2 Samuel 3:20

20 When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them.

2 Samuel 3:20 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:20

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him,
&c.] Before he went privately to him, and conferred with him, but now, having gained so many of the Israelites in favour of David, he appeared more publicly and brought perhaps some of the principal of the nation with film, to join in the league and covenant to be made:

and David made Abner and the men that [were] with him a feast;
not only in honour to them, as great personages, especially Abner, and as expressive of reconciliation; but as a token of the covenant they were entering into, and for the confirmation of it; it being usual to have feasts when covenants were made; see ( Genesis 26:28 Genesis 26:30 ) .

2 Samuel 3:20 In-Context

18 Now here is your chance. Remember that the Lord has said, "I will use my servant David to rescue my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their other enemies.' "

19 Abner spoke also to the people of the tribe of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tell David what the people of Benjamin and of Israel had agreed to do.

20 When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them.

21 Abner told David, "I will go now and win all Israel over to Your Majesty. They will accept you as king, and then you will get what you have wanted and will rule over the whole land." David gave Abner a guarantee of safety and sent him on his way.

22 Later on Joab and David's other officials returned from a raid, bringing a large amount of loot with them. Abner, however, was no longer there at Hebron with David, because David had sent him away with a guarantee of safety.