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2 Samuel 3:21

in 2 Samuel 3

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

KJV

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

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This verse in 2 Samuel 3

Commentary

7 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

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.

This site's exposition

When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron

on 2 Samuel 3:20-21

Abner comes to Hebron with twenty men and David holds a feast, marking a peace struck. Abner leaves with a promise to gather all Israel, and “he went in peace” closes the scene. Ambrose of Milan cites David's conduct toward a former enemy in On the Duties of the Clergy.

This site's exposition

Let me go at once

Albert Barnes notes that Abner repeats the offer of verse 12, now that Michal has been returned. Adam Clarke holds that David sent him away in good faith. The covenant Abner promises would bind all Israel to David.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. 27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

And Abner said to David, I will arise and go,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

He went in peace - David dismissed him in good faith, having no sinister design in reference to him.
Abner repeats the offer 2Sa 3:12; and the condition of Michal’s return 2Sa 3:13 being now fulfilled, David accepts it, and the league between them was solemnly ratified at David’s board, amidst the rites of hospitality.

The words behind it

27 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • אַבְנֵ֣רAbner

    ʾavnerH74 →63 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • דָּוִ֡דDavid

    davidH1732 →999 times

  • אָק֣וּמָה׀let me arise

    ʾakumahH6965 →628 times

  • וְֽאֵלֵ֡כָהand let me go

    veelekhahH1980 →1546 times

  • וְאֶקְבְּצָה֩and let me gather

    veekbetzahH6908 →127 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • אֲדֹנִ֨יlord my

    ʾadoniH113 →333 times

  • הַמֶּ֜לֶךְthe king

    hamelekhH4428 →2525 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לIsrael

    yisraelH3478 →2507 times

  • וְיִכְרְת֤וּso they may make

    veyikhretuH3772 →288 times

  • אִתְּךָ֙with you

    ʾitekhaH854 →929 times

  • בְּרִ֔יתa covenant

    beritH1285 →284 times

  • וּמָ֣לַכְתָּ֔and you will reign

    umalakhtaH4427 →348 times

  • בְּכֹ֥לover all

    bekholH3605 →5413 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־that

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • תְּאַוֶּ֖הit desires

    teavehH183 →

  • נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָself your

    nafshekhaH5315 →754 times

  • וַיְּשַׁלַּ֥חand he sent away

    vaiyeshalachH7971 →845 times

  • דָּוִ֛דDavid

    davidH1732 →999 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • אַבְנֵ֖רAbner

    ʾavnerH74 →63 times

  • וַיֵּ֥לֶךְand he went

    vaiyelekhH1980 →1546 times

  • בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃in peace

    beshalomH7965 →236 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

11 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

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.”5 works1 Kings 11:37But as for you, I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your heart desires, and you will be king over Israel.5 works2 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.”4 works2 Samuel 5:3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.3 worksPsalms 20:4May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.2 worksPhilippians 2:21For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.2 works
The other 5 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Samuel 2:9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.2 works1 Kings 11:21When Hadad heard in Egypt that David had rested with his fathers and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead, he said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”2 works1 Chronicles 11:10Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.2 works2 Samuel 17:3and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.”2 works1 Samuel 23:20Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Psalms 20:4

    May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 145:19

      He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

    • Psalms 37:4

      Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

    • Matthew 21:22

      If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

    • Psalms 21:2

      You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

    • John 16:23

      In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

  • Through

    Philippians 2:21

    For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 10:24

      No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

    • 1 Corinthians 10:33

      as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

    • Philippians 2:4

      Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Samuel

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Samuel: the study guide →Read 2 Samuel 3 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Samuel 3 →