2 Samuel 3:3

3 The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

2 Samuel 3:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:3

And the second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the
Carmelite
That is: who had been the wife of Nabal. This son's name is called Daniel, ( 1 Chronicles 3:1 ) ; and was the first name he had, and which his father gave him, because as if he should say, "God hath judged me", and pleaded the cause of his reproach from Nabal, ( 1 Samuel 25:39 ) ; but why he should be called Chileab is not easy to say; the name is commonly thought to signify "like unto his father", or "all father": had all the features of his father, and was exceedingly like him; the Jews have a fabulous story concerning this ^F23, not worth relating:

and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king
of Geshur;
in ( 1 Samuel 27:8 ) we read of David's invading the land of the Geshurites; and the Jews say ^F24 that he then took the daughter of this king captive, and she being a beautiful woman married her, after made a proselyte according to the law in ( Deuteronomy 21:10-23 ) ; but it should be observed that David slew all the women of that country, and left not any alive; and besides that lay to the south of Judah, whereas this Geshur, of which Talmai was king, was a part of Syria, ( 2 Samuel 15:8 ) ; and lay to the north of the land of Israel; and with this king David hereby entered into an alliance, to strengthen his interest against Ishbosheth in those parts; of the trouble he met with from Absalom, see ( 2 Samuel 13:1-18:33 ) contrary to the expectations he had raised when he gave him the name of Absalom, or Leabsalom, as in ( 1 Chronicles 3:2 ) ; that is, one given "for his father's peace".

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Jarchi, Kimchi, & Abarbinel in loc.
F24 Tanchuma apud Abarbinel in loc.

2 Samuel 3:3 In-Context

1 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

2 These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.

3 The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

4 The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.

5 The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.

Footnotes

• [a]. As in parallel text at 1 Chr 3:1 (see also Greek version, which reads Daluia, and possible support by Dead Sea Scrolls); Hebrew reads Kileab.