Hebrew Bible and Christian Scriptures

In 2 Samuel 1, I was quite surprised to David’s reaction to Saul’s death when he mourned, wept, and fasted and then even killed the man who he thought ended Saul’s life.  At first, I wondered if his reaction might have been due to the the fact that Saul was his friend’s father or maybe he was upset by Johnathan’s death also, but then I began to see a pattern.  David had similar responses to the deaths of other men who could be considered his enemies.  In 2 Samuel 3, David led his people to mourn and weep over Abner’s death and then David curses Joab for killing Abner.  Again in 2 Samuel 4, David commanded the death of Rechab and Baanah after they killed Ishbaal, son of Saul.  Saul, Abner, and Ishbaal were all men who essentially were standing in David’s way of taking the throne.  Since David had already been anointed to take the the throne by God, one would think that David would have expected events such as these to take place and that he might even welcome them in order to see God’s promise take place.  However, this was not the case.  Did David react in these ways because this was the proper way to act in his culture?  Was he truly mournful? Or was he only trying to cover his own tale and make it clear that he was not involved in their deaths?

I always find it funny that good looking women have the ability to talk men into anything. Abigail is able to persuade David not to kill Nabal. Would David had listened if she had not been good looking? Hmmmm. I find it encouraging that God uses even this to accomplish his will. Either way you look at it I see that God has his will accomplished but uses normative means in which to accomplish it. The comment that is mind-blowing to me is what Abigail says to those who David sent to get her. She says, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servant of my Lord.” So much humility is shown by such a selfless person.