2 Samuel 3
3
Civil War
1During the long war between the house of Saul and the house of David,#1Sm 20:16; 1Kg 12:19; 2Ch 21:7; Ps 122:5; Is 22:22; Zch 12:8,10; 13:1; Lk 1:27 David was growing stronger#Jb 17:9 and the house of Saul was becoming weaker.
2Sons were born to David in Hebron:
His firstborn was Amnon,#2Sm 13:1–29
by Ahinoam#1Sm 25:42–43 the Jezreelite;
3his second was Chileab,
by Abigail,#1Sm 25:3–42 the widow of Nabal the Carmelite;
the third was Absalom,#2Sm 13:34; 14:23–25,33; 15:6,10–14; 18:9–12,33
son of Maacah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;#1Sm 27:8; 2Sm 13:37–38; 14:32; 15:8
4the fourth was Adonijah,#1Kg 1:5
son of Haggith;
the fifth was Shephatiah,
son of Abital;
5the sixth was Ithream,
by David’s wife Eglah.
These were born to David in Hebron.#1Ch 3:1–5
6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul.#2Sm 2:8–9 7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah#2Sm 21:8–10 daughter of Aiah, and Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I a dog’s head#3:8 = a despised person#Ex 22:31; 1Sm 17:43; 24:14; 2Sm 9:8; 16:9 who belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I’ve been loyal to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven’t betrayed you to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 9May God punish Abner and do so severely if I don’t do for David what the Lord swore to him: 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah#1Sm 15:28; 16:1–13; 28:17; 1Ch 12:23 from Dan to Beer-sheba.” 11Ish-bosheth did not dare respond to Abner because he was afraid of him.
12Abner sent messengers as his representatives to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and you can be certain I am on your side to turn all Israel over to you.”
13David replied, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there’s one thing I require of you: You will not see my face unless you first bring Saul’s daughter Michal#1Sm 14:49 when you come to see me.”
14Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife Michal. I was engaged to her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”#1Sm 18:20–27
15So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.#1Sm 25:44 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he went back.
The Assassination of Abner
17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: “In the past you wanted David to be king over you. 18Now take action, because the Lord has spoken concerning David: ‘Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the power of the Philistines and the power of all Israel’s enemies.’”
19Abner also informed the Benjaminites and went to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.#1Ch 12:29 20When Abner and twenty men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.
21Abner said to David, “Let me now go and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you,#2Sm 3:12 and you will reign over all you desire.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.
22Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace. 23When Joab and his whole army arrived, Joab was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace.”
24Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look here, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he’s getting away. 25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your military activities#3:25 Lit your going out and your coming in and everything you’re doing.” 26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well#3:26 Or cistern of Sirah, but David was unaware of it. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the city gate, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel,#3:27 Lit And he died for the blood of Asahel Joab’s brother.#2Sm 2:23; 1Kg 2:5,32
28David heard about it later and said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole family, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease,#Lv 14:2–8 or a man who can only work a spindle,#3:29 LXX reads who uses a crutch or someone who falls by the sword or starves.” 30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.#2Sm 2:23
31David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth,#Gn 37:34; Jos 7:6 and mourn over Abner.” And King David walked behind the coffin.#3:31 Or the bier; lit the bed
32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept, 33and the king sang a lament for Abner:#2Sm 1:17; 2Ch 35:25
Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34Your hands were not bound,
your feet not placed in bronze shackles.
You fell like one who falls victim to criminals.
And all the people wept over him even more.
35Then they came to urge David to eat food while it was still day, but David took an oath: “May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!” #2Sm 12:17 36All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 37On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.
38Then the king said to his soldiers, “You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today. 39As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me.#2Sm 16:10; 19:22 May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil!” #Ps 28:4; 2Tm 4:14
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2 Samuel 3: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
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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