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2 Samuel
Chapter Three
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 3
This
chapter begins with the continuation of the war between the house of Saul and
the house of David
2 Samuel 3:1; and
gives an account of the wives of David
and his sons by them
2 Samuel 3:2; of a quarrel
between Ishbosheth and Abner
2 Samuel 3:6; and
of Abner's proposal to make a league with David; but David would not see his
face unless Michal his wife was returned to him
who was accordingly
2 Samuel 3:12; and
of the interest Abner made with the elders of Israel in favour of David
which
he reported to him
and promised to make more
2 Samuel 3:17; but
Joab returning from a pursuit
and with great spoil
just as Abner departed
and hearing of it
chided David for letting him go
and privately sent for him
back
and treacherously murdered him
2 Samuel 3:22; from
which murder David cleared himself and his kingdom
and for it made dreadful
imprecations on Joab and his family
2 Samuel 3:28; and
buried Abner with great lamentation
expressing much concern for his death
and
the high opinion he had of him
2 Samuel 3:31.
2 Samuel 3:1 Now
there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But
David grew stronger and stronger
and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
YLT
1And the war is long between
the house of Saul and the house of David
and David is going on and [is]
strong
and the house of Saul are going on and [are] weak.
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house
of David
.... The recent battle
though so much in favour of David
did
not
put an end to the war between him and Ishbosheth
which lasted five years
longer; for it was when Ishbosheth had reigned two years that that battle was
fought
and he reigned five years longer; for not till his death
and when
David had reigned above seven years in Hebron
was he made king over all
Israel; and during this time peace was not made
but the war carried on; though
perhaps not in pitched battles
of which we no more read
but in skirmishes:
but David waxed stronger and stronger; he having the
advantage in all such skirmishes
and persons continually coming over to his
side from the several tribes:
and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker: being always
worsted whenever they skirmished with David's men
and by continual revolts
from them. This is reckoned an emblem of the kingdoms of Christ and antichrist
the one increasing more and more
as it has and will do
and the other
decreasing
and before long will be consumed; and of the two parties in a
regenerate man
grace and indwelling sin
the one as to its exercise growing
stronger and stronger
and the other as to its influence on the outward
conversation weaker and weaker.
2 Samuel 3:2 2 Sons were born to David in
Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
YLT
2And there are born to David
sons in Hebron
and his first-born is Amnon
of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
And unto David were sons born in Hebron
.... He was
married before he came there
had wives in his state of exile
but had no
children by them there
at least no sons; if any
only daughters:
and his firstborn was Amnon
of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; who being
mentioned first
and her son his firstborn
seems to have been his wife before
be took Abigail; he had not much comfort of this firstborn son of his; see 2 Samuel 13:1.
2 Samuel 3:3 3 his second
Chileab
by
Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third
Absalom the son of Maacah
the daughter of Talmai
king of Geshur;
YLT
3and his second [is]
Chileab
of Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite
and the third [is] Absalom son
of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur
And the second
Chileab
of Abigail the wife of Nabal the
Carmelite
.... That is: who had been the wife of Nabal. This son's name is
called Daniel
1 Chronicles 3:1;
and was the first name he had
and which his father gave him
because as if he
should say
"God hath judged me"
and pleaded the cause of his
reproach from Nabal
1 Samuel 25:39; but
why he should be called Chileab is not easy to say; the name is commonly
thought to signify "like unto his father"
or "all father":
had all the features of his father
and was exceedingly like him; the Jews have
a fabulous story concerning thisF23Jarchi
Kimchi
& Abarbinel
in loc.
not worth relating:
and the third
Absalom the son of Maacah
the daughter of Talmai
king of Geshur; in 1 Samuel 27:8 we
read of David's invading the land of the Geshurites; and the Jews sayF24Tanchuma
apud Abarbinel in loc. that he then took the daughter of this king captive
and
she being a beautiful woman married her
after made a proselyte according to
the law in Deuteronomy 21:10;
but it should be observed that David slew all the women of that country
and
left not any alive; and besides that lay to the south of Judah
whereas this
Geshur
of which Talmai was king
was a part of Syria
2 Samuel 15:8; and
lay to the north of the land of Israel; and with this king David hereby entered
into an alliance
to strengthen his interest against Ishbosheth in those parts;
of the trouble he met with from Absalom
see 2 Samuel 13:1
&c. contrary to the expectations he had raised when he gave him the name of
Absalom
or Leabsalom
as in 1 Chronicles 3:2;
that is
one given "for his father's peace".
