So Saul, the first king of Israel, had been killed (I Samuel 31:4, II Samuel 1:9-10). These two reports of how that happened differ, however. Perhaps the second version was in fact a lie created by the soldier reporting to David, hoping it would gain him some favorable reward; if so, it didn’t work, as that man was killed for having raised his hand against the Lord’s anointed (II Samuel 1:14-16).

Then we read of the Battle of Gibeon, where two dozen young men get themselves killed in a ritualistic fashion as an interesting way to start the battle (2:12-16). Many more men were killed in the battle itself, of course. One of the heroes from the army of Judah, Asahel, pursued Abner, one of the champions of the army of Israel, and got himself killed (2:19-23). Asahel’s brothers Joab and Abishai continued to pursue Abner and his men, who set up a final defensive position on top of a hill. Abner called down to Joab from the hilltop “Is the sword to keep devouring forever?” (2:26). This haunting question got to Joab, who called off the battle and ended the cycle of vengeance – for a little while.

But that didn’t last. Abner soon turned aside from his loyalty to the house of Saul (3:6-11) and offered his allegiance to David (3:12). David welcomed him, and sent Abner to use his influence to bring all of Israel over to David’s side (3:20-21). But this displeased Joab, who wanted Abner to die for killing Joab’s brother Asahel; he complained bitterly to David about this (3:24-25). Then Joab sent a messenger to bring Abner back, and under pretext of private conversation, stabbed him in the stomach and killed him (3:26-27).

David lamented greatly at the loss of Abner (3:32-34), and responded to the violence of Joab and Abishai by wishing a curse upon their family (3:28-29). Yet David refrained from taking direct vengeance, recognizing that it is for the Lord to pay back the wicked (3:39).

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Help us, Lord! We are so quick to hate, and the end is bitterness; it seems that the swords we wield will indeed keep devouring forever. Teach us to understand, with David, that we need for life and death to be in your hands, and not in ours.