The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) - Day 123: The Death of Ish-bosheth (2026)

Episode Date: May 3, 2026

Fr. Mike highlights the importance of David's reaction to the death of Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. Today we read 2 Samuel 4, 1 Chronicles 5-6, and Psalm 26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a year podcast is brought to ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 123. It is day one, two, three. We are reading from Second Samuel, chapter four. We're also reading two chapters out of First Chronicles, chapters five and six. We're also praying Psalm 26. As always, I am reading. from the revised standard version, second Catholic edition.

And I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking on subscribe. Then you would be subscribed. And when everyone does that, I will no longer say that what you can this thing at the beginning of every single day. But 123 days, my goodness, you guys, I'm so proud of you.

Keep going. Also, also. So chapter four is relatively short in Second Samuel. And there are some names, not as many names as in chapters five and six of First Chronicles, but the name is Ishibiseth, right? Or Ishishath. I've kind of fully committed to Ishishath. And so I apologize.

If you're annoyed, you look at reading your Bible and you say, it says Ishishath. And I would say, you're probably right. But I'm committed to Ishibesheth. And so it's also fun to say. Just try it. Try it at home. Try it in your car as you're driving. It is a gift.

to be able to be here again 2 Samuel chapter 4 1 chronicles chapter 5 and 6 and psalm 26 2nd Samuel chapter 4 is shibisheb is assassinated when ishibiseth Saul's son heard that abner had died in Hebron his courage failed and all Israel was dismayed now saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands the name of the one was ba'ana and the name of the other rakhab sons of Ramon, a man of Benjamin from Beiroth, for Beiroth also is reckoned to Benjamin. The Beirothites fled to get tame and have been sojourners there to this day. Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his

name was Maphibisheth. Now the sons of Ramon, the Beirothite, Rehab and B'anah, set out, and And about the heat of the day, they came to the house of Ashibesheth, as he was taking his noonday rest. And behold, the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat, but she grew drowsy and slept, so Rahab and Ba'ana his brother slipped in. When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him, and slew him, and beheaded him. They took his head, and went by the way of the Arabaa all night, and brought the head of Ishibesheth to David at Hebron.

And they said to the king, here is the head of Ishibesheth, the son of the king. Saul your enemy who sought your life. The Lord has avenged my Lord, the king this day on Saul and on his offspring. But David answered Rakab and Ba'ana his brother, the sons of Rimon the Beirathite. As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, behold, Saul is dead, and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and slew him at Zikleg, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous man in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth. And David commanded his young men,

and they killed them, and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ishibesheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron. Verse Chronicles chapter 5. Descendants of Rubin. The sons of Rubin, the firstborn of Israel, for he was the firstborn. But because he polluted his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Though Judah became strong among his brothers, and a prince was from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph. The sons of Rubin, the firstborn of Israel, Hanak, Palu, Hezran, and Karmi. The sons of Joel, Shemaiah his son, Gag his son, Shemiah his son,

Micah his son, Ria his son, Baal his son, the Ira his son, his son, whom Tilgath, Pilneser, king of Assyria, carried away into exile, he was a chieftain of the Rubinites, and his kinsmen by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, the chief, Gial, and Zechariah, and Bila, the son of Azaz, son of Shima, son of Joel, who dwelt in Erroir, as far as Nibo and Baal Meon. He also dwelt to the east as far as the entrance of the desert this side of the Euphrates, because their cattle had multiplied in the land of Gilead. And in the days of Saul, they made war on the Hegrites, who fell by their hand,

and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead. Descendants of Gad. The sons of Gad dwelt over against them in the land of Bashan as far as Salika, Joel the chief, Shafam II, Jani, and Shafat of Bashan. And their kinsmen, according to their father's houses, Michael, Mashulam, Shiba, Jirai, Jekhan, Zia, and Iber, seven. These were the sons of Abihel, the son of Hurie, son of Jeroa, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jishai, son of Jado, son of Boos. Ehi, the son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the chief in their father's houses, and they dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan, and in its towns,

