1 Now there was long H752 war H4421 between the house H1004 of Saul H7586 and the house H1004 of David: H1732 but David H1732 waxed H1980 stronger H2390 and stronger, H2390 and the house H1004 of Saul H7586 waxed H1980 weaker H1800 and weaker. H1800
2 And unto David H1732 were sons H1121 born H3205 H3205 in Hebron: H2275 and his firstborn H1060 was Amnon, H550 of Ahinoam H293 the Jezreelitess; H3159
3 And his second, H4932 Chileab, H3609 of Abigail H26 the wife H802 of Nabal H5037 the Carmelite; H3761 and the third, H7992 Absalom H53 the son H1121 of Maacah H4601 the daughter H1323 of Talmai H8526 king H4428 of Geshur; H1650
4 And the fourth, H7243 Adonijah H138 the son H1121 of Haggith; H2294 and the fifth, H2549 Shephatiah H8203 the son H1121 of Abital; H37
5 And the sixth, H8345 Ithream, H3507 by Eglah H5698 David's H1732 wife. H802 These were born H3205 to David H1732 in Hebron. H2275
6 And it came to pass, while there was war H4421 between the house H1004 of Saul H7586 and the house H1004 of David, H1732 that Abner H74 made himself strong H2388 for the house H1004 of Saul. H7586
7 And Saul H7586 had a concubine, H6370 whose name H8034 was Rizpah, H7532 the daughter H1323 of Aiah: H345 and Ishbosheth said H559 to Abner, H74 Wherefore hast thou gone in H935 unto my father's H1 concubine? H6370
8 Then was Abner H74 very H3966 wroth H2734 for the words H1697 of Ishbosheth, H378 and said, H559 Am I a dog's H3611 head, H7218 which against Judah H3063 do shew H6213 kindness H2617 this day H3117 unto the house H1004 of Saul H7586 thy father, H1 to his brethren, H251 and to his friends, H4828 and have not delivered H4672 thee into the hand H3027 of David, H1732 that thou chargest H6485 me to day H3117 with a fault H5771 concerning this woman? H802
9 So do H6213 God H430 to Abner, H74 and more also, H3254 except, as the LORD H3068 hath sworn H7650 to David, H1732 even so I do H6213 to him;
10 To translate H5674 the kingdom H4467 from the house H1004 of Saul, H7586 and to set up H6965 the throne H3678 of David H1732 over Israel H3478 and over Judah, H3063 from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba. H884
11 And he could H3201 not answer H7725 Abner H74 a word H1697 again, because he feared H3372 him.
12 And Abner H74 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to David H1732 on his behalf, saying, H559 Whose is the land? H776 saying H559 also, Make H3772 thy league H1285 with me, and, behold, my hand H3027 shall be with thee, to bring about H5437 all Israel H3478 unto thee.
13 And he said, H559 Well; H2896 I will make H3772 a league H1285 with thee: but one H259 thing H1697 I require H7592 of thee, that is, H559 Thou shalt not see H7200 my face, H6440 except thou first H6440 bring H935 Michal H4324 Saul's H7586 daughter, H1323 when thou comest H935 to see H7200 my face. H6440
14 And David H1732 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to Ishbosheth H378 Saul's H7586 son, H1121 saying, H559 Deliver H5414 me my wife H802 Michal, H4324 which I espoused H781 to me for an hundred H3967 foreskins H6190 of the Philistines. H6430
15 And Ishbosheth H378 sent, H7971 and took H3947 her from her husband, H376 even from Phaltiel H6409 the son H1121 of Laish. H3889 H3919
16 And her husband H376 went H3212 with her along weeping H1980 H1058 behind H310 her to Bahurim. H980 Then said H559 Abner H74 unto him, Go, H3212 return. H7725 And he returned. H7725
17 And Abner H74 had communication H1961 H1697 with the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Ye sought H1245 for David H1732 in times H8543 past H8032 to be king H4428 over you:
18 Now then do H6213 it: for the LORD H3068 hath spoken H559 of David, H1732 saying, H559 By the hand H3027 of my servant H5650 David H1732 I will save H3467 my people H5971 Israel H3478 out of the hand H3027 of the Philistines, H6430 and out of the hand H3027 of all their enemies. H341
19 And Abner H74 also spake H1696 in the ears H241 of Benjamin: H1144 and Abner H74 went H3212 also to speak H1696 in the ears H241 of David H1732 in Hebron H2275 all that seemed H5869 good H2896 to Israel, H3478 and that seemed good H5869 to the whole house H1004 of Benjamin. H1144
20 So Abner H74 came H935 to David H1732 to Hebron, H2275 and twenty H6242 men H582 with him. And David H1732 made H6213 Abner H74 and the men H582 that were with him a feast. H4960
