“Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said,
‘Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over
us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said
to you, “You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be
prince over Israel.” ’ ”
A little Bible history may remind us what a mealy-mouthed,
disingenuous endorsement this really is. At this point, David has been ruling as king over
Judah in Hebron for a full 7-1/2 years, while the tribes of Israel now
buttering him up have been engaged in bitter civil war against him, with
Ish-bosheth son of Saul as their chosen king and the tribe of Benjamin as the
power behind the throne.
Unfortunately both Ish-bosheth and his powerful and popular
general Abner are now dead. They won’t be governing anyone or delivering them
from their enemies.