And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
Abner had communication with the elders of Israel. He spoke the truth in impressing their minds with the well-known fact of David's divine designation to the kingdom. But be acted a base and hypocritical part in pretending that his present movement was prompted by religious motives, when it sprang entirely from malice and revenge against Ish-bosheth. The particular appeal to the Benjamites was a necessary policy: their tribe enjoyed the honour of giving birth to the royal dynasty of Saul, and they would naturally be disinclined to lose that prestige. They were, besides, a determined people, whose contiguity to Judah might render them troublesome and dangerous. The enlistment of their interest, therefore, in the scheme would smooth the way for the adhesion of the other tribes; and Abner enjoyed the most convenient opportunity of using his great influence in gaining over that tribe while escorting Michal to David with a suitable equipage. The mission enabled him to cover his treacherous designs against his master-to draw the attention of the elders and people to David as uniting in himself the double recommendation of being the nominee of Yahweh, no less than a connection of the royal house of Saul, and, without suspicion of any dishonourable motive, to advocate the policy of terminating the civil discord, by bestowing the sovereignty on the husband of Michal. In the same character of public ambassador he was received and feted by David; and while, ostensibly, the restoration of Michal was the sole object of his visit, he busily employed himself in making private overtures to David for bringing over to his cause those tribes which be had artfully seduced. Abner pursued a course unworthy of an honourable man; and though his offer was accepted by David, the guilt and infamy of the transaction were exclusively his.