2 Samuel 3
3
1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.
2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. 3 His second son#tn The Hebrew text does not have the word “son.” So also in vv. 3-5. was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow#tn Heb “wife.” of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. 4 His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. 5 His sixth son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons#tn The Hebrew text does not have “sons.” were all born to David in Hebron.
Abner Defects to David’s Camp
6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential#tn Heb “was strengthening himself.” The statement may have a negative sense here, perhaps suggesting that Abner was overstepping the bounds of political propriety in a self-serving way. in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth#tc The Hebrew of the MT reads simply “and he said,” with no expressed subject for the verb. It is not likely that the text originally had no expressed subject for this verb, since the antecedent is not immediately clear from the context. We should probably restore to the Hebrew text the name “Ish-bosheth.” See a few medieval Hebrew mss, Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion, and Vulgate. Perhaps the name was accidentally omitted by homoioarcton. Note that both the name Ishbosheth and the following preposition אֶל (’el) begin with the letter alef. said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with#tn Heb “come to”; KJV, NRSV “gone in to”; NAB “been intimate with”; NIV “sleep with.” my father’s concubine?”#sn This accusation against Abner is a very serious one, since an act of sexual infringement on the king’s harem would probably have been understood as a blatant declaration of aspirations to kingship. As such it was not merely a matter of ethical impropriety but an act of grave political significance as well.
8 These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating#tn Heb “I do.” loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives#tn Heb “brothers.” and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today!#tn Heb “and you have laid upon me the guilt of the woman today.” 9 God will severely judge Abner#tn Heb “So will God do to Abner and so he will add to him.” if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him,#tc Heb “has sworn to David.” The LXX, with the exception of the recension of Origen, adds “in this day.” 10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!” 11 Ish-bosheth#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ish-bosheth) has been specified in the translation for clarity. was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers#tn The Hebrew text adds here, “on his behalf.” to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement#tn Heb “cut a covenant.” So also in vv. 13, 21. with me, and I will do whatever I can#tn Heb “and behold, my hand is with you.” to cause all Israel to turn to you.” 13 So David said, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to visit me.”#tn The words “when you come to see my face,” though found in the Hebrew text, are somewhat redundant given the similar expression in the earlier part of the verse. The words are absent from the Syriac Peshitta.
14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand:#tn Heb “to Ish-bosheth son of Saul saying.” To avoid excessive sibilance (especially when read aloud) the translation renders “saying” as “with this demand.” “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired#tn Heb “whom I betrothed to myself.” for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 15 So Ish-bosheth took her#tn Heb “sent and took her.” from her husband Paltiel#tn In 1 Sam 25:44 this name appears as “Palti.” son of Laish. 16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, “Go back!”#tn Heb “Go, return.” So he returned home.
17 Abner advised#tn Heb “the word of Abner was with.” the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king.#tn Heb “you were seeking David to be king over you.” 18 Act now! For the Lord has said to David, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save#tc The present translation follows the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate in reading “I will save,” rather than the MT “he saved.” The context calls for the 1st person common singular imperfect of the verb rather than the 3rd person masculine singular perfect. my people Israel from#tn Heb “from the hand of.” the Philistines and from all their enemies.’”
19 Then Abner spoke privately#tn Heb “into the ears of.” with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately#tn Heb “also Abner went to speak into the ears of David in Hebron.” of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.#tn Heb “all which was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.” 20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement#tn After the cohortatives, the prefixed verbal form with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result. with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.
Abner Is Killed
22 Now David’s soldiers#tn Heb “And look, the servants of David.” and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David#tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity. had sent him away and he had left in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”
24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner#tn Heb “Look, Abner.” has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way!#tc The LXX adds “in peace.” 25 You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return#tn Heb “your going out and your coming in.” The expression is a merism. It specifically mentions the polar extremities of the actions but includes all activity in between the extremities as well, thus encompassing the entirety of one’s activities. and to discover everything that you are doing!”
26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.) 27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him#tn Heb “and he struck him down there [in] the stomach.” in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.#tn Heb “and he [i.e., Abner] died on account of the blood of Asahel his [i.e., Joab’s] brother.”
28 When David later heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner! 29 May his blood whirl over#tn Heb “and may they whirl over.” In the Hebrew text the subject of the plural verb is unexpressed. The most likely subject is Abner’s “shed blood” (v. 28), which is a masculine plural form in Hebrew. The verb חוּל (khul, “whirl”) is used with the preposition עַל (’al) only here and in Jer 23:19; 30:23. the head of Joab and the entire house of his father!#tc 4QSama has “of Joab” rather than “of his father” read by the MT. May the males of Joab’s house#tn Heb “the house of Joab.” However, it is necessary to specify that David’s curse is aimed at Joab’s male descendants; otherwise it would not be clear that “one who works at the spindle” refers to a man doing woman’s work rather than a woman. never cease to have#tn Heb “and may there not be cut off from the house of Joab.” someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle#tn The expression used here is difficult. The translation “one who works at the spindle” follows a suggestion of S. R. Driver that the expression pejoratively describes an effeminate man who, rather than being a mighty warrior, is occupied with tasks that are normally fulfilled by women (S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 250-51; cf. NAB “one unmanly”; TEV “fit only to do a woman’s work”; CEV “cowards”). But P. K. McCarter, following an alleged Phoenician usage of the noun to refer to “crutches,” adopts a different view. He translates the phrase “clings to a crutch,” seeing here a further description of physical lameness (II Samuel [AB], 118). Such an idea fits the present context well and is followed by NIV, NCV, and NLT, although the evidence for this meaning is questionable. According to DNWSI 2:915-16, the noun consistently refers to a spindle in Phoenician, as it does in Ugaritic (see UT 468). or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!”
