2 Samuel 3
3
1#1Ki 14:30; 2Sa 2:17The struggle between the house of Saul and the house of David endured, but David grew stronger as Saul became weaker.
2#1Ch 3:1–4Sons were born to David in Hebron:
his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3#1Sa 27:8; 25:42and his second, Kileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal, the Carmelite;
and the third, Absalom the son of Maakah the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur;
4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5and the sixth, Ithream, was born to Eglah, the wife of David.
These were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Defects to David
6#2Sa 2:8–9While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul. 7#2Sa 21:8–11; 16:21–22Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, and Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
8#2Sa 9:8; 16:9Abner became very angry over the words of Ish-Bosheth. He said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Each day I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends by not allowing you to fall into the hand of David. Yet today you are charging me with guilt concerning this woman. 9#1Sa 15:28; 1Ki 19:2May God do so to Abner, and more also, for as the Lord has sworn to David, this I will do for him, 10#Jdg 20:1; 1Sa 3:20to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11And he could not offer a response to Abner, for fear of him.
12So Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and my hand will be with you to bring over all of Israel to you.”
13#Ge 43:3He responded, “Very well, I will make a covenant with you, but I require one thing from you: you will not see my face unless you bring Michal the daughter of Saul with you when you come to see me.” 14#1Sa 18:27; 18:25Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for one hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15#1Sa 25:44So Ish-Bosheth sent for her, and he took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish. 16#2Sa 16:5; 19:16But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go. Return.” So he turned back.
17Abner had a word with the elders of Israel, “In days past, you were seeking David as king over you. 18#1Sa 15:28; 2Sa 3:9So do it now, because the Lord said to David: By the hand of David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of every enemy.”
19#1Ch 12:29; 1Sa 10:20–21Abner also spoke privately with Benjamin. Then Abner went to tell David privately at Hebron all that was received favorably by Israel and the entire house of Benjamin. 20So Abner, along with twenty men, went to David at Hebron, and David held a festival for Abner and the men who were with him. 21#2Sa 3:12; 1Ki 11:37Abner said to David, “Let me arise, go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went peaceably.
Joab Murders Abner
22Now the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much plunder with them, but Abner was no longer with David at Hebron, because he had sent him away in peace. 23When Joab and the whole of the army that was with him arrived, they reported to Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king and he sent him away peaceably.”
24So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why is it that you sent him away? Now he is long gone. 25#Dt 28:6; Isa 37:28You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to learn of your coming and going, to discern all that you are doing.”
26When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. However, David was not aware of this. 27#2Sa 20:9–10; 1Ki 2:5So Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab pulled him aside in the gateway so as to speak with him undisturbed. There he struck him in the midsection so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel, his brother.
28Afterward when David heard of this, he said, “My kingdom and I are forever blameless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29#2Sa 1:16May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house. May the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food.”
30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he killed Asahel their brother at Gibeon in the battle.
31#Ge 37:34; Jos 7:6David said to Joab and all of the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” As for King David, he followed behind the bier. 32#Pr 24:17; Job 31:28When they buried Abner at Hebron, the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all of the people wept.
33#2Sa 1:17; 13:12–13Then, the king lamented for Abner, saying,
“Should Abner have died as a fool dies?
34Your hands were not bound,
and your feet were not put in fetters;
as a man falls before the wicked, so you have fallen.”
And all of the people continued to weep over him.
35#2Sa 1:12; 12:17Then all of the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath, saying, “May God do to me, and more also, if I taste food or anything else before the sun sets.”
36All of the people recognized this, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did was pleasing to all of the people. 37That very day, all of the people, all of Israel, understood that it was not ordered from the king to have Abner the son of Ner killed.
38David said to his servant, “Do you not understand that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? 39#1Ki 2:33–34; 2:5–6Today, I am weak, even if an anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
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2 Samuel 3: MEV
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Military Bible Association
2 Samuel 3
3
War Between Israel and Judah
1There was war for a long time between Saul’s family and David’s family. David became stronger and stronger, but Saul’s family became weaker and weaker.
David’s Six Sons Born at Hebron
2These are David’s sons who were born at Hebron:
The first son was Amnon. Amnon’s mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
3The second son was Kileab. His mother was Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal from Carmel.
The third son was Absalom. Absalom’s mother was Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.
