2 Samuel 3:16

16 And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned.

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 And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul, saying: Restore my wife Michol, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 And Isboseth sent, and took her from her husband Phaltiel, the son of Lais.

16 And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned.

17 Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought for David that he might reign over you.

18 Now then do it: because the Lord hath spoken to David, saying: By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines, and of all their enemies.