The Best of Friends Fight - The Books of 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles

In this Bible Story, we witness the divided kingdom of Israel. Israel names Ish-bosheth king, while Judah crowns David. Abner, general of Israel’s army, killed Joab’s brother. Joab spares Israel’s army, however it is not the end of the conflict. This story is inspired by 2 Samuel 2 & 1 Chronicles 2:16, 12:22. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.

Today's Bible verse is 2 Samuel 2:17 from the King James Version.

Episode 96: Israel, now in a state of chaos, needed a new king. But a civil split was between them and as Judah welcomed David’s return and made him king in Hebron, Abner made Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth king over the remaining tribes of Israel. In an attempt to take Judah, he also made war against Joab, the nephew of David and commander of his army. But he was outmatched. And though he killed one of Joab’s brothers, Joab still gave his army mercy when he called off the battle.

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Producer: Ben Gammon

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Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith

Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray. And there was a very sore battle
that day, and Abner was beaten, and the men of
Israel before the servants of David second Samuel two seventeen. Lord,
I know you value relationships, and because I desire to
walk in your footsteps, relationships will be a focal point

(00:23):
for my life. In moments of strife and contention with friends,
my heart will seek to do what's right rather than
to be right. Mercy and kindness will be the companions
of my words. Love and understanding will be the chaperones
of my heart. For I now realize that two are

(00:45):
better than one. I realize that I can accomplish more
united with like minded relationships than by myself. Pride will
not cloud my judgment. Anger will not drive my emotion.
For I decree and declare that I am not run
by emotions but by your spirit God. Like Joe ab

(01:09):
in today's reading, I will stop future relationship casualties because
I realize we are all your children, God, and that
we are on the same team. With this truth, I
say in Jesus's name, Amen, Listening to these daily prayers

(01:29):
strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord
by listening to today's Bible in a Year, brought to
you by Bible in a Year dot.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Com The best of Friends fight. In our last story,
we learned about the fall of Saul and Jonathan. Their
deaths signified in ending to David's exile, and now a

(02:02):
new era of Israel can emerge to the glory of God.
Now we learn about David's messy ascension to the throne
as he is crowned King of Judah while Ishbosheth, the
son of Saul, is made King of Israel. David is
forced to rule within a divided nation, and his trusted commander,
Joe ab displays an incredible act of mercy as inspired

(02:25):
by the Book of Second Samuel.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. In yesterday's story, we heard
about the deaths of Saul and three of his sons,
including Jonathan, on the battlefield. Their death fulfilled what God
had told Saul would happen, and it meant that David
would no longer live in exile. He would no longer

(02:50):
be fearful of Saul. He could return to Israel and
begin his kingship to lead God's people. But we'll learn
today that Israel is now a nation with Saul's son
Ishboshev thrust under the throne of Israel and David ruling
in Judah. We'll also hear how Joab, one of the
mighty men who had served alongside of David, will be

(03:12):
chosen as commander of Judas's army, and like David did
so many times with Saul, Joab will display incredible mercy
towards his enemies. So let's listen to today's word.

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Israel was in ruin. War and turmoil with the Philistines
had scarred the Hebrew nation, and peace seemed like a
distant memory. Their time under King Saul was marked by
constant battle and captivity. The Philistines now occupied many territories
within Israel and Judah. Now that Saul and Jonathan had

(03:45):
been slain in battle, it was time for Israel to
have their new king. However, Israel had become divided as
a nation. Civil discourses and disagreements over territory had led
to a split among the country. The nation of Israel
had split into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, both in

(04:05):
desperate need of a king to lead them still hidden
away in Ziklag, David sat with the Lord in silence.
It had been years since he called Israel his home.
Now that Saul was no longer pursuing him, he was
free to return. But how would they receive him? Would
they sing his praises as before? Would they cast him

(04:27):
out for dwelling with the Philistines. David looked at the
stars and asked himself these questions. He drew a deep
breath and prayed, Lord, should I go back to the
land of Judah. God met him in the quiet, as
he used to in the wilderness. He strengthened David's heart
and sent him forth to return to his homeland. That