4The fourth son was Adonijah. Adonijah’s mother was Haggith.
The fifth son was Shephatiah. Shephatiah’s mother was Abital.
5The sixth son was Ithream. Ithream’s mother was David’s wife Eglah.
These sons were all born at Hebron.
Abner Decides to Join David
6As the families of Saul and David fought each other, Abner became more and more powerful in Saul’s army. 7Saul had a slave woman named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with my father’s servant woman?”
8This made Abner very angry. He said, “I have been loyal to Saul and his family. I did not give you to David. I am not a traitor working for Judah.#3:8 I am not … Judah Literally, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah?” But now you are saying that I did this bad thing. 9-10The Lord promised with an oath that he would take the kingdom away from Saul’s family and give it to David. And I swear I will make sure that happens. God will make David king of Judah and Israel. He will rule from Dan to Beersheba.#3:9-10 Dan to Beersheba This means the whole nation of Israel, north and south. Dan was a town in the northern part of Israel and Beersheba was in the southern part of Judah.” 11Ish Bosheth was too afraid of Abner to say anything in response.
12Abner sent messengers to David and said, “Who do you think should rule this country? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you become the ruler of all the people of Israel.”
13David answered, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. But I ask you only one thing: I will not meet with you until you bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me.”
14David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ish Bosheth. David said, “Give me my wife Michal. She was promised to me. I killed 100 Philistines to get her.”#3:14 I killed … to get her Literally, “I paid for her with 100 Philistine foreskins.” See 1 Sam. 18:20-30; 25:44.
15Then Ish Bosheth told the men to go and take Michal from a man named Paltiel son of Laish. 16Michal’s husband, Paltiel, followed them, crying all the way to Bahurim. Finally, Abner said to him, “Go back home.” So Paltiel went back home.
17Abner sent this message to the leaders of Israel. He said, “For a long time you have wanted to make David your king. 18Now do it! The Lord was talking about David when he said, ‘I will save my people the Israelites from the Philistines and all their other enemies. I will do this through my servant David.’”
19Abner said these things to David in Hebron, and he said these things to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. The things Abner said sounded good to the tribe of Benjamin and to all the people of Israel.
20Then Abner came up to David at Hebron. Abner brought 20 men with him. David gave a party for Abner and for all the men who came with him.
21Abner said to David, “My lord and king, let me go bring all the Israelites to you. Then they will make an agreement with you, and you will rule over all Israel, as you wanted.”
So David let Abner leave in peace.
Abner’s Death
22Joab and David’s officers came back from battle. They had many valuable things that they had taken from the enemy. David had just let Abner leave in peace. So Abner was not there in Hebron with David. 23Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron. The army said to Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to King David, and David let Abner leave in peace.”
24Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you, but you sent him away without hurting him! Why? 25You know Abner son of Ner. He came to trick you. He came to learn all about what you are doing.”
26Joab left David and sent messengers to Abner at the well of Sirah. The messengers brought Abner back, but David did not know this. 27When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab met him in the gateway, pulled him aside to talk in private, and then stabbed him in the stomach. So he got his revenge against Abner. Joab killed Abner because Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel.
David Cries for Abner
28Later David heard the news and said, “My kingdom and I are innocent of the death of Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this. 29Joab and his family are responsible for this, and they will be cursed. Many troubles will come to his family. His people will be sick with leprosy, crippled, killed in war, and not have enough food to eat!”
30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31-32David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth. Cry for Abner.” They buried Abner in Hebron. David went to the funeral. King David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.
33King David sang this sad song at Abner’s funeral:
“Did Abner die like some foolish criminal?
34Abner, your hands were not tied.
Your feet were not put in chains.
No, Abner, evil men killed you!”
Then all the people cried again for Abner. 35All day long people came to encourage David to eat food. But David had made a special promise. He said, “May God punish me and give me many troubles if I eat bread or any other food before the sun goes down.” 36All the people saw what happened, and they were pleased with what King David had done. 37All the people of Judah and Israel understood that King David had not killed Abner son of Ner.
38King David said to his officers, “You know that a very important leader died today in Israel. 39And it was on the very same day that I was anointed to be the king. These sons of Zeruiah have caused me a lot of trouble. May the Lord give them the punishment they deserve.”
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