2 Samuelchapter 3

A.The long war, and sons born at Hebronvv. 1-5

1 Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3 his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; 4 his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; 5 and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

B.Abner breaks with Ish-bosheth over a concubinevv. 6-11

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. 7 Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” 8 Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 9 May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

C.Abner's deal, and Michal brought home weepingvv. 12-21

12 Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13 “Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” 14 Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 15 So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. 17 Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. 18 Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

D.Joab's knife in the gate of Hebronvv. 22-30

22 Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace. 23 When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.” 24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! 25 Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” 26 As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it. 27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. 28 Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” 30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

E.The king walks behind the biervv. 31-39

31 Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. 32 When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. 33 And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? 34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more. 35 Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” 36 All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? 39 And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

'David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker' (3:1), the chapter is that sentence worked out.

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'David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker' (3:1), the chapter is that sentence worked out. Sons are born in Hebron, Amnon and Absalom and Adonijah among them, all of whom will trouble him. Abner, accused over Saul's concubine, turns kingmaker for the other side; David's price is the return of Michal, and Paltiel follows her weeping to Bahurim. The deal is made and the feast eaten. Then Joab, who was not consulted and has a brother to avenge, calls Abner back to the gate of Hebron and stabs him. David curses Joab's house, walks behind the bier, and fasts: 'Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Nathan, Gad — 2 Samuel overview

A. 1–5 The long war, and sons born at Hebron
B. 6–11 Abner breaks with Ish-bosheth over a concubine
C. 12–21 Abner's deal, and Michal brought home weeping
D. 22–30 Joab's knife in the gate of Hebron
E. 31–39 The king walks behind the bier

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

2 Samuel 15 verses
- 2 Samuel 1:2On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.
- 2 Samuel 1:11Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.
- 2 Samuel 1:12They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
- 2 Samuel 1:16For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”
- 2 Samuel 1:17Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,
- Read 2 Samuel 1 →
2 Samuel 24 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
- 2 Samuel 2:10Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
- 2 Samuel 2:17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.
- 2 Samuel 2:19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.
- Read 2 Samuel 2 →
1 Kings 24 verses
- 1 Kings 2:5Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
- 1 Kings 2:8Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’
- 1 Kings 2:13Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied.
- 1 Kings 2:17Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
- Read 1 Kings 2 →
2 Samuel 34 verses
- 2 Samuel 3:8Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
- 2 Samuel 3:10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
- 2 Samuel 3:12Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
- 2 Samuel 3:20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.
- Read 2 Samuel 3 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Psalms 622 verses
- Psalms 62:9Lowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor.
- Psalms 62:12and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.
- Read Psalms 62 →
1 Samuel 252 verses
- 1 Samuel 25:42So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.
- 1 Samuel 25:44But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
- Read 1 Samuel 25 →
2 Samuel 122 verses
- 2 Samuel 12:8I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.
- 2 Samuel 12:17The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
- Read 2 Samuel 12 →
2 Samuel 162 verses
- 2 Samuel 16:5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
- 2 Samuel 16:9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
- Read 2 Samuel 16 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.