(04:49):
next morning, David ventured forth with his family and mighty
men towards Hebron in the territory of Judah. As Joshua
had once led the Hebrews out of the wilderness and
into the promised land, David led his band of misfit
warriors and their families back to the land of Judah.
It was midday when David and his people walked through

(05:10):
the gates of Judah. David's eyes widened as he saw
a parade of people awaiting him. Women were dancing in
the streets, and music was being played in every alley
of the city. Men, women and children cheered as David
walked through the streets. Never had David felt such a
rush of love and a fiction. They led him to

(05:32):
the great courts and anointed him their king before the
entire nation. David crumbled before them and the Lord, with
tears streaming down his cheeks and a smile beaming from
his face. David was finally crowned king. Meanwhile, Abner, the
commander of Sal's army, took ash Boschef, the illegitimate son

(05:55):
of Saul, and thrust him onto the throne of Israel.
Abner ruled through him and used his position to leverage
rule over Israel. David would not seize the mantle of
king by force. He had waited for years in the
wilderness in Ziklag. He trusted that God would hand him
the entire kingdom in due time. For now, David ruled

(06:17):
Judah as well and helped restore them to stability and safety.
One of his mighty men, Joab, was elected as his commander. Together,
Joab and David drove out the enemies of Judah. Philistines
were driven out and peace was slowly being won day
by day. However, conflict was still lurking within the country.

(06:39):
As Abner plotted his takeover, Abner rose up to meet
Joab at the pool of Gibeon. The two commanders stood
on opposite ends of the water, with their armies behind them.
Abner's brows furrowed as he looked at Joab. Abner was
a decorated soldier. He was grisly and battle hardened. He

(06:59):
was right hand and to the king, and used to
governing a nation on his own. Joab was the nephew
of David Younger and used to being on the run.
He looked at Abner, knowing full well he was stronger
and able to crush him. Yet he did not want to.
Being with David for so long had taught him mercy.
He saw killing as a last resort. Abner shouted to Joab, saying,

(07:23):
send twelve of your best men forward, and they shall
fight between us. Joab paused and looked back at his men.
They nodded, understanding that the unity of Israel was at stake.
Joab looked back at Abner and said, let them rise.
So twelve men from each army came forth, Each team

(07:44):
rushed into battle beside the water. They were equals blow
for blow. Each swipe of their sword was blocked, and
every attempt at a stab was thwarted. The twenty four
men were so evenly matched that each of them fell
by each other's swords. Each man grabbed the other head
and thrust their blades into the other, causing both to fall.

(08:04):
Abner watched as his men fell, so he sent his
army after Joabs. The battle was fierce. Israel's army, led
by Abner, was organized, tactful, and tested. Judah's army, led
by Joab was raw, scrappy, and trained by years in
the wilderness with David. Abner and the men of Israel
were succumbing to the weight of David's men. Though their

(08:28):
armor and swords were more polished, they lacked the direction
and heart that David imparted. Joab's brother Abashai and Ashahel
were fighting alongside him. Together they chopped through the enemy,
gliding with precision and ferocity. Asha Hell was swift and
was well known for his speed. While the battle was raging,

(08:49):
aha Hell honed in on Abner and began to pursue him.
Frightened at the sight of him, Abner fled the battle
towards the canyons. Abner knew aha Hell and did not
want to fight him. Abner shouted, do not follow me,
Asha Hell, I do not want to kill you. Yet
asha Hell kept on running towards him. Abner was a
hardened man, but he did not want to kill asha

(09:11):
Hell needlessly. As asha Hell leaped forward to strike down Abner,
he lifted up his spear and thrust it straight through
his stomach. Aha Hell fell to the ground and choked
on his blood. Joeab and Abishai stood still as they
watched their brother bleed below Abner. Abishell was first to yell.

(09:31):
He picked up his spear and ran towards Abner. Joab
pursued behind him. As the sun was setting over the canyon,
Joe Ab and Abashell worked their way through the sea
of men between them and Abner. One by one, they
fell as Abner was backed into a corner with many
of his men behind him. The armies of Judah advanced,
and Joe Ab and Abishell were closer to taking Abner's life.

