In the third episode of Season 2 of House of David, we find Eshbaal recounting to Saul the ordeal he endured since his banishment. It transpires that Eshbaal was captured and subjected to unimaginable torture, his captors pressing him to renounce Saul and his faith. For months, Eshbaal resisted, enduring relentless beatings. Yet, in a twist of fate, he "broke," a ruse that allowed him to bide his time and ultimately slay his captors and free the other prisoners. Now returned, Eshbaal professes a transformed soul, though his words ring hollow to those who know the truth.
To atone for his transgressions and regain favor with Saul, Eshbaal reveals his coronation and asks for permission to marry Dinah, the woman he defiled. Meanwhile, David and Mychal are dismayed by Saul's unyielding stance. David, convinced he can sway Saul's stubborn heart, persistently seeks an audience with the king. Saul dismisses him with haughty disdain, reminding him of his place as a mere shepherd compared to the wisdom of a king. Abner cautions David to tread lightly, lest he find himself on the wrong side of Saul's wrath.
As for Samuel's whereabouts, Jonathan urges his father not to harm the old prophet. Abner assures Saul that scouts are on the lookout for Samuel and will find him before the Day of Atonement. In the days that follow, Jonathan takes David under his wing, teaching him the art of combat. David embraces this training with earnestness, eager to prove himself, especially to his brother. Achish too, takes his training seriously, a spirit of vengeance fueling his determination to the core.
Ahinoam, a person fraught with the weight of settling scores, worries that the anointed one will soon take over, her concerns echoing the glare of David's star. Saul listens to her worries with rapt attention, inquiring about the impending coronation, and warns her sternly against any future deceit.
A few weeks later, Saul summons Jonathan and David, ordering them to escort Eshbaal to the kingdom of Dan and negotiate with Yahir. He needs Yahir's forgiveness and blessing for Eshbaal's union with his daughter, Dinah. Saul tasks Jonathan with allowing David to take the lead, viewing it as a learning opportunity for the young man.
As the princesses bid farewell to the soldiers, one can sense the awkward tension between David, Mychal, and Mirab. Meanwhile, Ahinoam sends Beshai away, fearing Saul's discovery of her sins. Joab and Abner observe the two women from afar as they speak. Simultaneously, Doeg continues to suffer from his curse but sends a letter to someone.
At the palace, Kazia, one of the servants, begins spying despite Ahinoam's warnings. Mychal discovers that her sister specifically asked to marry David and turns on her with fury.
Meanwhile, the soldiers arrive in Dan and meet Yahir. David refuses to hunt a wild boar due to its uncleanliness. They join the hunting excursion and meet Dinah, a woman who loves hunting but is always given credit for her kills by her father who treated her poorly since he desired a son instead of a daughter.
That night, David convinces Yahir to find a middle ground in Saul's offer. Outside, Eshbaal convinces Dinah to use the marriage as an opportunity to escape her miserable life at her father's home. She agrees on the condition that she won't give him an heir or love him.
In the hushed town of Gibeah, Abner's steps echoed with the weight of his intent to end Beshai's life, but she pleaded with him, her voice a thin wail against the impending doom. Joab, ever the eavesdropper, listened in on their exchange and, as Abner released Beshai from her bonds, struck her down with a swiftness that belied the gravity of the moment.
At the palace, Mychal's anger simmered, boiling over in her words as she continued to rail against her sister. Ahinoam, with a heart full of compassion, tried to coax Mychal into forgiveness, but Mychal held fast to her grievance, citing Ahinoam's transgression of bringing a witch to Gibeah. Kazia, eavesdropping once again, overheard this exchange and relayed it to Saul with a hushed urgency.
The following morning, the soldiers set out on their journey back to the palace with Dinah and Yahir. Jonathan's joy was palpable as he rejoiced in David's success in convincing Yahir through his unwavering conviction. However, their journey was not without peril; they were ambushed by soldiers who claimed Yahir's life. In the heat of battle, David saved Jonathan yet again, but Eliab's mistrust of David as a leader lingered, perhaps blinded by a jealousy that festered deep within him.
Back in Gibeah, Saul confronted Ahinoam for altering the law during his illness and allowing witchcraft to flourish. He forbade her from joining the family at the tabernacle on the Day of Atonement, and though she tried to explain herself, he banished her from his presence, asking Kazia to stay instead.
Upon returning to Gibeah, Jonathan's heart leapt with joy as he saw Sara. She had finally accepted Eshbaal's offer after his relentless pursuit with gifts. She helped tend to the wounded soldiers with a skillful hand, while David begged Saul for more time to prove himself. He implored the king to postpone the wedding for the sake of Mychal and Mirab too.
After Yahir's death, Eshbaal moved to save Dinah. He offered to marry her even though he no longer had any accuser. Dinah revealed that Eshbaal had never defiled her; she had merely slept by his side. She told her father the truth, but he refused to believe her. Nevertheless, Eshbaal insisted on marrying her, claiming that he found her intriguing and wanted to save her from her troubled past.
Another brother embraced romance as Jonathan was elated when Sara dropped by to check on his wounds and began to flirt with her. Who would have thought that the heartbroken Prince had found his mojo?
The episode ended with Adriel seeking an audience with Saul. Eliab initially refused to let Adriel through but changed his mind after hearing him out. He brought Adriel to Saul, and in a bid to save his own life, Adriel revealed that he knew who Samuel had anointed as the next king.