21 And Abner H74 said H559 unto David, H1732 I will arise H6965 and go, H3212 and will gather H6908 all Israel H3478 unto my lord H113 the king, H4428 that they may make H3772 a league H1285 with thee, and that thou mayest reign H4427 over all that thine heart H5315 desireth. H183 And David H1732 sent H7971 Abner H74 away; H7971 and he went H3212 in peace. H7965
22 And, behold, the servants H5650 of David H1732 and Joab H3097 came H935 from pursuing a troop, H1416 and brought in H935 a great H7227 spoil H7998 with them: but Abner H74 was not with David H1732 in Hebron; H2275 for he had sent him away, H7971 and he was gone H3212 in peace. H7965
23 When Joab H3097 and all the host H6635 that was with him were come, H935 they told H5046 Joab, H3097 saying, H559 Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner H5369 came H935 to the king, H4428 and he hath sent him away, H7971 and he is gone H3212 in peace. H7965
24 Then Joab H3097 came H935 to the king, H4428 and said, H559 What hast thou done? H6213 behold, Abner H74 came H935 unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, H7971 and he is quite H1980 gone? H3212
25 Thou knowest H3045 Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 that he came H935 to deceive H6601 thee, and to know H3045 thy going out H4161 and thy coming in, H4126 H3996 and to know H3045 all that thou doest. H6213
26 And when Joab H3097 was come out H3318 from David, H1732 he sent H7971 messengers H4397 after H310 Abner, H74 which brought him again H7725 from the well H953 of Sirah: H5626 but David H1732 knew H3045 it not.
27 And when Abner H74 was returned H7725 to Hebron, H2275 Joab H3097 took him aside H5186 in H413 H8432 the gate H8179 to speak H1696 with him quietly, H7987 and smote H5221 him there under the fifth H2570 rib, that he died, H4191 for the blood H1818 of Asahel H6214 his brother. H251
28 And afterward H310 when David H1732 heard H8085 it, he said, H559 I and my kingdom H4467 are guiltless H5355 before the LORD H3068 for H5704 ever H5769 from the blood H1818 of Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner: H5369
29 Let it rest H2342 on the head H7218 of Joab, H3097 and on all his father's H1 house; H1004 and let there not fail H3772 from the house H1004 of Joab H3097 one that hath an issue, H2100 or that is a leper, H6879 or that leaneth H2388 on a staff, H6418 or that falleth H5307 on the sword, H2719 or that lacketh H2638 bread. H3899
30 So Joab H3097 and Abishai H52 his brother H251 slew H2026 Abner, H74 because he had slain H4191 their brother H251 Asahel H6214 at Gibeon H1391 in the battle. H4421
31 And David H1732 said H559 to Joab, H3097 and to all the people H5971 that were with him, Rend H7167 your clothes, H899 and gird H2296 you with sackcloth, H8242 and mourn H5594 before H6440 Abner. H74 And king H4428 David H1732 himself followed H1980 H310 the bier. H4296
32 And they buried H6912 Abner H74 in Hebron: H2275 and the king H4428 lifted up H5375 his voice, H6963 and wept H1058 at the grave H6913 of Abner; H74 and all the people H5971 wept. H1058
33 And the king H4428 lamented H6969 over Abner, H74 and said, H559 Died H4191 Abner H74 as a fool H5036 dieth? H4194
34 Thy hands H3027 were not bound, H631 nor thy feet H7272 put H5066 into fetters: H5178 as a man falleth H5307 before H6440 wicked H5766 men, H1121 so fellest H5307 thou. And all the people H5971 wept H1058 again H3254 over him.
35 And when all H3605 the people H5971 came H935 to cause H1262 David H1732 to eat H1262 meat H3899 while it was yet H5750 day, H3117 David H1732 sware, H7650 saying, H559 So do H6213 God H430 to me, and more also, H3254 if I taste H2938 bread, H3899 or ought H3972 else, till H6440 the sun H8121 be down. H935
36 And all the people H5971 took notice H5234 of it, and it pleased H3190 H5869 them: as whatsoever the king H4428 did H6213 pleased H5869 H2896 all the people. H5971
37 For all the people H5971 and all Israel H3478 understood H3045 that day H3117 that it was not of the king H4428 to slay H4191 Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner. H5369
38 And the king H4428 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Know H3045 ye not that there is a prince H8269 and a great man H1419 fallen H5307 this day H3117 in Israel? H3478
39 And I am this day H3117 weak, H7390 though anointed H4886 king; H4428 and these men H582 the sons H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 be too hard H7186 for me: the LORD H3068 shall reward H7999 the doer of evil H6213 according to his wickedness. H7451
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 3
Commentary on 2 Samuel 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
2Sa 3:1-5. Six Sons Born to David.
