Greed & Ambition = Disaster

 2 Samuel 2:12-32

It is important to understand some of the geography and the distance between these two cities.  Gibeon is in the territory of Benjamin, which is about 23 miles north of Hebron where David is the King of Judah.  Ish-bosheth is the King of Israel and he and his commander Abner are encroaching on Judah’s territory, and Joab meets them with his army at the pool of Gibeon.  It becomes apparent that they are not going to get into Judah without a fight, this was Abner’s idea, and it backfired.  We have the account in verse 14, “And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side, so they fell down together.”

It seems this was not the plan and with 24 deaths this exploded into a major battle with David’s men defeated Abner’s men.  But Asahel was younger than Abner, and it is stated that he was very fast on his feet, and he saw the opportunity to kill the leader of Israel’s army, then he began to chase after Abner.  It is clear that Abner did not want to harm the young man and told him to stop chasing him and go for an easier target, one of the younger men with less experience, but he kept coming.  As he was about to overtake them Abner struck him in the stomach and his spear came out his back.  It is clear that Abner had no desire to harm him but had no choice but to do so.

Now let us continue the story in verses 24-32, “But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? 

How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning; they came to Mahanaim. Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David's servants nineteen men besides Asahel. But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner's men. And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice