We’re told that Joab slaughtered Avner at the city gate. There’s some interesting symbolism here we’d be remiss to overlook. In the ancient Middle East, the city gate often doubled as an outdoor courtroom where the elders tried cases and decisions were handed down. So, in Joab’s mind, this justified the revenge he took on […]

“Yo’av went to the king and said, ‘What have you done? Here, Avner came to you, and you sent him away, and now he’s gone! Why?  You know Avner the son of Ner — he came only to deceive you, to learn what campaigns you’re planning and to find out everything you’re doing!‘”-2 Samuel 3:24-25 […]

“Just then David’s men and Yo’av returned from a raid, bringing a lot of plunder with them. But Avner was not with David in Hevron, because he had sent him off under safe conduct.”-2 Samuel 3:22 When we last left off, Avner was rubbing shoulders with the leaders of the northern tribes to get them […]

Last week, we learned that Avner, the military leader who held the real power behind King Ishbosheth, created a situation to remove Ishbosheth from the throne and hand the northern kingdom to David. How did he do this? By sleeping with Rizpah, a woman from Ishibosheth’s harem of wives he had inherited from his father. […]

“Avner also spoke with the people of Binyamin.  Then Avner went to Hevron and reported to David everything that had been agreed to by Isra’el and the house of Binyamin.”-2 Samuel 3:19 One of the biggest hurdles Avner had to overcome in getting his political ducks in a row was the Tribe of Benjamin. Why? […]