30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.
31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!” Now King David followed#tn Heb “was walking.” behind the funeral bier. 32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly#tn Heb “lifted up his voice and wept.” The expression is a verbal hendiadys. over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too. 33 The king chanted the following lament for Abner:
“Should Abner have died like a fool?
34 Your hands#tc The translation follows many medieval Hebrew manuscripts and several ancient versions in reading “your hands,” rather than “your hand.” were not bound,
and your feet were not put into irons.
You fell the way one falls before criminals.”
All the people#tc 4QSama lacks the words “all the people.” wept over him again. 35 Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, “God will punish me severely#tn Heb “Thus God will do to me and thus he will add.” if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!”
36 All the people noticed this and it pleased them.#tn Heb “it was good in their eyes.” In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. 37 All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation.#tn Heb “from the king.”
38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader#tn Heb “a leader and a great one.” The expression is a hendiadys. has fallen this day in Israel? 39 Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear!#tn Heb “are hard from me.” May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!”#tn Heb “May the Lord repay the doer of the evil according to his evil” (NASB similar).
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1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
2 Samuel 3
3
The House of David Grows Stronger
1The battle was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David was growing stronger and stronger#Literally “was going and strong” while the house of Saul was becoming weaker and weaker.#Literally “was going and weak” 2And sons were born to David in Hebron; his firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam from Jezreel#Literally “the Jezreelitess”. 3His second was Kileab by Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; the third was Absalom the son of Maacah, who was the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur. 4The fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital. 5The sixth was Ithream by Eglah the wife of David. These were born to David in Hebron.
6As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was continuing, Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul. 7Saul had had a concubine, and her name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah. Then Ish-Bosheth#Supported by some Hebrew and Greek manuscripts said to Abner, “Why did you have sex with#Literally “have you gone into” my father’s concubine?” 8Abner became very angry#Literally “And it became hot for Abner very” at the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he said, “Am I the head of a dog which is for Judah today? Do I not continue to show loyal love with the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends? I have not let you fall into the hands of David, yet you have accused me of sin with this woman#Literally “you have called me into account with the guilt of the woman” today. 9Thus may God punish Abner,#Literally “may God do to Abner, and thus may he add to it” if I do not accomplish what Yahweh has sworn to David;#Literally “for as that Yahweh has sworn to David, so I will accomplish for him” 10specifically, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba!” 11And Ish-Bosheth was no longer able to answer#Literally “return a word to” Abner because he feared him.#Literally “because of his fearing him”
Abner Pledges Support for David
12Abner sent messengers to David where he was,#Literally “under him” saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me!#Literally “cut your covenant with me” Look, my hand is with you to bring all of Israel over to you!” 13He#David said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you.#Literally “I will cut a covenant with you” I am asking only one thing from you: You shall not see my face unless you bring Michal the daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”#Literally “my face” 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul, saying, “Give me my wife Michal whom I betrothed to myself#Hebrew “me” for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15So Ish-Bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.#The Hebrew Masoretic text (Kethib) reads “Lush”; Qere reads “Laish” 16But her husband went with her, weeping all along#Literally “going and weeping” after her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go and return.” So he returned.
17The word of Abner came to#Literally “was with” the elders of Israel, saying, “For quite some time#Literally “Both yesterday and the day before” you were seeking David as king over you. 18So then, bring it about, because Yahweh had said to David, “Through the hand of David my servant I am about to save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.” 19Abner also spoke privately to Benjamin.#Literally “in the ears of Benjamin” Abner also went to speak to David#Literally “to speak in the ears of David” in Hebron, all that was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.
20Then Abner came to David in Hebron and with him were twenty men. David had prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him. 21And Abner said to David, “Let me get up and go and gather all of Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant#Literally “cut a covenant” with you so you can reign over all which your soul desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he left in peace. 22And look, the servants of David and Joab came from the raid, and they brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he#David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace. 23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he left in peace.”
Joab Assassinates Abner
24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came here to you? Why have you dismissed him that he actually went away?#Literally “and he went going” 25You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you. He came to learn about your going out and coming in and to know all which you are doing.” 26Then Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from Bor Hasirah, but David did not know it.
27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak with him in private. Then he struck him in the stomach there and he died, for he had shed the blood of Asahel his brother.#Literally “for the blood of Asahel his brother.” See Num 35:16–25 28When David heard this afterwards, he said: “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh#Literally “from with Yahweh” forever for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29May the blood come down on the head of Joab and all the house of his father. May the house of Joab never lack#Literally “May there not be cut off from the house of Joab” one with a bodily discharge or one with leprosy or one who grasps the distaff or one who falls by the sword or one who is lacking food.”
30So Joab and Abishai, his brother, killed Abner because he had killed Asahel, their brother, at Gibeon in the battle. 31David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothing and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” Now King David was following after the bier. 32And they buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33The king sang a lament for Abner and said, “Should Abner have died the death of a fool? 34Your hands were not tied and your feet were not in contact with bronze fetters. You have fallen as one who falls before sons of wickedness.” Then all the people wept over him again.#Literally “and all the people did again to weep over him” 35Then all the people came to give David food. Still on that day, David swore, “May God punish me#Literally “Thus may God do to me and thus may he add” if I taste food or anything before the sun goes down.” 36All the people noticed, and it was good in their eyes, as everything that the king did was good in the eyes of all the people. 37Then all the people and all of Israel realized on that day that the king had not desired#Literally “that it was not from the king” to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38Then the king said to his servants, “Did you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? 39I am weak today even though anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are crueler than I am. May Yahweh pay them back for doing wickedness according to their own wickedness.”
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