2 Samuel 3:3-13

3 and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of ¹Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of ²Geshur;

4 and the fourth, ³Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6 It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that ⁴Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was ⁵Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?"

8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, "⁶Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman.

9 "⁷May God do so to Abner, and more also, if ⁸as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him,

10 ⁹to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ¹⁰from Dan even to Beersheba."

11 And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, "Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you."

13 He said, "Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, ¹¹you shall not see my face unless * you ¹²first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."

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2 Samuel 3:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 3

This chapter begins with the continuation of the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, 2Sa 3:1; and gives an account of the wives of David, and his sons by them, 2Sa 3:2-5; of a quarrel between Ishbosheth and Abner, 2Sa 3:6-11; and of Abner's proposal to make a league with David; but David would not see his face unless Michal his wife was returned to him, who was accordingly, 2Sa 3:12-16; and of the interest Abner made with the elders of Israel in favour of David, which he reported to him, and promised to make more, 2Sa 3:17-21; but Joab returning from a pursuit, and with great spoil, just as Abner departed, and hearing of it, chided David for letting him go, and privately sent for him back, and treacherously murdered him, 2Sa 3:22-27; from which murder David cleared himself and his kingdom, and for it made dreadful imprecations on Joab and his family, 2Sa 3:28-30; and buried Abner with great lamentation, expressing much concern for his death, and the high opinion he had of him, 2Sa 3:31-39.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 12

1. 1 Samuel 27:8; 1 Chronicles 3:2
2. 2 Samuel 14:32; 2 Samuel 15:8
3. 1 Kings 1:5
4. 2 Samuel 2:8, 9
5. 2 Samuel 21:8-11
6. 1 Samuel 24:14; 2 Samuel 9:8
7. 1 Kings 19:2
8. 1 Samuel 15:28
9. 1 Samuel 15:28
10. 1 Samuel 3:20
11. Genesis 43:3
12. 1 Samuel 18:20; 1 Samuel 19:11

Footnotes 4

[a]. Lit "wife"
[b]. So some ancient mss and versions; M.T. "he"
[c]. Lit "saying"
[d]. Lit "my face"