2 Samuel 3:4 4 the fourth
Adonijah the
son of Haggith; the fifth
Shephatiah the son of Abital;
YLT
4and the fourth [is]
Adonijah son of Haggith
and the fifth [is] Shephatiah son of Abital
And the fourth
Adonijah the son of Haggith
.... The same
that usurped the throne before his father's death
to anticipate Solomon
and
died by his order
1 Kings 1:5
and the fifth
Shephatiah the son of Abital; of whom we
read nowhere else.
2 Samuel 3:5 5 and the sixth
Ithream
by
David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
YLT
5and the sixth [is] Ithream
of Eglah wife of David; these have been born to David in Hebron.
And the sixth
Ithream
by Eglah David's wife
.... Who also
is not spoken of in any other place; only
in a like chronological account as
the former
it is remarked that the mother of this only is called David's wife;
the reason of which is supposed to be
either because she was a person of no
note
and had nothing else to distinguish her; but the same may be said of the
two foregoing; or because she was his beloved wife
his heifer
as her name
signifies; hence the JewsF25T. Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 21. 1. Hieron.
Trad. Heb. in 2 Reg. fol. 77. F. take her to be Michal his first wife
whom he
greatly loved
and who
though she had no children after her contempt of David
for playing before the ark
unto the day of her death
yet might have before:
but it should be observed
that as yet she was not returned to David in Hebron;
and when she was returned
did not seem to continue there long enough to have a
son there; and besides
being his first wife
would not be reckoned last; but
still more foreign is another notion of the JewsF26In Kimchi &
Ben Gersom in loc.
that she was Saul's widow
who though she might not be
married to another might be married to a king
as David was; and this they
suppose receives some confirmation from 2 Samuel 12:8; but
after all it may be this phrase "David's wife"
as some have
observed
by a figure the rhetoricians call "zeugma"
or
"hypozeugma"
is to be joined to everyone of the women before
mentioned
2 Samuel 3:2
who
were his wives
and so called to distinguish them from his concubines
by whom
he had sons also. Polygamy
or plurality of wives
which David gave into
is no
favourable part of his character.
2 Samuel 3:6 6 Now it was so
while there
was war between the house of Saul and the house of David
that Abner was
strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.
YLT
6And it cometh to pass
in
the war being between the house of Saul and the house of David
that Abner hath
been strengthening himself in the house of Saul
And it came to pass
while there was war between the house of Saul
and the house of David
.... As long as that continued
as it did until the following
quarrel happened between Ishbosheth and Abner:
that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul; or was
strongly in the interest of that house
and used his utmost endeavours to
support and confirm it.
2 Samuel 3:7 7 And Saul had a concubine
whose name was Rizpah
the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said
to Abner
“Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
YLT
7and Saul hath a concubine
and her name [is] Rizpah daughter of Aiah
and [Ish-Bosheth] saith unto Abner
`Wherefore hast thou gone in unto the concubine of my father?'
And Saul had a concubine
whose name was Rizpah
the
daughter of Aiah
.... By whom he had two sons
2 Samuel 21:8.
JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 4. calls her father's name
Sibathus:
and Ishbosheth said to Abner; though the word
"Ishbosheth" is not in the text
it is rightly supplied; for no other
can be supposed to speak:
wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? and defiled
her; though perhaps it was not so much the act of uncleanness that so much
offended him
or the dishonour reflected on him and his family thereby
as it
discovered an ambitious view in Abner to get the kingdom into his own hands
to
which this was the leading step; see 1 Kings 2:22.