and in all the pasture lands of Sharon to their limits. All of these were enrolled by genealogies in the days of Jotham, king of Judah, and in the days of of Jeroboam, king of Israel. The Rubinites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, ready for service. They made war upon the Hegwrites, Jeter, Nafish, and Noadab. And when they received help against them, the Hegrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried to God in battle, and he granted their entreaty because they trusted in him. They carried off their livestock, 50,000 of their

camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. For many fell slain because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their place until the exile. The half-tribe of Manasseh. The members of the half-trived of Manasseh dwelt in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-Hermon, Sineer, and Mount Hermon. These were the heads of the their father's houses, Ifr, Ishii, Eliel, Azrael, Jeremiah, Hodavaya, and Jadiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their father's houses. But they transgressed against the god of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Poole, king of Assyria,

the spirit of Tilgoth-Pilnesser, king of Assyria, and he carried them away, namely the Rubinites, the Gadites and the half-trib of Manassah and brought them to Hala, Habor, Harah, and the river goes on to this day. Chapter 6. Descendants of Levi The sons of Levi, Gershom, Kohath, and Marari. The sons of Kohath, Amram, Ishar, Hebron, and Uziel. The children of Amran, Aaron, Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eliezer, and Ithamar.

Eliezer was the father of Phineas, Phineas of Abashua, Abashua of Buki, Buki of Uzi of Zara'i, Uzi of Zaraea, Zaraea of Mariah of Amariah of Ahyatheu, Ayahuahs, Ahimahaz of Azaraya, Azariah of Johan. And Johanan of Azaraya, it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem. Azaraya was the father of Amaraya, Amaraya of Ahitub, Ahitub of Zadok, Zadak of Shulam, Shalum of Hilkaya, Hilkaya of Azaraya of Saraya, and Jehazadek, and Jehazadek went into exile when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. The sons of Levi, Gersham, Kohath, and Marari, and these are the names of the sons of Gersham, Libney and Shimeai. The sons of Kohath, Amram, Ishar, Hebrun, and Uziel.

The sons of Marari, Mali and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites, according to their fathers, of Gersham, Libney his son, Jahath, his son, Zima his son, Joa his son, Edo his son, Edo his son, Zara his son, J. Atharai his son, the sons of Kohath, Aminadab, his son, Korah his son, Asir his son. Al-Qanah his son Abiyasaf his son, Asir his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzayah his son, Shaul his son. The sons of Al-Kana, Amasai and Ahimoth. Elkanah his son, Zofai his son, Nehath

his son, Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. The sons of Samuel, Joel, his firstborn, The second, Abijah. The sons of Marrara. Mali, Libney his son, Shemiah his son, Uza his son, Shemiya his son, Hegia his son, and Asaya his son. Musicians appointed by David. These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service in due order. These are the men who served and their sons of the sons of the Coethites, Himan, the singer, the son of Joel, son of Samuel, son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toa, son of Zouf, son of Elkanah, son of Mayhath, son of Amasai, son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, son of Tehath, son of Aeasat, son of Cora, son of Cora, son of Ishar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel,

and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely Asaf, the son of Berakaya, son of Shimia, son of Michael, son of Baasea, son of Malkijah, son of Ethne, son of Zara, son of Adaya, son of Ethan, son of Zima, son of Shemi, son of Jihath, son of Gersham, son of Levi. On the left hand were their brethren, the sons of Marari, Ethan, the son of Kishi, son of Hashibaya, son of Amazaya, son of Hulkaya, son of Amzi, son of Bonnie, son of Shimer, son of Mali, son of Mushi, son of Marari, son of Levi. And their brethren, the Levites, were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God. But Aaron and his sons made offerings upon the altar of burnt offering and upon the altar of incense

for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. These are the sons of Aaron. Eliezer his son, Phineas his son, Abishua his son, Buki his son, Uzi his son, Zara'ioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, Zedok his son. Settlements of the Levites. These are the dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders, to the sons of Aaron of the families of the Coethites, for theirs was the lot. To them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasture lands. But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb, the son of Jephuna. To the sons of Arran, Libna with its pastor lands, Jatir, Eshtamoa with its pastor lands, Hilin with its pastor lands,

