Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

David a king. They hoped that because they had been kind to David,
the increase of his power would work to their advantage. But
David's reign was not to be free from trouble.
God had chosen David to be king of Israel, yet hardly had the
people of Judah accepted his authority when Ishbosheth, the son of
Saul, was made king on a rival throne in Israel. Ishbosheth was a
weak, incompetent representative of the house of Saul, in contrast to
David who was supremely qualified. Abner, the chief agent in
raising Ishbosheth to kingly power, was the most distinguished man
in Israel. He knew that the Lord had appointed David to the throne,
but he was not willing for the son of Jesse to come into possession
of the kingdom.
Abner was ambitious and unethical. Saul had influenced him to
detest the man whom God had chosen to reign over Israel. His
hatred had been increased by the cutting rebuke that David had
given him when the king's jug of water and spear had been taken
from the side of Saul as he slept.
Determined to create division in Israel by which he himself
might be exalted, he used Ishbosheth, the representative of the
previous king, to push forward his own selfish ambitions. He knew
that the army had not forgotten Saul's first successful campaigns.
With determination, this rebellious leader went forward to carry out
his plans.
First, he chose Mahanaim, on the farther side of Jordan, as the
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