Meditate on it

Joab has continually confounded me during my sojourning in Samuel and Chronicles. Here are some facts: *He was the son of Zeruiah, a sister of David.  So, Joab was David's Nephew *Joab has been with David since the cave of Adullam when 400 men and his family come to support him. *He had two brothers, Abashai and Asahel. *He was a brave commander, not afraid to fight and seize the moment.  2 Samuel 10: 9-14 *Joab was from Judah.  Abner, Ishbosheth, (and Saul) were from the tribe of Benjamin, representing Israel.

Deffinbaugh brings up some interesting background on Abner, commander of Israel while Saul is living and after his death: *Abner's father was probably Ner, the brother of Kish (who was Saul's father). This would intensify the loyalty Abner had toward Saul. *Abner was there when David slew Goliath. He didn't step up to the plate then. *As David was a captain of a thousand in Saul's army of which Abner was the commander. Abner was surely familiar with David then too. *The second time David could have taken Saul's life, he stole Saul's water jug and spear. After retreating, he taunted Abner and asked him why he wasn't defending Saul as he should be. "As we put all of these elements together, we see that Abner is guilty for failing to protect his king, and thus worthy of death. His failure is divinely caused (by God putting all of them to sleep), thus making Saul vulnerable to Abishai, who wants to kill him but is prevented from doing so by David. David

2 Samuel, Chapter 2 On the Situation After Saul Died and Before David Assumes Kingship:  This was a decisive and important move for it immediately alienated him from the Philistines with whom he had taken refuge and made an alliance; it signified the quasi-independence of Judah from Israel, an attitude which would find complete expression at the division of the kingdom after Solomon’s death (1Ki_12:16); and it asserted David’s reign as being in rivalry with that of Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, who succeeded his father in the North. -BKC On Hebron Unto Hebron - The metropolis of the tribe of Judah, one of the richest regions in Judea. The mountains of Hebron were famed for fruits, herbage, and honey; and many parts were well adapted for vines, olives, and different kinds of grain, abounding in springs of excellent water, as the most accurate travelers have asserted. -Adam Clarke Hebron was well suited for the temporary capital of David’s kingdom, being situated in a strong pos

The Partial Obedience of Saul 1 Samuel 15 Saul is told to strike the Amalekites.  He musters Israel to fight, conquers them, but makes the mistake of keeping what is worthwhile: 1Sa 15:9  But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. In some odd way, this reminds me of Cain and Abel.  If the sacrifice is worthless in the giver's eyes, then it becomes an insult to the Lord instead of a pleasure.  What good is it to destroy only the "despised and worthless"? In 1 Samuel 15:11, we are given insight into the Lord's thoughts on Saul directly: 1Sa 15:11  "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night. Samuel and the Lord seem more