Sermon Tone Analysis

Who is Honourable?

Where can we see David being honourable even as he embarks on his new position as king?

He inquired where he should go () so as to know where to start his reign.

He didn’t go alone:

He took his wives with him () - note they’re mentioned first (hint for the guys);

And his men ().

Men of Judah anointed him king (), David doesn’t parade in and ask where’s the crown?! (Humility)

He honoured the men of Jabesh-Gilead for what they had done in recovering and burying the body of King Saul and his sons ().

He recognised the honour they displayed to their lord ();

Informs them of his anointing as king and hoping that they too would display the same kindness they showed to their master to him ().

Abner

However, Abner doesn’t consult the Lord with his choice and he continues the lineage of Saul by appointing his son Ishbosheth as king.

And this would be a natural choice.

Abner could very easily have justified his decision by saying it was what everybody else did.

Ish-bosheth

I thought King Saul’s sons died in battle?

So his three sons which went to battle with him and who perished were:

Jonathan

Jonathan

Abinadab

Malchishua

Obviously Scripture doesn’t say that all of King Saul’s sons went to battle, but Ishbosheth was held back - possibly as a caution, possibly because Saul hedged his bets with regards to Samuel’s prophecy.

But when we read the listing of King Saul’s sons in we read:

Was Ishbosheth

If we then turn to Chronicles we read the following:

Who is Esh-baal?

Is it Ish-bosheth?

The substitution of bosheth (“shame”) for baal (“lord”) was not uncommon when the term acquired its idolatrous connotation (cf. )

Elwell, W.A. & Comfort, P.W., 2001.

Tyndale Bible dictionary, p.884.

Elwell, W.A. & Comfort, P.W., 2001.

Tyndale Bible dictionary, p.884.

Let’s see if we can connect the dots, let’s first start with a strange recording in Scripture a little further in 2 Samuel, where David is speaking and quoting a previous incident recorded for us in Scripture:

Let’s read this same incident:

This is showing the difference in language even at this time - as seen in where Gideon’s name, Jerubbaal is changed to Jerubbesheth.

Here David is referring to an incident which was previously recorded in

Judges 9:

Judges 9:

And we know by looking at the start of this chapter of who Abimelech was:

So, in Judges we have Abimelech’s father listed as Jerubbaal (Gideon), yet in , Daniel is quoting his name as Jerubbesheth.

Why the difference?

The substitution of bosheth (“shame”) for baal (“lord”) was not uncommon when the term acquired its idolatrous connotation (cf. )

Elwell, W.A. & Comfort, P.W., 2001.

Tyndale Bible dictionary, p.884.

This is showing the difference in language even at this time - as seen in where Gideon’s name, Jerubbaal is changed to Jerubbesheth.

Therefore, Ish-bosheth is the same name as Esh-baal, just as we’ll also soon see of Merribaal, who later becomes known as Mephibosheth - again the baal at the end of his name is changed to bosheth.

It has been conjectured that the three sons of Saul were born from Ahinoam, Saul’s wife:

It then appears later that King Saul had other sons through a concubine, Rizpah:

So altogether King Saul’s 8 children were 6 sons & 2 daughters:

Jonathan

Ishui (died young?)

Abinadab / Ishui

Melchi-shua

Ish-bosheth

Merab (daughter)

Michal (daughter)

Armoni (Rizpah)

Mephibosheth (Rizpah)

It’s also probable that King Saul and his wife didn’t want to change the suffix of their child’s name to “man of shame”.

And therefore, by changing it to “Ishui” it means “he rules” (HIBD).

Could it therefore be likely that Saul purposefully left him behind knowing that he would be the next ruler should he perish in battle?

Why the 5.5 year gap of reigning?

It is assumed that since the Philistines captured the surrounding towns and cities after the battle against King Saul, that Abner and his men needed to restore Israel back to the rightful possessor by fighting for this period of time to reinstate their king.

Also, it is deemed that David patiently waited upon the opportunity to seize upon the throne upon the death of Ishbosheth, and then subsequently the death of Abner, as David was then perceived as being a bloody man, which Shimei echoes:

Cautions:

Seeking employment, seeking promotion, be careful - the beginning of prosperity is a time of peculiar danger!

The strength acquired during seasons of preparation will show itself in continued dependence on the guidance and blessing of God.

God was faithful in preserving David during his time of sojourn in the wilderness and when King Saul was pursuing him, now that David no longer had the threat he still yet trusted on God in direction.