Reading the Bible Through

2 Samuel 18 - 20   I don't have much to say about this. I do notice how David as king is challenged twice in this short passage. Absalom rebels against David until Absalom is killed. Then Sheba rebels against David until he is killed. I do find myself wondering about Joab and Absalom. Joab was told to deal gently with Absalom, but he kills him instead. Was this justified? Was David justified in weeping for his son? 

2 Samuel 1 - 3   I wonder why this book is called 2nd Samuel. Samuel is already dead. It seems to me it should be called 'David'. The Amalekite thinks he is bringing David good news of Saul's death. However, the Amalekite ends up being executed for killing Saul although Saul had told him to (at least according to the Amalekite.) This is different from what we last heard about Saul's death. When we first learned of Saul's death, his armor bearer refused to kill Saul. Saul then fell on his own sword. His armor bearer then did the same thing.  The battle of Gibeon sounds like a sporting event. The commander chose 12 men from each side to compete before them.  Ish-bosheth accuses Abner of having sex with Saul's concubine. However, Ish-bosheth is afraid of Abner and doesn't follow up. Did Abner have sex with Saul's concubine? Why did Ish-botheth bring it up if he wasn't going to do anything about it? This is the thing that sends Abner to David's side....