提要
掃羅之死對大衛而言也是一個重要的時刻，他必須決定下一步路。大衛很小心。他不願憑己意行，在採取行動之前先詢問上帝的意思。上帝給大衛明確的答覆，於是大衛就帶著他的人馬移往希伯崙居住。希伯崙是戰略要鎮，在猶大地南部，距耶路撒冷以南約卅二公里處。上帝為大衛開路，讓他終能回到「耶和華的產業」上居住（撒上26：19）。
大衛雖然為掃羅之死感到難過，但他一定也很高興自己能結束流亡生涯，離開非利士人的境地，自由的居住在他的猶大同胞中間。無疑的，大衛在曠野流浪期間一定曾保護過許多猶大族人，也曾將他從亞瑪力人奪得的戰利品分送給猶大人為禮（如撒上25：21；30：26）。這些都是很有智慧的政治舉動，使大衛早已贏得了猶大人心及他們的支持。他們承認大衛的王權是上帝所授的。先前撒母耳已經祕密的膏大衛，代表上帝對他的委任（撒上16：13），但現在猶大人公開的膏大衛，承認大衛是猶大家的王（2：4）。
大衛上任後的第一項正式外交舉動是嘉許基列雅比人的勇氣和仁慈，因他們尋回掃羅的屍體，又為掃羅舉行隆重的葬禮。大衛在他捎給基列雅比人的信息中（2：5~7；撒上31：12~13），間接的請求他們支持，欲試圖使以色列國統一起來，大衛也首次公開宣稱自己是掃羅合法的繼承人。掃羅和他的繼承人，長子約拿單，都已承認大衛。將作以色列國的王（撒上24：20；23：17），不過，到那時為止，大衛尚未得著所有以色列人的支持。或許有許多色列人提防大衛，因為大衛曾經住在殺死掃羅王的非利士人中。
掃羅的元帥，也是他的堂兄弟，押尼珥一定知道大衛將作以色列的下一任國王，但押尼珥卻抵擋大衛。如果掃羅家仍居王室，當然對押尼珥有利。因此，在以色列戰敗後，當以色列又恢復了足夠的力量和秩序（我們不知詳細的年代表，但大約是四年以後），押尼珥就推掃羅的兒子伊施波設為王。掃羅在基比亞的首都一定已被摧毀，那地也被非利士人所奪，所以押尼珥就被迫在約但河以東為伊施波設另尋一個首都，瑪哈念。不過，伊施波設的寶座只坐了兩年就宣告失敗。既非上帝所立定，事情怎麼可能成功呢？
效忠大衛的人（主要是猶大支派）和效忠掃羅的人（主要是便雅憫人）之間有很深的敵意。他們似乎打算在基遍（耶路撒冷西北方八公里處）討論這個問題。後來，對立的雙方安排一場決鬥，結果卻演變成慘烈的廝殺（2：15~17）。押尼珥是先啟戰端的人（2：14），由於掃羅陣營明顯的落敗，他也不得不向後逃脫。
大衛的元帥，約押的弟弟，飛毛腿亞撒黑追趕經驗老到的戰士押尼珥。押尼珥並不想殺亞撒黑，因為他怕和約押結下宿怨。但亞撒黑一直不肯放棄追趕，押尼珥便將他殺了。押尼珥了解兄弟相殘的嚴重後果，就勸告約押停止追逐，約押也智慧的聽從了他的建言（2：26~28）。
|
Overview
The death of Saul marked an important time of decision for David. Because he was careful that nothing be done of his own will, he first inquired of the Lord before making a move. God gave David a definite answer; he and his men were to move to Hebron, a strategically located town in the southern part of Judah's inheritance, about 32 kilometers south of Jerusalem. God had opened the way for David to finally return and live in "the inheritance of the Lord" (1 Samuel 26:19).
Though David was grieved by the death of Saul, he must have been happy that his days as a fugitive were now over, and he could finally leave Philistine territory and live freely among his friends in Judah. He had no doubt given many of them protection during his wilderness encampments, and he had sent them gifts from the spoil of the Amalekites (e.g. 1 Samuel 25:21; 30:26). These were wise political moves to gain their support. They recognized David's kingship as being God-ordained. He had previously been anointed secretly by Samuel, signifying his divine commission (1 Samuel 16:13), but here they anointed him in public recognition of his kingship over the house of Judah(2:4).
The first official diplomatic step David took as king was to commend the people of Jabesh Gilead for their bravery and kindness in recovering the body of Saul and giving him an honourable burial (2:5-7; 1 Samuel 31:12-13). In his message to them, he was indirectly asking for their support in an attempt to bring unity to the nation, and for the first time David openly claimed to be Saul's legitimate successor. Saul himself and Jonathan, his eldest son and natural successor, had both acknowledged that David would be king (1 Samuel 24:20; 23:17), yet David did not have the total support of all Israel at this time, perhaps many were wary of him, since he had been dwelling among the Philistines who had killed king Saul.
The commander of Saul's army, his cousin Abner (1 Samuel 14:50), would have known that David was to be the next king, but he put up resistance. If the monarchy remained in the family of Saul, it would be naturally advantageous to him. When enough strength and order had been regained after Israel's defeat (we are not given the chronology, but it may have been about four years later), Abner proclaimed Saul's son Ishbosheth as king. Saul's capital of Gibeah must have been destroyed and that territory was taken over by the Philistines; therefore, Abner was forced to establish another capital for Ishbosheth at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan. However, his reign lasted only two years and was not successful. How could it have been when it was not ordained by God?
There was much hostility between those who were loyal to David (mainly from the tribe of Judah) and those loyal to the house of Saul (mainly Benjamites). It is likely that an issue of debate was to be settled at Gibeon (about 8 kilometres northwest of Jerusalem). Some kind of a combat contest was arranged between the two opposing sides; however, it led to a very fierce battle (2:15-17). Abner, who had, in effect, started the battle (2:14), was forced to retreat because of obvious defeat.
The fast runner Asahel, the younger brother of Joab (commander of David's army), pursued the older well-experienced warrior, Abner. He did not want to kill young Asahel for fear of a blood feud with Joab, but when Asahel would not turn aside, Abner was forced to kill him. Realizing the seriousness of brethren fighting together, Abner counselled Joab to halt the pursuit, and Joab wisely heeded (2:26-28).
|
