2 Samuel 3:16

16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

2 Samuel 3:16 in Other Translations

16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." And he returned.

16 Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.

16 But Paltiel followed her, weeping all the way, to Bahurim. There Abner told him, "Go home." And he went home.

16 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back.

2 Samuel 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:16

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her
Because of his great affection to her, unwilling to part with her, but forced to it at the command of the king her brother:

to Bahurim;
a city in the tribe of Benjamin, ( 2 Samuel 19:16 ) ; perhaps the same with Almon, ( Joshua 21:18 ) ; these two words being of the same signification; and the Targum has it hero Almuth; so Alemeth in ( 1 Chronicles 6:60 ) . It seems to be the same Josephus ^F3 calls Bachures, and says it was not far from Jerusalem. Bunting ^F4 says it was something more than a mile towards the northeast, and at this time is a fair castle strongly fortified, standing in a high place, and in the valley near it, at the stone Bohan, ( Joshua 15:6 ) ; see ( 2 Samuel 17:18 ) ;

then said Abner to him, go, return, and he returned;
by which it appears that Abner came with her to introduce her to David, without whom he was not to see his face; and he did not choose her husband should go with her any further, and was at his orders obliged to go back, who otherwise would have gladly accompanied her further still, through his great affection for her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 7.
F4 Travels, p. 144.

2 Samuel 3:16 In-Context

14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king.

18 Now do it! For the LORD promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ”

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 16:5; 2 Samuel 19:16; 2 Samuel 17:18