Alrighty, let’s get our bearings on where we’re at. Yesterday, we talked about the name of Saul’s last remaining son Ishboshesh. Ishboshesh means “man of shame.” So we know there’s no way this can be his real name. However, in the Book of Kings, Ishbosheth is later referred to as Eshba’al. This was likely his […]

“Avner the son of Ner, commander of Sha’ul’s army, had taken Ish-Boshet the son of Sha’ul, brought him over to Machanayim…”-2 Samuel 2:8 Verse 8 shifts over from David’s southern headquarters in Hebron to the government headquarters of the northern tribal alliance. At this very moment, Saul’s top military commander, Avner, was the real power […]

“‘Be strong, and be brave. Sha’ul your lord is dead, but the house of Y’hudah have anointed me king over them.’” -2 Samuel 2:7 In verse 7, David tells the men of Jabesh to “be strong and be brave”? Why would he do that? How are these words connected to David’s offer of repayment and […]

“So David sent messengers to the men of Yavesh-Gil‘ad with this message: ‘May you be blessed by Adonai, because you showed this kindness to your lord, Sha’ul, and buried him.  Now may Adonai show kindness and truth to you; and I too will show you favor because you have done this.  Be strong, and be […]

“Then the men of Y’hudah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Y’hudah. They informed David that the men of Yavesh-Gil‘ad were the ones who had buried Sha’ul.  So David sent messengers to the men of Yavesh-Gil‘ad with this message: ‘May you be blessed by Adonai, because you showed this kindness […]