Hilin with its pastor lands, Dabir with its pastor lands, Ashan with its pastor lands, and Bet Shameshamesh with its pastor lands. And from the tribes of Benjamin, Giba with its pastor lands, Elameth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pastor lands. All their cities throughout their families were 13. To the rest of the coethites were given by lot out of the family of the tribe, out of the half tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities. To the Gershamites, according to their families, were allotted 13 cities out of the tribes of Isakar, Asher, Naftali, and Manasa in Bashan. To the Merarites, according to their families were allotted 12 cities out of the tribes of Rubin, Gad, and Zebulan. So the sons of Israel gave the Levites the cities with their pasture lands.

They also gave them by lot out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name. And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim. They were given the cities of refuge. Shechem, with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gizur with its pastor lands, Jokme-Ahm with its pastor lands, Betharon with its pastorlands, Ayshelon with its pastor lands, and out of the half-trib of Manasseh, Anur with its pastor lands, Billy Am with its pastor-lands, for the rest of the families of the Coathites. To the Gerschaimites were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pastor lands,

and Astharoth with its pastor-lands, and out of the tribe of Issacar, Kadesh with its pasture-lands. Deberath with its pastorlands Ramoth with its pastor lands and Anem with its pastor lands Out of the tribe of Asher Mashal with its pastor lands Abdon with its pastor lands Hukuk with its pastor lands

and Rehob with its pastor lands And out of the tribe of Naftali Kadesh in Galilee with its pastor lands Himon with its pastor lands Khmong with its pastor lands To the rest of the Merorites Were allotted out of the tribe of Zebulin Raminot with its pastor lands

Tabor with its pastor lands And beyond the Jordan at Jericho On the east side of the Jordan Out of the tribe of Rubin Beezer in the steppe with its pastor lands Jaza with its pastor lands Kedimoth with its pastor lands And Mepha'ath with its pastor lands

And out of the tribe of Gad Ramoth in Gilead with its pastor lands Mehanaiam with its pastor lands Hesbun with its pastor lands And Jazeer with its pastor lands Psalm 26 Plee for Justice and declaration of righteousness. A psalm of David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O God, and try me. Test my heart and my mind, for your mercy is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. I do not sit with false men, nor do I consort with dissemblers. I hate the company of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence and go about your altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of Thanksgiving and telling all your wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Sweep me not away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, men in whose hands are evil devices and whose right hands are full of bribes.

But as for me, I walk in my integrity, redeem me, and have mercy on me. My foot stands on level ground. In the great congregation, I will bless the Lord. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. so much for your word. We thank you for just the fact that you've worked in history and you continue to work in history. Lord God, you've worked with every one of these people and every one of these families and tribes, just like you work with us, every one of us listening to your word being proclaimed all of our families strong and weak, all of our families whole and broken, all of our families

united and families divided. Lord God, you are part of history. You're the God of history and you're the God of history and you're the God of our history and you lead us and call us into eternity. And so we give you thanks. We give you praise. And please receive our praise today on this day, this day, 123 days of listening to your word of being shaped by your word. We thank you and praise you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So two quick things I want to highlight. One is from the story of David, right in Second Samuel chapter four, because this is going to be pretty important for us to be attentive to. Why? Well, not only because you can pronounce Ishibesheth, both the way I pronounce it and Ishisheth. But

because of the fact that here is David who wants to be an honorable man. Now, I mentioned this before. When we get deeper into Chronicles, we're going to see David. We're going to see a kind of maybe, I don't want to say an edited David, but we're going to just focus on the positive, the strengths, the character, not flaws, but the character strengths of David in Chronicles. Now, Samuel is going to reveal David's woundedness, his flaws, his realness, not to say that his strengths aren't also his real thing. But what I'm trying to say is in chapter four of Second Samuel, we see how consistent David is. We see his character through and through that David from the very beginning has been someone who doesn't necessarily take pleasure in violence. He doesn't take pleasure in punishing

