Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Samuel 3

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  During the war David still waxes stronger.
2  Six sons are born to him in Hebron.
6  Abner, displeased with Ish-bosheth,
7  revolts to David.
13  David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal.
17  Abner, having communed with the Israelites, is feasted by David, and dismissed.
22  Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner.
28  David curses Joab;
31  and mourns for Abner.
Verse 1

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
long war
1 Kings 14:30, 15:16,32
between
Genesis 3:15, Psalms 45:3-5, Matthew 10:35,36, Galatians 5:17, Ephesians 6:12
David waxed
2:17, Esther 6:13, Job 8:7, 17:9, Psalms 84:7, Proverbs 4:18,19, Daniel 2:34,35,44,45, Revelation 6:2
Verse 2

And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
sons born
1 Chronicles 3:1-4
Amnon
13:1-29, Genesis 49:3,4
Ahinoam
1 Samuel 25:43
Verse 3

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
Chileab
1 Chronicles 3:1
Daniel
Abigail.
2:2, 1 Samuel 25:3,42
Absalom
13:20-28, 14:24-33, 15:1-18, 17:1-14, 18:9-18,33
Talmai
13:37,38
Geshur
Deuteronomy 3:14, Joshua 13:13, 1 Samuel 27:8
Verse 4

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
Adonijah
1 Kings 1:5-18, 2:13-25
Verse 6

And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
Abner
2:8,9, 2 Kings 10:23, 2 Chronicles 25:8, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 8:9,10, Joel 3:9-13, Matthew 12:30
Verse 7

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
Rizpah
21:8-11
Wherefore
This action of Abner's seems a most evident proof that he intended to seize on the government; and it was so understood by Ish-bosheth; see Parallel Texts.
gone in
12:8, 16:21,22, 1 Kings 2:17,21,22
Verse 8

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
Abner
Psalms 76:10, Mark 6:18,19
Am I a dog's head
This was a proverbial expression among the Hebrews to denote whatever was deemed worthless and contemptible. Something similar to this was the answer of the Turkish commander at Beer, on the Euphrates, to a request made to see the castle. "Do they," said he, "take me for a child, or an ass's head, that they would feed me with sweet meats, and dupe me with a bit of cloth? No, they shall not see the castle."
9:8, 16:9, Deuteronomy 23:18, 1 Samuel 24:14,15, 2 Kings 8:13
do shew
9,18, 5:2, 1 Samuel 15:28, Psalms 2:1-4, Isaiah 37:23, Acts 9:4,5
Verse 9

So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
So do God
35, 19:13, Ruth 1:17, 1 Samuel 3:17, 14:44, 25:22, 1 Kings 19:2
as the Lord
1 Samuel 15:28, 16:1-13, 28:17, 1 Chronicles 12:23, Psalms 89:3,4,19,20,35-37
Verse 10

To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
from Dan
17:11, 24:2, Judges 20:1, 1 Kings 4:25
Verse 11

And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
because
Verse 12

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
Whose
19:6, 20:1-13
Make
Psalms 62:9, Luke 16:5-8
my hand
21,27, 5:1-3, 19:14,41-43, 20:1,2, 1 Chronicles 11:1-3, 12:38-40, Matthew 21:8-10
Verse 13

And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
that is
Heb. saying. Thou shalt.
Genesis 43:3, 44:23,26
except
As Michal was not divorced, but violently separated from David, he had a legal right to demand her, and was justified in receiving her again. It is probable, also, that her marriage with Phaltiel was a force upon her inclinations; and whatever affections he might have for her, it was highly criminal for him to take another man's wife. David required Michal probably both out of affection for her, and to strengthen his interest, by asserting his affinity with the house of Saul.
Michal
20-23, 1 Samuel 18:20-28, 19:11-17, 1 Chronicles 15:29
Verse 14

And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
Ish-bosheth
2:10
and hundred
1 Samuel 18:25,27
Verse 15

And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
Phaltiel
1 Samuel 25:44
Phalti
Verse 16

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
along weeping
Heb. going and weeping.
Proverbs 9:17,18
Bahurim
16:5, 17:18, 19:16, 1 Kings 2:8
Verse 17

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
in times past
Heb. both yesterday and the third day.
Verse 18

Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
for the Lord
9, 1 Samuel 13:14, 15:28, 16:1,12,13, John 12:42,43
By the hand
Psalms 89:3,4,19-23, 132:17,18
Verse 19

And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
Benjamin
1 Samuel 10:20,21, 1 Chronicles 12:29, Psalms 68:27
Verse 20

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
David
Genesis 26:30, 31:54, Esther 1:3
Verse 21

