(a) How did David react to the assassination of Abner?
(b) Indicate two lessons that can be learnt from this incident.
(a) David reactions to the assassination of Abner:
(i) Abner (the son of Ner) was sent to David at Hebron.
(ii) He was to tell him that all Israel and Benjamin had agreed to make him king over the united Israel.
(iii) At the gate, Joab took Abner aside and killed him:
(iv) This was to avenge for the blood of Asahel, his brother.
(v) When David heard it he said, "he and his kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner".
(vi) He remarked that the blood of Abner fall upon the head of Joab and all his father's house.
(vii) David ordered Joab and his people to rent their clothes, gird on sack-cloth and mourn for Abner.
(viii) And king David followed the bier to the grave of Abner questioning whether Abner should die as a fool dies.
(ix) David expressed surprise that Abner's hands were not bound nor the feet fettered.
(x) David mourned for him, refusing to eat.
(xi)All the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day.
(xii) But David vowed not to eat until sunset.
(xiii) All the people took notice of it and were pleased.
(xiv)All Israel understood that day, that it had not been the kings will to slay Abner, the son of Ner.
(xv) The king declared that a prince and a great man had fallen in Israel.
(xvi) Though he was now the announced king over Israel, Abner's death destabilized him.
Lessons:
(i) Abner had the spirit of reconciliation to be emulated.
(ii) Joab's treachery should be condemned because he acted contrary to God's commandment.
(iii) David's humility.
(iv) David's open-mindedness.
(v) David's sense of justice.
(vi) David's fear of God.
(vii) Need to appreciate/acknowledge people's worth.
(viii) Need to forgive enemies.
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