those who don't need to be punished according to him. Now, later on, David, he should have taken more action. He should have done more to punish those who need punishment. But in this moment, David is taking mercy upon Ishshbasheth or Ishibesh, but I've committed, I said it already, giving it to Ishibesheth. David wants to take mercy on this, his enemy, right? So all, not all of Israel, but many in Israel were calling Ishishbasheth, now I'm confused. Ishibesheth, they were calling him to be the new king. He was going to be the enemy of David. He was the enemy of David. And yet, when Rakab and Ba'ana, they go into Ishibasheth's home. And as he's sleeping, they murder. They murder him in bed. They assassinate him in bed. And they say to David, hey, this is the deal.

We just, we just destroyed the last remaining member of the family of King Saul, almost to be, to be continued on that one, almost the last surviving member, at least the only threat you have to you right now. And David responds by highlighting the fact that, listen, that is not how we do things. This is going to be a new kingdom under God and we are not going to do things. Remember at the end of judges, that everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Here is David who is making it absolutely clear. That is not going to be this kingdom of Israel. We're not going to be this loose confederation of tribes who kind of take the law into their own hands. We are going to be a united kingdom who are under the law of the Lord. And that's, remember way back that Samuel had said

that if you're going to be the king, you have to know the law of the Lord. You have to read the law day and night. In fact, David's going to go on to in the Psalms. Talk about this. Yeah, Lord, how I love your law. I ponder on it day and night. And here is an example of David living that way. Because as these two murderers, assassins, Rahab and Da'ana, come to him, he does not reward them. Well, I guess he does. He rewards their evil deed with, by killing them, by taking out justice upon them and establishing to all the people, this is not how we do things in the kingdom. That might have been how we did things when there was the loose confederation and their judges and everyone did what was right in their own eyes, but not anymore. Okay, moving on.

to First Chronicles. I think I mentioned this before, but Chronicles is going to be not only, as I said, a following, let's follow David. And let's see here's how David has lived. Let's see how David prefigures the coming Messiah, the coming anointed one, the coming Christ. But also, not only hope for the reestablishment of the kingdom and a reestablishment of the royal throne, but also the reestablishment of temple worship. When First and Second Chronicles were written, it's largely believed that this is after the exile.

And so the people of Israel have suffered an incredible, incredible defeat. They have been exiled. They have the 10 tribes of Israel. We're going to get to that in a little bit. Basically, David unites all 12 tribes. Solomon has the United 12 tribes, that united kingdom. But then after Solomon, those 12 tribes, those 12th, tribes divide to ten tribes in the north, Israel, and two tribes in the south, Judah. That's what they

call the ten in the north are called Israel from then on, and the two tribes in the south, Benjamin Judah, are called Judah. And yet, this Chronicles is written not only after that division, but then also after the destruction of the ten tribes in the north and the exile and return of the two tribes in the south. And so what the author of Chronicles is doing is saying, there is a line, though, There is a line of the line of David, Judah, right? And there's a line, the line of Levi, the line of the priesthood. So we're going to follow those families in particular. Because why?

Because they're longing for this reestablishment of the kingdom and longing for reestablishment of temple worship into its full. And so that's what we're going to get. That's kind of some of the main gist or main thrust of the main desire of the author of Chronicles. We're going to get to that in a couple days as we get through some more names in the next couple days. But gosh, what a gift.

to be able to follow, to be able to recognize that God works in time, God works in history. The God of eternity working in history just blows my mind. And I think about that all the time. Like, man, God, how in the world are you so humble that you made us in love and you continue to keep us in existence out of love? And you continue to speak to us and guide us and protect us out of love. What a gift. Please pray for each other because the God of eternity who's entered into time wants to enter

to each and every one of our lives. And so often we need grace, we always need grace, but we need the prayers of each other to help walk in grace. So I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. Please pray for each other. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.