character followed the murdered man to his burying, pronounced over him an appropriate elegy, and

publicly announced his intention to fast, in token of personal mourning. From the remark added in the

sacred text (ver. 37), it seems that such proofs of sincerity were requisite to counter-balance the suspicions

otherwise excited by such an instance of treachery and deception in high places. To his own immediate

surroundings - his "servants" (vers. 38, 39) - David spoke more unreservedly, lamenting the circumstances

which still made him comparatively powerless in face of such reckless chiefs as the sons of Zeruiah.

But, on the other hand, increasing public confidence rewarded David's integrity of purpose. It was needed, if

high-handed crime was to be suppressed in the land. Another glaring instance of the public demoralization

consequent on Saul's long misrule soon occurred. The death of Abner had naturally the most discouraging

effect, not only upon Ish-bosheth, but upon all his adherents. No one was now left of sufficient prominence

and influence to carry out the peaceable revolution which Abner had planned. The present weak

government could not long be maintained; and if Ish-bosheth died, the only representative of Saul's line left

was a crippled child, Mephi-bosheth ("the exterminator of shame," or "of Baal"  253 ), the son of Jonathan,

whose deformity had been caused by the nurse letting him fall when snatching him up for hasty flight on

receiving tidings of the disastrous day at Jezreel.

Not even the most ardent partisan could have wished to see on the throne of Israel a child thus permanently

incapacitated. But few could have been prepared for the tragedy which was so soon to put an end to all

It seems that two of Ish-bosheth's "captains of bands," prompted, no doubt, by the hope of rich reward, h ad

in the most deliberate and treacherous manner planned the murder of Ish-bosheth. They were brothers, from

Beeroth, on the western boundary of Benjamin, but included in its territory (Joshua 18:25). Hence they were

of the same tribe with Saul, which, of course, aggravated their crime. For some unexplained reason the

Beerothites had fled en masse to Gittaim - perhaps, as has been suggested, on the occasion of Saul's

slaughter of the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1, 2). This, however, can scarcely be regarded as the motive of their

Probably on pretense of superintending the receipt of what was necessary for the provisioning of their men,

they entered the royal residence at the time when Ish-bosheth was taking the customary Eastern midday

rest, made their way into his bed-chamber, stabbed him in his sleep in the abdomen, and cut off his head, to

carry it to David as gory evidence of their deed.255

The reception which they met was such as might have been expected. To the daring appeal of those

interested murderers that they had been the instruments of Jehovah's vengeance upon Saul's wrongs to

David, the king gave no further reply than to point to what had hitherto been the faith and experience of his

heart and the motto of his life: "Jehovah liveth, Who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity!" It needed

not man's help, least of all the aid of crime. Never - not even in his darkest hour - had he either desponded,

doubted, or sought to right himself. His strength, as his confidence, had lain in realizing Jehovah as the

living God and his all-sufficient Savior. No other deliverance did he either need or seek. But as for this crime

- had not his conduct to the lying messenger at Ziklag sufficiently shown his abhorrence of such deeds?

How much more in regard to a murder so foul as this! Swift, sure, and signally public punishment was the

only possible reply in such a case.

And thus at last, not by his own act, but through circumstances over which he had had no control, - allowed

by Him Who gives full liberty to each man, though He overrules even the darkest deeds of the wicked for

the evolving of good - David was left undisputed claimant to the throne of Israel. Faith, patience, and

integrity were vindicated; the Divine promises to David had come true in the course of natural events - and

all this was better far than even if Saul had voluntarily resigned his place, or Abner succeeded in his plans.