The war between the House of Saul and the House of David is fierce, signaling the start of what would become the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Southern Kingdom of Judah. The differences between them are small but big - cultural, religious and political, despite their common origin and blood. Much more about this rift - and if it even really happened as the bible tells us - in the coming months.
Meanwhile: Much blood already flows between the fighters as this story unfolds, and another dramatic death happens today - but perhaps the real focus of this chapter are the royal women - eight of them are named - and objectified. We know almost nothing about who they are or what they’re feeling. Their only purpose is as providers of pleasure, procreation or status.
David moves to Hebron after Saul’s death - with two wives, and both give birth shortly afterwards. We’re only told of the baby boys -there’s no knowing how many daughters were born, none are mentioned here.
Ahinoam of Jezrel gives David his firstborn son, Amnon. Abigail of Carmel then gives birth to Chileav, who likely dies young. Next is Absalom - son of Maacha, the princess of Gesur, a new wife, likely wise diplomatic deal with the neighbors from the north.
Then there are three more wives and three more boys:
Hagit gives birth to Adoniya. Avital gives birth to Shefaya. And Egla births Yitraam.
With six wives and six sons, the House of David builds a dynasty but there is still the issue of the kingdom next door - and the ongoing threat of the House of Saul still reigning over most of Israel, if by a thread. And it is a threat.
IshBaal (whom the authors will insist on calling IshBoshet - the shameful one) is a puppet king, while Abner, his cousin, is the strongman with his ambitions to take over the throne. Towards that goal Abner has sex with Rizpah, daughter of Aya, Saul’s last remaining wife, who gave birth to two more sons, whom we’ll encounter later. And for the first time, the king objects and rebukes Abner for this act of defiance. To be clear - he’s not protesting which is likely an act of rape since there’s no indication of her consent. He objects the meaning of this act -- to signify that Abner is entitled to the dead king’s wife is to claim her as his womb and path to ruling.
Abner’s response is vile and violent. The king, terrified, is speechless.
I am not a dog’s head, Abner famously tells Saul’s last son, and then changes hisu allegiance. He goes to Hebron to offer David a deal: He’ll hand him over the entire kingdom of Israel.
David agrees on one condition: He wants his first wife back, Michal, the daughter of Saul:
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֥שֶׁת בֶּן־שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹ֑ר תְּנָ֤ה אֶת־אִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־מִיכַ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵרַ֣שְׂתִּי לִ֔י בְּמֵאָ֖ה עׇרְל֥וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
“David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, to say, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bride-price of one hundred Philistine foreskins.”
Why does David want Michal back? Not because he misses her, which we have no reason to believe he does. Because she is a womb who has potential to continue Saul’s seed and provide an heir which will risk the House of David’s dynasty. Michal’s brother, now without the protection of Abner, is weak and has no choice. Michal’s opinion does not matter here of course. Her father had her marry this other guy, Paltiel, but now they must part ways, as is she is sent to Hebron, enemy territory, to be in David’s growing harem.
In one of the bible’s rare descriptions of heartbreak, Paltiel walked with her as far as he could, until the border, ‘weeping as he walked’ until Abner orders him to return, and never to be heard from again.
Michal will remain childless. David’s war against the house of Saul, even with the loving seed-covenant he made with his lover Jonathan, will be consistent. The royal women of Judah and those remaining of the Kingdom of Israel are there to either provide heirs - or not.
This chapter does not tell us more about these women and their lives. The focus is on men who fight. Yoav who fears Abner’s new role lures Saul’s general back to Hebron and stabs him to death, in revenge for the killing of his own brother in the previous chapter.
David publicly mourns, laments Abner, proves that his hands are clean of this blood, and rebukes Yoav, but only with a slap on his wrist.
One by one, the women and the men of the House of Saul are either silenced or brought under David’s domain.
The King of Israel’s days are numbered, and he knows it. The women’s voices? silenced.
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