2 Samuel 3:37

37 Then all the people and all of Israel realized on that day that {the king had not desired} to kill Abner the son of Ner.

2 Samuel 3:37 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:37

For all the people and all Israel understood that day
Not the people of Judah only, but of Israel also, to whom the knowledge of these things came; they knew and were satisfied by his conduct and behaviour, by his words and actions:

that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner;
it was not by the counsel or advice of the king, as the Targum; it was without his knowledge and consent, was contrary to his mind and will; that he had no manner of concern in it, and that if it had been in his power he would have prevented it.

2 Samuel 3:37 In-Context

35 Then all the people came to give David food. Still on that day, David swore, "{May God punish me} if I taste food or anything before the sun goes down."

36 All the people noticed, and it [was] good in their eyes, as everything that the king did [was] good in the eyes of all the people.

37 Then all the people and all of Israel realized on that day that {the king had not desired} to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his servants, "Did you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel?

39 I [am] weak today even though anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, [are] crueler than I [am]. May Yahweh pay them back for doing wickedness according to their [own] wickedness."

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "that it [was] not from the king"