David laments and mourns, for both Jonathan AND Saul. You're a bigger person than me, David. I wouldn't lament over someone who tried to kill me again, and again.....and again.. Something that stood out to me in the lament is that David says of Jonathan: " your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women." Some people might try to put that into a context of some sort of romantic relationship, but I don't think David & Jonathan's relationship was like that. I think David just has a tendency to wax poetic (think of the Psalms, after all....). And they are men. Men seem to have this inherant need for "brotherhood", which is why we have things like motorcycle clubs, VFW, the American Legion, the Lodges, etc, etc.. OK, getting back on track....
OK, now I stated previously that David is the "second" king over Israel. It's actually a little more hairy, though. David is anointed king over the house of Judah. Meanwhile, Abner, commander of Saul's army (who evidently escaped the battle) makes Saul's son Ish-bosheth the king of "all Israel", but the house of Judah "followed David."
So the two opposing sides have a small battle at Gibeon, with David's men victorious. After that, it says that Saul's (or really, Ish-bosheth's) house grew "weaker and weaker" while David's grew "stronger & stronger". David has some sons. His firstborn is Amnon by his wife Ahinoam, then Chileab, by Abigail, the 3rd is Absolom, by his wife Maacah, the 4th - Adonijah by Haggith, the 5th - Shephatiah by Abital, the 6th - Ithream, by Eglah. Like I said before, I don't know why Israel keeps getting involved with the fertility goddess, Ashtaroth....
Abner hooks up with Saul's concubine, and Ish-boshesh confronts Abner about it. Well, Abner must have been exceedingly angry over the whole thing, because he immediately changes course and declares his allegiance to the house of David. David agrees to make a covenant with Abner, but first, requires him to bring that wife Michal to him - the one he paid for in foreskins. She is taken from her husband, who follows along, crying all the way. Abner tells him to get lost, so he does.
Abner goes off to confer with Israel's elders, to smooth out the whole "OK, let's forget Ish-bosheth and make David king over all Israel" thing, which seems to go well. But while Abner is busy with that.....Joab (David's nephew and the commander of his army) tells David that he thinks Abner is two-faced and secretly plotting against David. So, Joab kills Abner. We are told that the real reason is because Joab is still pissed about Abner killing Joab's brother, Asahel, in the battle at Gibeon. David condemns Joab and his house, cursing them forevermore with leprosy and hunger and all sorts of unpleasantries. David and his people mourn Abner.
Two men named Baanah and Rechab go and kill Ish-bosheth, and bring his head to David. David is exasperated by this and he's like, "Why does everyone assume I want persons A,B,C & D murdered? Dag nab it, now I have to kill you!" So he has them killed, and cuts off their hands and feet and hangs them by a pool. (perhaps this is some sort of symbol warning other from following suit!)
Now David is officially anointed king over all Israel, at the age of 30. He takes posession of Jerusalem for Israel. It says that he takes the stronghold of Zion and names it the city of David. (Bethlehem is also called "the city of David" in the New Testament, but is 5 miles south of Jerusalem). So David's reign grows stronger. Israel loves him. God finds favor in him. He has more kids: Shammua, Shobah, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. The Phillistines battle Israel twice, lose both times, and Israel chases them off some more land. David has the Ark of the Covenant brought to Jerusalem. Everybody made merry and had music going and it was quite the celebration. Chapter 6 verse 14 made me sit back and just imagine for awhile: David was wearing a linen ephod (sacred piece of clothing over the chest), and "danced before the Lord with all his might." I can just picture him doing all kinds of sweet moves, his robes bouncing all around, while they carry the Ark up a hill. I bet that was probably one of the best days of David's life. Incidentally, a man named Uzzah who was involved in carrying the Ark, made the mistake of reaching out and grabbing hold of it when one of the carts' oxen stumbled. God struck him dead for his error. (there's been mention in the OT previously that some people were unable to even look at the Ark without dying.)
David's wife, Michal, gets ticked off that David is dancing around other women, which she deems inappropriate, and she confronts him. David says he is justifiable making merry before the Lord, and would she like a piece of cheese with her whine? (so to speak). As a result of her behavior, she remains childless all her days. (whether she was barren or just never went to bed with David again, it doesn't say).
This brings us to the end of chapter 6. I know that I'm going through this very, very slowly, but this is really huge stuff. It occurred to me today that in the books of the law, it seems like - an event would occur, and ten chapters would detail it..... whereas now, every chapter has like 10 very important things going on..... I can't leave them out. 2 Samuel chapter 7 involves the Davidic Covenant, which may be, single-handedly, the most important and VITAL part of the Old Testament. It is God's promise to David to bring the Messiah (Jesus Christ) through David's lineage. As much as I want to "accomplish" reading the Bible and cross that finish line, I am going to take a few days and really study and try to grasp chapter 7. This is really exciting stuff for me, kind of like I'm seeing God's great big huge hand pop up out of the Old Testament pages and point over to Matthew.
And one more scene from Fiddler....sorry, can't help it.... This is a beautiful and very intimate gaze at the Jewish family Sabbath during that era....
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