership values mercy over revenge.
📖 2 Samuel 2:25–32 (NIV)
“25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.”
“26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”
“27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”
“28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.”
“29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours[b] and came to Mahanaim.”
“30 Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.”
Yet much of Israel followed another king.
Abner’s decision prolonged conflict that God never intended.
Personal ambition and political loyalty often create division where God desires unity.
The battle between fellow Israelites reminds us that disobedience always carries painful consequences.
Victory against one another is never as valuable as unity under God’s will.
Although Israel was divided, God’s covenant never changed.
David did not seize the throne through force.
God continued opening each door at the proper time.
Human opposition cannot cancel divine promises.
When God establishes His purpose, no earthly obstacle can prevent its fulfillment.
This chapter teaches believers that:
Obedience begins by seeking God’s direction.
God’s timing is always wiser than human impatience.
Grace honors faithfulness, even in difficult circumstances.
Pride and division bring unnecessary conflict.
Leadership requires humility before authority.
God’s covenant remains secure despite human disagreements.
David continued trusting God’s promises while allowing God to establish his kingdom step by step.
David was anointed king over Judah before eventually reigning over all Israel.
Jesus Christ came first to His own people before establishing His eternal kingdom over every nation.
David sought the Father’s direction before acting.
Jesus perfectly obeyed the will of His Father in every decision.
David’s kingdom began through obedience.
Christ’s kingdom was established through perfect obedience, His sacrifice on the cross, and His victorious resurrection.
The temporary divisions of Israel point forward to the day when Jesus Christ will unite all who believe under one eternal King
