David Made King Over Judah

INTRODUCTION: God begins to fulfill His prophecy concerning David. But even now, David’s right to the entire kingdom is contested. We see why David is called a “man of war” in Scripture. He fights for years before he becomes king and for most of his reign. Of course, much of our life is spent in warfare too. We need to be sure that we are fighting the Lord’s battles in His strength.

1. DAVID GOES UP TO HEBRON (2 Samuel 2:1-4a)
1. David Enquires of the Lord (2 Samuel 2:1).
1. David asks the Lord about going into Judah.
2. The Lord tells David to go into Hebron.
1. He had sent a gift to Hebron (1 Samuel 30:31).
2. Hebron was his capital until the kingdom was united (2 Samuel 2:11).
3. Absalom is one of six sons born to David in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-5).
4. Absalom rebels against David from Hebron (2 Samuel 15:7-10).
2. David Establishes His Capital (2 Samuel 2:2-4a).
1. He takes his two wives (2 Samuel 2:2).
2. He takes his men and their families (2 Samuel 2:3).
3. The men of Judah anoint David as king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4a).
2. DAVID BLESSES THE MEN OF JABESH-GILEAD (2 Samuel 2:4b-7)
1. David Hears of the Kindness of Jabesh-gilead (2 Samuel 2:4b).
1. The men of Judah tell of the good deed of the men of Jabesh-gilead.
2. They were the ones that buried King Saul (1 Samuel 31:11-13).
2. David Sends Them a Blessing (2 Samuel 2:5-7).
1. He acknowledges their kindness (2 Samuel 2:5).
2. He desires the Lord to bless them (2 Samuel 2:6a).
3. He promises to repay them himself (2 Samuel 2:6b).
4. He encourages them to be strengthened (2 Samuel 2:7a).
5. He informs them of his anointing by Judah (2 Samuel 2:7b).
3. ABNER CONTROLS ISRAEL THROUGH ISH-BOSHETH (2 Samuel 2:8-11)
1. Abner Inserts a New King (2 Samuel 2:8).
1. Abner was the captain of Sauls host (1 Samuel 15:50).
1. He was an uncle to Saul and a brother to Sauls father, Kish (1 Samuel 14:51; 1 Chronicles 8:33).
2. He is the real power in Israel at this time.
2. He takes Ish-bosheth to Mahanaim to establish him as king.
3. Note: Ish-bosheth is also called Eshbaal (1 Chronicles 9:39). He was the youngest of Sauls sons and the only one not killed in battle by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:2).
4. NOTE: Two details in this passage show the great weakness of this kingdom:
1. Abner was not able to establish a capital in the heart of Israel, but had to go to the eastern bank of the Jordan River.
2. Ish-bosheth only reigned for two years (2 Samuel 2:10) before the kingdom was turned over to David. Yet, David reigned over seven years in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:11) before the fall of Ish-bosheth. Evidently, the northern tribes were so broken up by their defeat at the hands of the Philistines that it took five years for Abner to get enough power to set up a kingdom.
2. Ish-bosheth Rules over Israel (2 Samuel 2:9-10).
1. King over all Israel (2 Samuel 2:9)
2. Begins to reign at the age of forty (2 Samuel 2:10)
3. Reigns for two years over Israel (2 Samuel 2:10)
3. David Reigns over the House of Judah (2 Samuel 2:11).
1. From the city of Hebron for 7 ½ years
2. Note: This shows the beginning of a difference between Judah and the rest of Israel.
4. THE MEN OF ABNER AND JOAB FIGHT (2 Samuel 2:12-17)
1. An Encounter at the Pool of Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:12-13)
1. Abner and his men go out from Mahanaim to Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:12).
2. Joab and his men come to the other side of the pool of Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:13).
2. A Contest between Chosen Men (2 Samuel 2:14-16)
1. Abner suggests the contest (2 Samuel 2:14).
2. Both sides choose twelve men (2 Samuel 2:15).
3. All the men on both sides are killed (2 Samuel 2:16).
3. A Conflict between the Armies (2 Samuel 2:17)
1. Called a very sore battle
2. Abner and his men beaten
5. ABNER KILLS PURSUING ASAHEL (2 Samuel 2:18-23)
1. The Sons of Zeruiah (2 Samuel 2:18)
1. Joab
2. Abishai
3. Asahel He was as light of foot as a wild roe.
2. Abner Kills Asahel (2 Samuel 2:19-23).
1. Asahel pursues Abner (2 Samuel 2:19).
2. Abner asks Asahel to pursue elsewhere (2 Samuel 2:20-22).
3. Abner kills Asahel (2 Samuel 2:23).
6. JOAB CALLS OFF THE PURSUIT OF ISRAEL (2 Samuel 2:24-32)
1. The Pursuit Continues (2 Samuel 2:24-26).
1. Joab and Abishai continue to lead the pursuit (2 Samuel 2:24).
2. The Benjamites make a stand (2 Samuel 2:25-26).
2. The Battle Ceases (2 Samuel 2:27-29).
1. Joab calls the pursuit off (2 Samuel 2:27-28).
2. Abner and his men return home (2 Samuel 2:29).
3. The Casualties Counted (2 Samuel 2:30-31)
1. Twenty men of Judah killed (2 Samuel 2:30)
2. 360 men of Israel killed (2 Samuel 2:31)
4. Asahel Is Buried (2 Samuel 2:32).
1. They bury him in Bethlehem.
2. Joab travels by night to arrive at Hebron at break of day.

CONCLUSION: Though Saul is dead, the path to the throne is not an easy road for David. Abner chooses his own king and fights to keep the kingdom in the lineage of Saul.