2 Samuel 3:12

12 Entonces Abner envió unos mensajeros a decirle a David: «¿A quién le pertenece la tierra, si no a usted? Haga un pacto conmigo, y yo lo apoyaré para hacer que todo Israel se ponga de su parte».

2 Samuel 3:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:12

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf
On his own account, and not on the account of Ishbosheth, or the people of Israel; but to obtain terms for himself, or in his own name, as representing him and standing in his stead; or secretly, as Kimchi explains it, unknown to Ishbosheth, or the people of Israel. The Targum is,

``out of his place;''

he sent them from the place where he was, from Mahanaim:

saying, whose [is] the land?
the land of Israel, is it not thine, David? verily it is; to whom does it belong but unto thee, to whom the Lord has given it? not to any of Saul's posterity: this he ordered the messengers to say in the first place, in order to ingratiate himself to David, and gain his messengers an audience. The Targum is,

``I swear by him that made the earth;''

so Jarchi says, it is an oath by him whose the earth is, even by the living God, whose is the earth, and the fulness thereof:

saying [also], make thy league with me;
he desired to enter into a covenant of friendship with him, that everything that had passed might be forgiven and forgotten:

and, behold, my hand [shall be] with thee, to bring about all Israel
unto thee:
he promises on his part to do his utmost to bring all Israel under his government and to obedience to him.

2 Samuel 3:12 In-Context

10 Voy a quitarle el reino a la familia de Saúl y a establecer el trono de David sobre Israel y Judá, desde Dan hasta Berseba.

11 Isboset no se atrevió a responderle a Abner ni una sola palabra, pues le tenía miedo.

12 Entonces Abner envió unos mensajeros a decirle a David: «¿A quién le pertenece la tierra, si no a usted? Haga un pacto conmigo, y yo lo apoyaré para hacer que todo Israel se ponga de su parte».

13 «Muy bien —respondió David—. Haré un pacto contigo, pero con esta condición: Cuando vengas a verme, trae contigo a Mical hija de Saúl. De lo contrario, no te recibiré».

14 Además, David envió unos mensajeros a decirle a Isboset hijo de Saúl: «Devuélveme a mi esposa Mical, por la que di a cambio cien prepucios de filisteos».