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
will gather
10,12, 2:9, Philippians 2:21
reign over
1 Kings 11:37, Psalms 20:4
Verse 24

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
What hast
Joab and his brother Abishai, David's nephews, had been very faithful and highly useful to him in his distresses; and, from gratitude and natural affection, he had inadvertently permitted them to assume almost as much ascendancy over him as Abner had over the pusillanimous Ishbosheth: he trusted and feared them too much, and allowed them all the importance they claimed; which had emboldened them, especially Joab, to a high degree of presumption.
8,39, 19:5-7, Numbers 23:11, John 18:35
Verse 25

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
that he came
27, 2 Kings 18:32; *marg:; John 7:12,47, Romans 2:1
and to know
10:3, Genesis 42:9,12,16, Numbers 27:17, Deuteronomy 28:6, 1 Samuel 29:4-6, Psalms 121:8, Isaiah 37:28
Verse 26

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
he sent
Proverbs 26:23-26, 27:4-6
Verse 27

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
took him
20:9,10, Deuteronomy 27:24, 1 Kings 2:5,32
quietly
or, peaceably.
Jeremiah 41:2,6,7
and smote
Joab was afraid that Abner, after rendering such essential service to David, would be made the general of the army; and therefore, under pretence of avenging the death of his brother, he treacherously assassinated the unsuspecting and too-confiding Abner: and such was the power of this cool-blooded and nefarious murderer, that the king dared not bring him to justice for his crime. But, while Joab's conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner's punishment; who, from ambition, had pertinaciously, against his conscience, opposed the declared will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert Ish-bosheth, and offer his services to David: see ver. 6-10; 4:6.
for the blood
2:19-23
Verse 28

And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
guiltless
Genesis 9:6, Exodus 21:12, Numbers 35:33, Deuteronomy 21:1-9, Matthew 27:24
blood
Heb. bloods.
Genesis 4:10; *marg:
Verse 29

Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
rest
1:16, Judges 9:24,56,57, 1 Kings 2:31-34, Acts 28:4, Revelation 16:6
let there
1 Samuel 2:32-36, 2 Kings 5:27, Psalms 109:8-19
fail
Heb. be cut off. an issue.
Leviticus 13:44-46, 2 Kings 5:1
Verse 30

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
slew Abner
Proverbs 28:17, Acts 28:4
because
2:19-23
Verse 31

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
And David
David, intending no doubt to punish Joab, and to lessen his authority with the people, commanded him to take upon him the office of chief mourner; but, as his revenge was gratified, his rival removed, and no heavier punishment inflicted, it is probable his hardened mind would feel but little objection to the ceremony.
Rend
1:2,11, Genesis 37:29,34, Joshua 7:6, Judges 11:35, 2 Kings 19:1
bier
Heb. bed.
Luke 7:14
Verse 32

And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
lifted
1:12, 18:33, 1 Samuel 30:4, Job 31:28, Proverbs 24:17, Luke 19:41,42
Verse 33

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
as a fool dieth
That is, as a bad man, as the word frequently signifies in Scripture.
13:12,13,28,29, Proverbs 18:7, Ecclesiastes 2:15,16, Jeremiah 17:11, Luke 12:19,20
Verse 34

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
hands
The hand of malefactors were usually secured with cords, and their feet with fetters; a custom to which David affectingly alludes in his lamentation over the dust of Abner. Thy hands, O Abner, were not bound, as found to be a malefactor, nor thy feet put in fetters; thou was treated with honour by him whose business it was to judge thee, and thy attachment to the house of Saul was esteemed rather generous than culpable: as the best of men may fall, so thou fellest by the sword of treachery, not of justice.
Judges 16:21, Psalms 107:10,11
wicked men
Heb. children of iniquity.
Job 24:14, Hosea 6:9
wept
1:12
Verse 35

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
cause
12:17, Jeremiah 16:7, Ezekiel 24:17,22
So do
9, Ruth 1:17
till the
1:12, Judges 20:26
Verse 36

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
pleased them
Heb. was good in their eyes. as.
15:6,13, Psalms 62:9, Mark 7:37, 15:11-13
Verse 38

And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
a prince
12, 2:8, 1 Samuel 14:50,51, Job 32:9
Verse 39

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
I am
Exodus 21:12, 2 Chronicles 19:6,7, Psalms 75:10, 101:8, Proverbs 20:8, 25:5
weak
Heb. tender.
1 Chronicles 22:5, Isaiah 7:4; *marg:; Romans 13:4
the sons
1 Chronicles 2:15,16
too hard
19:6,7,13
the Lord
1 Kings 2:5,6,33,34, Psalms 7:16, 28:4, 62:12, 2 Timothy 4:14

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