2 Samuel 3:9

9 May God deal harshly with me, Abner, and worse still if I don't do for David exactly what the LORD swore to him—

2 Samuel 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:9

So do God to Abner, and more also
He wishes the worst of evils to himself, such as he cared not to name; but left them to be supposed what he meant as utter ruin and destruction of himself, soul and body:

except as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
meaning if he did not do that David, which God had sworn should be done, namely, what follows, the translation of the kingdom to him; by which it appears that Abner knew of the promise and oath of God respecting this matter; and therefore acted against his conscience, in setting up Ishbosheth on the throne; which he knew would not prosper, and that he was fighting against God; which shows what a hardened wicked creature he was, and how far ambition, and being thought to be of consequence, will carry a man.

2 Samuel 3:9 In-Context

7 Now Saul had a secondary wife named Rizpah, Aiah's daughter. Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you had sex with my father's secondary wife?"

8 Abner got very angry over what Ishbosheth had said. "Am I some sort of dog's head?" Abner asked. "I've been nothing but loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his brothers and his friends. I haven't handed you over to David, but today you accuse me of doing something wrong with this woman.

9 May God deal harshly with me, Abner, and worse still if I don't do for David exactly what the LORD swore to him—

10 removing the kingdom from Saul's house and securing David's throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan all the way to Beer-sheba!"

11 Ishbosheth couldn't say a single word in reply to Abner because he was afraid of him.