2 Samuel 3:21

21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

2 Samuel 3:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:21

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.

2 Samuel 3:21 In-Context

19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

22 Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him on his way in peace.

23 When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”