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11 June 2007
2 Samuel 2 v 23-32
But Joab and Abishai continued chasing Abner. As the sun was going down, they arrived at the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the desert near Gibeon. The men of Benjamin came to Abner, and all stood together at the top of the hill.
Abner shouted to Joab, "Must the sword kill forever? Surely you must know this will only end in sadness! Tell the people to stop chasing their own brothers!"
Then Joab said, "As surely as God lives, if you had not said anything, the people would have chased their brothers until morning." Then Joab blew a trumpet, and his people stopped chasing the Israelites. They did not fight them anymore.
Abner and his men marched all night through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, and after marching all day, arrived at Mahanaim.
After he had stopped chasing Abner, Joab came back and gathered the people together. Asahel and nineteen of David's men were missing. But David's men had killed three hundred sixty Benjaminites who had followed Abner. David's men took Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night. The sun came up as they reached Hebron.
Like with all stories some background information is required before we can get the full picture. The Philistines were at war with the Israelites (1 Samuel 1:31). David had just heard about the death of King Saul and his son, Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:1-16.). He was greatly distressed by their deaths and he wrote a song called "The Bow" (2 Samuel 1:17-27). He then became King of the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-7). Abner took Saul's son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim and made him king of all Israel (2 Samuel 2:8-11). Israel was at war with Judah. Abner and Joab had fought a battle against each other in the Field of Knives (2 Samuel 2:12-17) leading up to the pursuit we are reading today.
Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel. Abner had given Asahel two chances to stop pursuing him, otherwise he knew he would have to kill him (2 Samuel 2:18-23), and kill him he did. Why did Asahel not take Abner's advice? Pride? Would have lost face? Would he be seen as a coward? He had been in battle already; surely he had nothing to prove?
Abner makes a plea with Joab (v 26) lets stop all this killing, enough is enough and Joab agrees. Both parties march back to their respective cities and all is well. Or is it? Something is starting to fester in Joab's heart, but what could it be, revenge?
Sadly we have a knife culture in the many parts of the UK today. Is it any different to Abner's days? News stories often report young lives lost through knife crime. Can you see any similarities in the Bible story of today and the stories you may have heard about regarding knife crime in the UK (and other countries)?
Heavenly Father, Give us wisdom to know when to speak, challenge, or even to be silent about issues affecting our societies. Help us also not to let any unhealthy emotion take root in our hearts so it causes others and us distress. Amen.
Written by Stephen Fox
2 Samuel 2 v 23-32
But Joab and Abishai continued chasing Abner. As the sun was going down, they arrived at the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the desert near Gibeon. The men of Benjamin came to Abner, and all stood together at the top of the hill.
Abner shouted to Joab, "Must the sword kill forever? Surely you must know this will only end in sadness! Tell the people to stop chasing their own brothers!"
Then Joab said, "As surely as God lives, if you had not said anything, the people would have chased their brothers until morning." Then Joab blew a trumpet, and his people stopped chasing the Israelites. They did not fight them anymore.
Abner and his men marched all night through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, and after marching all day, arrived at Mahanaim.
After he had stopped chasing Abner, Joab came back and gathered the people together. Asahel and nineteen of David's men were missing. But David's men had killed three hundred sixty Benjaminites who had followed Abner. David's men took Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night. The sun came up as they reached Hebron.
Like with all stories some background information is required before we can get the full picture. The Philistines were at war with the Israelites (1 Samuel 1:31). David had just heard about the death of King Saul and his son, Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:1-16.). He was greatly distressed by their deaths and he wrote a song called "The Bow" (2 Samuel 1:17-27). He then became King of the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-7). Abner took Saul's son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim and made him king of all Israel (2 Samuel 2:8-11). Israel was at war with Judah. Abner and Joab had fought a battle against each other in the Field of Knives (2 Samuel 2:12-17) leading up to the pursuit we are reading today.
Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel. Abner had given Asahel two chances to stop pursuing him, otherwise he knew he would have to kill him (2 Samuel 2:18-23), and kill him he did. Why did Asahel not take Abner's advice? Pride? Would have lost face? Would he be seen as a coward? He had been in battle already; surely he had nothing to prove?
Abner makes a plea with Joab (v 26) lets stop all this killing, enough is enough and Joab agrees. Both parties march back to their respective cities and all is well. Or is it? Something is starting to fester in Joab's heart, but what could it be, revenge?
Sadly we have a knife culture in the many parts of the UK today. Is it any different to Abner's days? News stories often report young lives lost through knife crime. Can you see any similarities in the Bible story of today and the stories you may have heard about regarding knife crime in the UK (and other countries)?
Heavenly Father, Give us wisdom to know when to speak, challenge, or even to be silent about issues affecting our societies. Help us also not to let any unhealthy emotion take root in our hearts so it causes others and us distress. Amen.
Written by Stephen Fox
