And Abner said to David, I will arise and go
Into the several parts of the land of Israel:
and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king;
the princes of the several tribes, and the elders of the people, their heads and principal men:
that they may make a league with thee;
come into the league and covenant now made with Abner, and those with him:
and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth:
which he supposed reached to all the people of the house of Israel and of Judah, though David had not expressed any eager and impatient desire of government, but waited the Lord's time to be put into the possession of the whole kingdom of Israel:
and David sent Abner away, and he went in peace;
with inward satisfaction of mind, pleased that things were so well settled and adjusted to the content of all parties, and with outward satiety of body, no insults or attempts being made upon him by any of David's men; which perhaps would not have been the case if Joab had been at court, as may be concluded from what follows.