And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, 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, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred 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.
Comment: Why did David want Michal Saul’s daughter back? He had a number of wives and multiple children. When Abner came to David offering to ‘sell out’ Ish-bosheth’s kingdom to David, I suspect that it seemed good to David to have some important descendent of Saul in his court! I feel sorry for the husband from whom Michal was ripped to give her back to David. We are not told how she felt about every thing. When Abner said to her second husband “Go, return.” I suspect it wasn’t a gentle word! Paltiel’s heart was obviously broken.
Abner did a lot of political background, underhand work before he went to David offering what he had no right to offer to David. Whilst Abner was betraying King Ish-bosheth, which seems wrong, yet it is true that years before God had Samuel anoint David king over Israel and not just Judah. Abner had almost certainly heard of what Samuel had done – no radio but a local voice-spread!
Prayer: We often don’t understand what is happening but we thank You that You are trustworthy, Father.
As I read it! 