Ishbosheth was, however, a weak prince, and little more than a puppet in the hands of Abner, the most famous general of the day, who, organizing what forces remained after the fatal battle of Gilboa, was quite a match for David.  For five years civil war raged between the rivals for the ascendency, but success gradually secured for David the promised throne of united Israel.  Abner, seeing how hopeless was the contest, and wishing to prevent further slaughter, made overtures to David and the elders of Judah and Benjamin.  The generous monarch received him graciously, and promised his friendship; but, out of jealousy,—­or perhaps in revenge for the death of his brother Asahel, whom Abner had slain in battle,—­Joab, the captain of the King’s chosen band, treacherously murdered him.  David’s grief at the foul deed was profound and sincere, but he could not afford to punish the general on whom he chiefly relied.  “Know ye,” said David to his intimate friends, “that a great prince in Israel has fallen to-day; but I am too weak to avenge him, for I am not yet anointed king over the tribes.”  He secretly disliked Joab from this time, and waited for God himself to repay the evil-doer according to his wickedness.  The fate of the unhappy and abandoned Ishbosheth could not now long be delayed.  He also was murdered by two of his body-guard, who hoped to be rewarded by David for their treachery; but instead of gaining a reward, they were summarily ordered to execution.  The sole surviving member of Saul’s family was now Mephibosheth, the only son of Jonathan,—­a boy of twelve, impotent, and lame.  This prince, to the honor of David, was protected and kindly cared for.  David’s magnanimity appears in that he made special search, asking “Is there any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him the kindness of God for Jonathan’s sake?” The memory of the triumphant conqueror was still tender and loyal to the covenant of friendship he had made in youth, with the son of the man who for long years had pursued him with the hate of a lifetime.

David was at this time thirty-eight years of age, in the prime of his manhood, and his dearest wish was now accomplished; for on the burial of Ishbosheth “came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron,” formally reminded him of his early anointing to succeed Saul, and tendered their allegiance.  He was solemnly consecrated king, more than eight thousand priests joining in the ceremony; and, thus far without a stain on his character, he began his reign over united Israel.  The kingdom over which he was called to reign was the most powerful in Palestine.  Assyria, Egypt, China, and India were already empires; but Greece was in its infancy, and Homer and Buddha were unborn.