2 Samuel 3
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.
war ... prolonged <04421 0752> [long war.]
house ...... house ........... house <01004> [between.]
David David ... becoming steadily ......... becoming increasingly <01980 01732> [David waxed.]
sons ... born <03205 01121> [sons born.]
Amnon <0550> [Amnon.]
Ahinoam <0293> [Ahinoam.]
Kileab <03609> [Chileab.]
[Daniel. Abigail.]
Absalom <053> [Absalom.]
Talmai <08526> [Talmai.]
Geshur <01650> [Geshur.]
Adonijah <0138> [Adonijah.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
Rizpah <07532> [Rizpah.]
have sexual relations <0935> [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.
have sexual relations <0935> [gone in.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
head .... dog <03611 07218> [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."
demonstrating <06213> [do shew.]
God .......... do <06213 0430> [So do God.]
Lord <03068> [as the Lord.]
Dan <01835> [from Dan.]
afraid <03372> [because.]
land <0776> [Whose.]
<03772> [Make.]
can <03027> [my hand.]
said <0559> [that is. Heb. saying. Thou shalt.]
face ............ visit <06440> [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 <04324> [Michal.]
Ish-bosheth <0378> [Ish-bosheth.]
[and hundred.]
Paltiel <06409> [Phaltiel.]
[Phalti.]
went ................ Go <01980> [along weeping. Heb. going and weeping.]
Bahurim <0980> [Bahurim.]
wanting <08543 08032> [in times past. Heb. both yesterday and the third day.]
Lord <03068> [for the Lord.]
hand ............ from ..... from <03027> [By the hand.]
Benjaminites .................... Benjamin <01144> [Benjamin.]
David .... David <01732> [David.]
gather <06908> [will gather.]
rule <04427 05315> [reign over.]
done <06213> [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.
came <0935> [that he came.]
know ................. determine ........... discover <03045> [and to know.]
sent <07971> [he sent.]
aside <05186> [took him.]
privately <07987> [quietly. or, peaceably.]
stabbed <05221> [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.
blood <01818> [for the blood.]
innocent <05355> [guiltless.]
blood <01818> [blood. Heb. bloods.]
blood whirl <02342> [rest.]
cease <03772> [let there.]
cease <03772> [fail. Heb. be cut off. an issue.]
killed Abner <02026 074> [slew Abner.]
killed <04191> [because.]
David ....................... David <01732> [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.
Tear <07167> [Rend.]
bier <04296> [bier. Heb. bed.]
loudly <05375> [lifted.]
fool <05036 04194> [as a fool dieth.]
That is, as a bad man, as the word frequently signifies in Scripture.
hands <03027> [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.
criminals <05766 01121> [wicked men. Heb. children of iniquity.]
wept <01058> [wept.]
encouraged <01262> [cause.]
punish <06213> [So do.]
before ... sun <06440 08121> [till the.]
[pleased them. Heb. was good in their eyes. as.]
leader <08269> [a prince.]
Today <03117> [I am.]
weak <07390> [weak. Heb. tender.]
sons <01121> [the sons.]
too much .... to bear <07186> [too hard.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