(09:55):
It was growing dark and the battle became sloppy and gory.
Abner ye to Joab shall we do this forever? How
long will we devour one another? Are we not brothers
of Israel? Joabs stopped his men. The army of Judah
had backed Israel into the hills. It was almost over.
Judah looked back at his men and said, if you

(10:17):
had not spoken, my men would have continued to kill
you throughout the night. Joab paused again. He took the
trumpet off his belt and blew it for the entire
valley the year. The battle was over, and Joab showed
Abner's army mercy. Joab's army had killed three hundred and
sixty of Israel's men, while only nineteen of Judah's men

(10:39):
had fallen. Joab picked up his brother's body and walked
away from the battle. This first act of mercy would
make a ripple in the entire country of Israel. Joab
spared the lives of hundreds of men. Mercy gives birth
to peace.

Speaker 3 (10:59):
As we began in today's story, Israel is in trouble.
The Philistines have occupied large amounts of territory in Israel
and Judah King Saul is dead along with three of
his sons, and the nation is deeply divided. Split into
two kingdoms, Judah and Israel. They both desperately wanted a king,
but more than anything, they needed a godly ruler to

(11:20):
lead them. David, still at Ziklag, got word that Saul
and his sons had died, and after confirming that the
news was true, David tore his clothes and mourned the
death of his loved ones. But when the crying was over,
David turned his attention towards his home to Judah. He
sought God's counsel, asking if he should return to Judah,

(11:41):
and God answered telling him to go. Seeking God's will
has been and will continue to be a marker in
David's life. Though he would fail and fall at times,
David's heart always returns to the Lord to seek his wisdom,
his guidance, his governance, and so oh with God's blessing,

(12:01):
David gathers his people and crosses back into Judah, his home.
The men of Judah quickly came to David's side and
anointed him king of Judah. But to the north, in
the kingdom of Israel, Abner, the commander of Saul's army,
was scheming for power. He took the illegitimate son of
saul Ishbosheth and placed him on the throne of Israel.

(12:24):
There would be no peace or unity in the divided nation.
David would one day rule a unified Israel, but he
would not do so by force. So for the moment,
he ruled Judah, and ruled well, and took back more
and more territory from the Philistines, driving them out of
the land. At his side was a man named Joab,

(12:45):
who had fought with David for many years and witnessed
David's courage in battle but also his mercy. Meanwhile, Abner
was still scheming for power, and he would resort to
force in violence in order to get his way. He
met Joab at the Pool of Gibbeon, ready to go
to battle. Abner challenged joe Ab to send his twelve
best men to fight against Abner's twelve, and so he did,

(13:08):
and so the two armies clashed in battle. David's army,
led by joe Ebb, was much more powerful, and Abner's
men were defeated. Abner fled in fear, but Joeab's brother
Ashiel pursued him. Ashuel was fast, but Abner was a
better fighter, and he didn't want to kill the young man.
He knew this would anger Joeb and would surely be

(13:30):
his death. He urged AshEL to relent, but he didn't.
So Abner killed Ashiel with his spirit, and just as
he had feared, Joe Ebb and his other brother, Abishai
gave chase. They closed in on Abner, ready to strike
him down. Abner cried out to joeb appealing to their
brotherhood as men of Israel. Would they continue to kill

(13:52):
each other until none were left. Joe ab took mercy
on his enemy, who was one of his own countrymen.
And in Second Samuel two twenty eight we read this,
So Joe ab blew the trumpet, and all the men
stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.
Just like David, when give it a chance to wipe

(14:12):
out his enemy, one who had done him great wrong,
Joeeb chose the path of mercy. Rather than take many lives,
he spared them. It was an act that would resonate
throughout both kingdoms and begin to pave the way for
unity and peace under the rule of King David. Let
us pray, Dear God, thank you for today's story and

(14:33):
how it shows us the path of mercy and of
your justice. Help us not to be quick to anger
or to seek revenge, but always always in you, Lord,
to extend grace and mercy to those who have wronged
us in Jesus's name. Amen, thank you for listening to
today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham

(14:54):
from Dallas, Texas. Please download Theprey dot com app and
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