Abner's Defection: 2 Samuel 3:6-11
When we fail to rely upon God for His provision, we always take the matter of our needs into our own hands. We think we know best. We think we understand ourselves. We think our dreams will fulfill our desires.
The relationship sours between Abner and Ish-bosheth. The real question is one which the Bible doesn’t answer. Why does the relationship sour?
Ish-bosheth challenges Abner on having sexual relationship with a member of his harem. In the ancient near east, only the king was allowed access to the harem. Therefore, when Ish-bosheth claims Abner had sex with his concubine, he is accusing Abner of making a play on his kingdom. Ish-bosheth is accusing Abner of sedition.
The underlying question over this incident causes great debate. The Bible is silent on Abner’s guilt. Ish-bosheth is firm in his accusation, and Abner’s emotional response seems to indicate being accused falsely. Unfortunately, we don’t have the whole tale.
Had Abner wanted to be king, he certainly could have stepped up into Saul’s place when Saul died. He would have needed to lead a coup and kill Ish-bosheth, but he certainly had the manpower to make that happen. He could have become king much earlier if he wanted power, therefore it seems odd that Abner would try to make a play on the role of king now.
It is possible the incident never happened, but rather Abner set up events to make Ish-bosheth believe it happened. Thus, when Ish-bosheth accuses Abner of treachery, Abner is free to reply in outrage, escalating the emotions in the argument and eventually using this to switch allegiance to David’s side. Abner was a smart general; he could see David’s power growing while Ish-bosheth’s power dwindled.
Like most of us, Abner thinks of himself first. When Saul died, he didn’t want to give up his position. Thus, he backed Ish-bosheth to remain in power. Now, as he sees Ish-bosheth’s power dwindling, he could be trying to figure out a way to conserve power. If he stays with Ish-bosheth and ultimately loses, he will lose everything. But if he devises a way to defect to David’s side, he can start backing the winning team again. He might lose some prestige, but he won’t lose as much as if he stayed with Ish-bosheth. If he could derive some way to get falsely accused and have a public falling out, it would make the transition to David’s side all the more believable.
In the end, Abner pursues his own power and prestige. It doesn’t matter whether he is guilty of committing the offense against Ish-bosheth, he contrived the events in order to set up his defection, or he was falsely accused. Rather than trusting God, Abner looks to maintain his power and status and is willing to use whatever situation presents itself to do so. When we fail to rely upon God for His provision, we always take the matter of our needs into our own hands.
