I am a man of contradictory statements; so listen to what was said of me and tell me who I am. You’re a man, aren’t you? And Who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your Lord the King? Someone came to destroy your Lord the King. What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD’s anointed.

That opening line reminds me of what I said to King Ish-Bosheth.

Am I a dog’s head-on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman.

Later, Ish-Bosheth’s head would be buried in my tomb.

Despite the fact that I hunted David, his sin, King Solomon, said that I was better and more upright than General Joab. Despite the fact that I waged war against David, I returned to him his first wife, Michal. Despite the fact that Saul was my cousin, I swore that I would transfer his kingdom to David. Despite the fact that I was only a general, King Ish–Bosheth did not dare to say another word to me, because he was afraid of me. Despite the fact that I killed General Joab’s brother, Asahel, at my death and burial King David mourned for me and led the funeral procession. Then he said,

“Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?” Who am I?

1 Sam. 26:2–5, 15, 16; 2 Sam. 3:8–12, 31–32, 38; 4:12; 1 Kings 2:32.