Day 122: Abner is Killed

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 3, 1 Chronicles 3-4, and Psalm 25.

I. 2 Samuel 3 tells that while the civil war continues, David's house was steadily growing stronger, while the late Saul's house was weakening and declining. Saul's son Ish-bosheth accuses Abner, the man who had made him king over Israel, of sleeping with his father's concubine. That greatly offended Abner, who defected to David. He negotiates with David to unite Israel under him as king, persuading elders and the tribe of Benjamin that it was time to do so. David demands the return of his wife Michal, which oddly enough, Ish-bosheth complies with. Rather strange that he'd do this for his rival, which also benefited the man he accused of betrayal. Meanwhile, Joab returns and kills Abner in revenge for his brother's death. David publicly condemns Joab's actions and curses his house. Then he publicly mourns Abner and leaves judgment for the murder to God, since David isn't yet strong enough to punish him.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, has some good commentary on this:

Because of his character, David is a good and wise leader. We are called to forgive our enemies. We need wisdom in our relationships with people who have hurt us and others. We can grow in trust and pray that the cycle of violence ends in our hearts so that we can forgive and be reconciled. (p. 6)

II. 1 Chronicles 3 gives us more genealogy, the royal line of David, from his sons through the kings of Judah and into the post-exilic period.

In the next chapter, the genealogy continues. Listed are the descendants of Judah and Simeon, with a special emphasis on God's blessing, faithful labor, and territorial expansion.

I understand that these genealogies have importance, but reading through them can be monotonous.

III. Psalm 25 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A lament psalm. The speaker, in a state of distress, asks for the Lord's deliverance, guidance, and forgiveness. The nature of his trouble is unspecified, except that he faces enemies who are treacherous and filled with hatred. God is invoked in the hope that he will intervene and set matters right. Literally, the psalm is an acrostic, which means that each poetic line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. (p. 850)

That's it for today!