“Ish-Boshet the son of Sha’ul was forty years old when he began to rule over Isra’el, and he ruled for two years. But the house of Y’hudah followed David.  David was king in Hevron over the house of Y’hudah for seven years and six months.”-2 Samuel 2:10-11 I think we might have a chronology problem […]

“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, and made him king over Gil‘ad, the Ashuri, Yizre‘el, Efrayim, Binyamin and all Israel.”-2 Samuel 2:8-9 So we’re told that Ishbosheth became king over Gilead, the Asherites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of Israel. […]

Yesterday, I shared some rabbinical reasoning on why Avner made Ishboshesh king when he knew Israel’s throne was already reserved for David. The ancient Hebrew sages say that two kings had to come from Jacob’s loins based on the following verse in the Book of Genesis: “And God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; […]

Have you ever heard of the Breishis Rabbah? It’s an ancient Jewish commentary that dives into the Book of Genesis. It’s attributed to Rabbi Gennadius and contains a collection of homilies, interpretations, and stories that expand on the biblical text. Well, here’s the thing. This commentary states that Avner did NOT deny God’s decision to […]

“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, and made him king over Gil‘ad, the Ashuri, Yizre‘el, Efrayim, Binyamin and all Isra’el.”-2 Samuel 2:8-9 Verses 8 and 9 tell us that Avner decided to move Ishbosheth from the northern part of Canaan […]