1. there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David—The rival parties had varying success, but David's interest steadily increased; less, however, by the fortunes of war, than a growing adherence to him as the divinely designated king.
2. unto David were sons born in Hebron—The six sons mentioned had all different mothers.
3. Chileab—("his father's picture")—called also Daniel (1Ch 3:1).
Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur—a region in Syria, north of Israel. This marriage seems to have been a political match, made by David, with a view to strengthen himself against Ish-bosheth's party, by the aid of a powerful friend and ally in the north. Piety was made to yield to policy, and the bitter fruits of this alliance with a heathen prince he reaped in the life of the turbulent Absalom.
5. Eglah David's wife—This addition has led many to think that Eglah was another name for Michal, the first and proper wife, who, though she had no family after her insolent ridicule of David (2Sa 6:23), might have had a child before.
2Sa 3:6-12. Abner Revolts to David.
6-11. Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul—In the East, the wives and concubines of a king are the property of his successor to this extent, that for a private person to aspire to marry one of them would be considered a virtual advance of pretensions to the crown (see 1Ki 2:17). It is not clear whether the accusation against Abner was well or ill founded. But he resented the charge as an indignity, and, impelled by revenge, determined to transfer all the weight of his influence to the opposite party. He evidently set a full value on his services, and seems to have lorded it over his weak nephew in a haughty, overbearing manner.
12, 13. Abner sent messengers to David—Though his language implied a secret conviction, that in supporting Ish-bosheth he had been laboring to frustrate the divine purpose of conferring the sovereignty of the kingdom on David, this acknowledgment was no justification either of the measure he was now adopting, or of the motives that prompted it. Nor does it seem possible to uphold the full integrity and honor of David's conduct in entertaining his secret overtures for undermining Ish-bosheth, except we take into account the divine promise of the kingdom, and his belief that the secession of Abner was a means designed by Providence for accomplishing it. The demand for the restoration of his wife Michal was perfectly fair; but David's insisting on it at that particular moment, as an indispensable condition of his entering into any treaty with Abner, seems to have proceeded not so much from a lingering attachment as from an expectation that his possession of her would incline some adherents of the house of Saul to be favorable to his cause.
17-21. 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 he 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 of the Benjamites was a necessary policy; their tribe enjoyed the honor of giving birth to the royal dynasty of Saul; 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 Jehovah, no less than a connection of the royal house of Saul, and, without suspicion of any dishonorable motives, to advocate 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 he had artfully seduced. Abner pursued a course unworthy of an honorable man and though his offer was accepted by David, the guilt and infamy of the transaction were exclusively his.
2Sa 3:22-30. Joab Kills Abner.
24-27. Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done?—Joab's knowledge of Abner's wily character might have led him to doubt the sincerity of that person's proposals and to disapprove the policy of relying on his fidelity. But undoubtedly there were other reasons of a private and personal nature which made Joab displeased and alarmed by the reception given to Abner. The military talents of that general, his popularity with the army, his influence throughout the nation, rendered him a formidable rival. In the event of his overtures being carried out, the important service of bringing over all the other tribes to the king of Judah would establish so strong a claim on the gratitude of David, that his accession would inevitably raise a serious obstacle to the ambition of Joab. To these considerations was added the remembrance of the blood feud that existed between them since the death of his brother Asahel (2Sa 2:23). Determined, therefore, to get Abner out of the way, Joab feigned some reason, probably in the king's name, for recalling him, and, going out to meet him, stabbed him unawares; not within Hebron, for it was a city of refuge, but at a noted well in the neighborhood.
31. David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth—David's sorrow was sincere and profound, and he took occasion to give it public expression by the funeral honors he appointed for Abner.
King David himself followed the bier—a sort of wooden frame, partly resembling a coffin, and partly a hand-barrow.
33, 34. the king lamented over Abner—This brief elegy is an effusion of indignation as much as of sorrow. As Abner had stabbed Asahel in open war [2Sa 2:23], Joab had not the right of the Goel. Besides, he had adopted a lawless and execrable method of obtaining satisfaction (see on 1Ki 2:5). The deed was an insult to the authority, as well as most damaging to the prospects of the king. But David's feelings and conduct on hearing of the death, together with the whole character and accompaniments of the funeral solemnity, tended not only to remove all suspicion of guilt from him, but even to turn the tide of popular opinion in his favor, and to pave the way for his reigning over all the tribes more honorably than by the treacherous negotiations of Abner.