Ish-bosheth—Forgotten King of Israel

When Saul became king he made his uncle Abner commander in chief of his army (1 Sam. 14:50). Abner was thus, by the ties of blood and of office, strongly attached to the house of Saul. He had been with Saul in the pursuit of David, and was not now willing that the man he had so long hunted should succeed to the kingdom over which Saul had reigned.

Abner never forgot the rebuke David gave him for sleeping on guard (1 Sam. 26:7–16). He was proud, vengeful, and ambitious, determined to have his own way rather than to allow David to rule as the anointed of the Lord.” It was his aim to install Saul’s son Ish-bosheth as king. Ish-bosheth’s three older brothers died with Saul on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:2), leaving him heir to Saul’s throne. “Ishbosheth was but a weak and incompetent representative of the house of Saul, while David was pre-eminently qualified to bear the responsibilities of the kingdom.” “God selected David, a humble shepherd, to rule his people. He . . . distinguished himself by his boldness and unwavering trust in God. He was remarkable for his fidelity and reverence. His firmness, humility, love of justice, and decision of character, qualified him to carry out the high purposes of God . . . and to rule them as a generous and wise monarch.” Abner knew the Lord had chosen David to be the next king of Israel. This made little difference.

Saul’s hatred of David had become Abner’s own, and he could not release the loathing that drove him to destroy the son of Jesse.

Abner would rather tear the kingdom apart than accept David as king.

In fighting David, Abner lost sight of the fact he was fighting God’s anointed.

This was a battle he could not win. Yet war seemed inevitable.

Human emotions and personal agendas can cloud judgment (Proverbs 14:12).