Transcript of Day 122: Abner Is Killed (2026) New

Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story. Today it is day 122. Gosh, well done, you guys!

So good. Huh, we're reading from 2 Samuel chapter 3, 1 Chronicles chapter 3 and 4, 2 chapters of names. It's gonna be great, you're gonna love it, I tell you. And we're also going to be praying Psalm 25. As always, the Bible translation that I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.

I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinyear. You can also subscribe to this podcast in your podcast app by clicking subscribe, and that would make you subscribed, and it'll be great. As I said, today is 100— day 122, and we are reading today from 2 Samuel chapter 3, 1 Chronicles chapter 3 and 4, and praying Psalm 25.

2 Samuel chapter 3: Abner Defects to David. There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David grew stronger and stronger while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon of Ahinoam of Jezreel; and his second, Chiliab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ethream of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. While there was a war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone into my father's concubine?" Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head of Judah? This day I keep showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman! God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.

And Mephibosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. And Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you. And he said, Good, I will make a covenant with you: but one thing I require of you, that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face. Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed at the price of 100 foreskins of the Philistines.

And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, Go, return. And he returned. And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.

Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, "By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies." Abner also spoke to Benjamin, and then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do. When Abner came with 20 men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. Abner is Killed by Joab. Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them.

But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. And when Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace." Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, so that he is gone? You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing." When Joab came out from David's presence, 3 He sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah, but David did not know about it. 4 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

5 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner." May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! And may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, or who lacks bread! So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner. And David followed the bier.

They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. And the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked, you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him. Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day, but David swore, saying, God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down.

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to slay Abner the son of Ner. And the king said to his servants, Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel, and I am this day weak, Though anointed king, these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.

The First Book of Chronicles, Chapter 3. Descendants of David and Solomon. These are the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Abnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess. The second, Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess. The third, Absalom, whose mother was Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur.

The fourth, Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital. The sixth, Ethreham by his wife Eglah. 6. 6 were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for 7 years and 6 months.

7. And he reigned 33 years in Jerusalem. These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimei, Shebab, Nathan, and Solomon. 4 By Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel, then Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. 9 All these were David's sons, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar was their sister.

The descendants of Solomon: Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, Amnon his son, Josiah his son. The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. And the sons of Jeconiah the captive: Shealtiel his son, Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazar, Jechamiah, Hoshamah, and Nebadiah. 4 And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shemiah.

5 And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah: and Shelomith was their sister, and Hashubah, Ochel, Berechiah, Hassadiah, and Jeshub-hased. 5 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah his son, Rephaiah his son, Arnon his son, Obadiah his son, Jeconiah. The sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat. 6.

The sons of Neariah: Eliochanai, Hizkiyaj, and Azrikam. 3. The sons of Elihonai: Hodaviah, Eliasheb, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani. 7. Chapter 4: Descendants of Judah.

The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. Reaiah the son of Shobal was the father of Jehath, and Jehath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites. These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishmah, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazazelponi. And Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah.

These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haah-Hashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ithnan.

Cos was the father of Anub, Zobabah, and the families of Arhachel the son of Harum. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bore him in pain. Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "O that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me." And God granted what he asked. Jalub, the brother of Shuha, was the father of Machir, who was the father of Eshton. Eshton was the father of Betrapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Irnahash.

26 These are the men of Rakah: the sons of Kenaz, Othniel, and Seraiah; the sons of Othniel, Hathath and Meonothai. Meonothai was the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah was the father of Joab the father of Giharashim, so called because they were craftsmen; 27 the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah, Kenaz, The sons of Jahalel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. The sons of Ezra: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jelon. These are the sons of Bithia, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married. And she conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoah.

And his Jewish wife bore Jered, the father of Gedor, Heber, the father of Soko, Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. The sons of the wife of Hodiah the sister of Naham were the fathers of Kailah the Garmite, and Eshtemoah the Makathite. The sons of Shimon: Hamnon, Rainah, Ben-hanan, and Tillon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lakkah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of linenworkers at Bet-ashbia, and Jokim, and the men of Cozibah, and Joash, and Seraph, who ruled in Moab, and returned to Lachem: now the records are ancient.

These were the potters, and inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah: they dwelt there with the king for his work. Descendants of Simeon. The sons of Simeon: Nimuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul. Shelum was his son; Mibsam his son; Mishmah his son. The sons of Mishmah: Hamuel his son; Zakur his son; Shimeah his son.

Shimeah had 16 sons and 6 daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their family multiply like the men of Judah. They dwelt in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marchaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaar-aim. These were the cities until David reigned. And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, 5 cities, along with all their villages which were round about these cities, as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record: Meshobab, Gemlek, Joshah the son of Amaziah, Joel, Jehu the son of Joshibah, son of Zerahiah, son of Asiel, Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jesohiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimimiel, Behanaiah, Zissa the son of Shifi, son of Alon, son of Jediah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah.

These mentioned by name were princes in their families, and their fathers' houses increased greatly. They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, where they found rich, good pasture. And the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful, for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham. These registered by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and destroyed their tents, and the Meunim who were found there, and exterminated them to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. And some of them, 500 men of the Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, having as their leaders Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziah, the sons of Ishi.

And they destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites that had escaped, and they have dwelt there to this day.

Psalm 25. Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance. A Psalm of David. To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

Yes, let none that wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Be mindful of your compassion, O LORD, and of your merciful love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to your mercy remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD.

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right; he teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man that fears the Lord?

Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. He himself shall abide in prosperity, and his children shall possess the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me, and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, And with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my life and deliver me. Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Father in heaven, we give you praise and we thank you. We thank you for the difficulty of these days. Honestly, God, it is difficult to get through these names. And we just have to admit that, yes, they mean something. Yes, they're powerful, they're meaningful, and they're difficult.

And that is worth noting. It's worth noting that, oh gosh, Lord, thank you. Thank you for your word that is rooted in history and rooted in reality, rooted in people's actual stories. And so all of these names is a marker, is all these names is a person, all these names is an untold story. So many of the, the names we have here, Lord, are, are names of people that we don't know much about other than their name and other than the fact that they were critical to you.

They were loved by you. They were known by you, and they were part of your story to redeem the world. So in the difficulty, Lord, we ask that you please give us strength and give us patience so that we can hear the words we need to hear and we can become the people you want us to become. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Oh brother, yeesh. Okay, so I don't know if they were difficult for you. We have a couple more chapters with this and it's going to be fine.

It's going to be fine, my friends. It's going to be fine. Um, but not only we had 1 Chronicles with a bunch of names that are so good. In fact, I truly am saying this. It's not just I'm trying to psych myself up for this and getting in more into the names, but it is a grace, a complete grace to be able to hear, here are the stories of the people that are going to factor in to the rest of the story.

For example, we have the descendants of David and of Solomon. Now, we're gonna— we might— you might not know all of the stories of all these people, but Solomon has a number— or David has a number of sons. Obviously, we talked about Amnon and how this crossover— again, happy God incident, right? The crossover between 2 Samuel chapter 3 and 1 Chronicles chapter 3, because the list of David's children is in 2 Samuel chapter 3 and in 1 Chronicles chapter 3. It is so good because if you struggled with some of those names like Amnon and, you know, Ahinoam and Abigail and Daniel and Absalom and Talmai, all, all of them, these people, these sons of David and one daughter, they're going to talk about Tamar, are going to be very, very important as the story in 2 Samuel continues to unfold.

And then when we get to Solomon, the story of Kings is going to be unfolding, and that's so, so good. And Rehoboam and all those other names. So they might not mean a ton, a ton to you right now, but they mean a ton in the larger scheme of things. In fact, not only we're going to follow this whole line of David and Solomon and Rehoboam and all the rest of them when it comes to the book of Kings, we're also going to find their stories of these guys, the stories of these kings is not necessarily the story of a lot of really, really great kings. And so we're just, praise God for the ability to hear their stories, hear their names more than once.

But when it comes back to 2 Samuel, just one quick note on 2 Samuel chapter 3. What do we have? We have this story, this tragic story really, of how David recognizes that he can enter into an agreement of sorts, an agreement of sorts with Abner. Now Abner was accused by Ish-bosheth, right, Saul's son, for taking one of Saul's concubines as his own. I've read some commentaries and they've indicated that there's not necessarily any reason why Abner, who seems like a pretty upstanding guy, he seems like a pretty solid individual, any reason why that would be the truth, but because Ish-Bosheth would see Abner as a threat that he would have to make up some kind of accusation against him.

Now, that may be the case, might not be the case. Either way, what it led to is Abner then going to David and saying basically, hey, let's make peace. I, I can, I'll be willing to fight for you and make sure that you are the king over all of Israel. David says, "That sounds great," lets him go in peace. And what happens?

Remember, we talked about this yesterday. Ah, violence begets violence. And so Joab finds out that Abner was just there. Remember from the day before, from the chapter before, remember there's three brothers, Abishai, Asahel, and Joab, and Abner had killed Asahel. Now he had killed Asahel in self-defense.

He killed him in battle. It was straightforward, kind of a real thing here. There shouldn't be any desire for revenge. And yet Joab gives into his desire for revenge and he kills Abner, this highly decorated general, this person that many, many people in all of Israel would've known him. He would've been a very, very prominent figure and a respected figure.

Now, what's it look like? It looks like David had invited Abner to his home, and then he called him back, and then Joab kills him. So what David does is genius and just shows again David's character. It's genius because it unites all the people and it shows David's character because it's the right thing to do, where David publicly mourns the death of his enemy. David publicly mourns the death of Abner, and he actually even instructs the murderer, Joab himself, and Abishai his brother.

He instructs them both to wear sackcloth and to tear their garments. Everyone, he says, we're all going to do this, including the guys who murdered Abner. And all the people saw this and they recognized, yeah, David, he's a good leader. He's a good leader because he has this character and he's wise. And there's something so good about this.

As I said, it pleased all the people and everything that David had done, um, it pleased the people because David, again, he showed his— the depth of, of who he is, the kind of leader he was, and the kind of human he was. And that's just such a gift to be able to mourn for one's enemies. Ah, because it would have been wiser for David to have made that enemy a friend, and that's what he wanted to do in the first place anyways. For us, the same kind of thing is true. It is often more beneficial.

It's— we're called to let those enemies become friends, not because we need to trust people who aren't trustworthy, but because to have an open door to people who might be able to come back home, might be able to be reconciled, might be able to be forgiven. And to do that, we need wisdom, right? Because we don't want to be taken for a fool. We can't trust people who aren't trustworthy. And yet Abner here seems like a trustworthy person.

So there are people in our lives who I— in my life maybe— that have hurt, and so I need to be careful. I can't just trust them because they, they hurt people around them, hurt me, so I can't just trust them. But there are others that maybe have hurt me, but I can grow in trust again, and the cycle of violence can maybe end with me in my heart. So we pray for each other so that that cycle of violence ends in our hearts and that Forgiveness can be offered from our hearts and reconciliation can be offered from our hearts. So we need to pray.

We need God's grace to do that. So I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.

God bless.