“David sent messengers to say to Ish-Boshet the son of Sha’ul, ‘Give me back my wife Mikhal. I betrothed her to myself for 100 foreskins of the P’lishtim.’  Ish-Boshet sent and took her from her husband Palti’el the son of Layish.  Her husband went with her, crying as he went, and followed her to Bachurim. […]

“Avner immediately sent envoys to David with this message: ‘Who is going to control the land? If you make yourself my ally, I will use my power to bring all Israel over to you.‘ David sent this reply: ‘Very well, I will be your ally — on one condition: you will not come into my […]

There’s an interesting dynamic at play concerning David’s kingship. Anyone with the power to make David king yet failed to act despite knowing God’s will, was guilty of disobedience. On the other hand, David, who also knew the Lord’s plans for him, felt he shouldn’t take drastic steps to make himself King. David trusted that […]

“‘May God bring terrible curses on Avner and worse ones yet if I don’t accomplish what Adonai swore to David — to transfer the kingdom from the house of Sha’ul and set up the throne of David over Isra’el and Y’hudah, from Dan all the way to Be’er-Sheva!’ Ish-Boshet couldn’t answer Avner a word, because […]

“Sha’ul had had a concubine named Ritzpah, the daughter of Ayah; and [Ish-Boshet] challenged Avner: ‘Why did you go and sleep with my father’s concubine?’  These words of Ish-Boshet’s enraged Avner. ‘What am I,’ he shouted, [that you treat me with such contempt]?  A dog’s head in Y’hudah? Till this moment I have shown only […]