Whether Abner was really guilty of this sin or no is not easy to determine;
though
by his not absolutely denying it
it looks as if it was not merely a
jealousy of Ishbosheth
or a false report made unto him; though
especially if
he was not fully satisfied of it
it would have been his wisdom to have said
nothing of it to him
since his continuance on the throne so much depended on
him.
2 Samuel 3:8 8 Then Abner became very
angry at the words of Ishbosheth
and said
“Am I a dog’s head that
belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father
to his
brothers
and to his friends
and have not delivered you into the hand of
David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?
YLT
8And it is displeasing to
Abner exceedingly
because of the words of Ish-Bosheth
and he saith
`The head
of a dog [am] I -- that in reference to Judah to-day I do kindness with the
house of Saul thy father
unto his brethren
and unto his friends
and have not
delivered thee into the hand of David -- that thou chargest against me iniquity
concerning the woman to-day?
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth
.... If false
he had a good deal of reason for it; and if true
he thought he deserved better
at his hands
than to be reproved for and upbraided with what he might think
was a very small fault
and might easily be connived at
and especially in one
that had been so serviceable to him:
and said
am I a dog's head; such a mean
vile
contemptible person with thee
as if no better than a dog
and as useless and
as unserviceable as a dead dog
the head of a dog cut off; see 1 Samuel 24:14 2 Samuel 9:8; or am
I esteemed and to be treated as a head of dogs
a keeper of a pack of hounds
and not as a general of the armies of Israel? so Jarchi and others; but it
seems rather to respect the filthy nature of a dog
that will couple with any;
and so the sense is
am I such a filthy lustful creature that care not with
whom I lie
no more
than a dog?
which against Judah do show kindness to the house of Saul thy
father
to his brethren
and to his friends; who in opposition to the
tribe of Judah
which alone abode by David
had shown respect to the family of
Saul
and all his friends
by his close attachment to Ishbosheth:
and have not delivered thee into the hand David; when it was
in his power to have done it many a tithe:
that thou chargest me today with a fault concerning this woman? he neither
denies nor owns the charge
and yet
by his not denying it
tacitly owns it;
though
by his way of speaking
he suggests as if it was no fault at all
at
least a very trifling one
and such as ought not to have been mentioned to him
considering the services he had done to Ishbosheth and his family.
2 Samuel 3:9 9 May God do so to Abner
and more also
if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to
him—
YLT
9thus doth God to Abner
and
thus He doth add to him
surely as Jehovah hath sworn to David -- surely so I
do to him:
So do God to Abner
and more also
.... He wishes the worst
of evils to himself
such as he cared not to name; but left them to be supposed
what he meant as utter ruin and destruction of himself
soul and body:
except as the Lord hath sworn to David
even so I do to him; meaning if he
did not do that David
which God had sworn should be done
namely
what
follows
the translation of the kingdom to him; by which it appears that Abner
knew of the promise and oath of God respecting this matter; and therefore acted
against his conscience
in setting up Ishbosheth on the throne; which he knew
would not prosper
and that he was fighting against God; which shows what a
hardened wicked creature he was
and how far ambition
and being thought to be
of consequence
will carry a man.
2 Samuel 3:10 10 to transfer the kingdom
from the house of Saul
and set up the throne of David over Israel and over
Judah
from Dan to Beersheba.”
YLT
10to cause the kingdom to
pass over from the house of Saul
and to raise up the throne of David over
Israel
and over Judah
from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba.'
To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul
.... Which was
what the Lord had sworn to do
1 Samuel 15:28; and
which Abner now threatens to do
insolently taking that to himself which
belonged to the Lord
and as if he could not do it without him:
and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah; over the one
as well as over the other; for it was set over Judah already:
from Dan even unto Beersheba; which were the utmost
borders of the land of Israel
from north to south
and so includes the whole.
2 Samuel 3:11 11 And he could not answer
Abner another word
because he feared him.
YLT
11And he is not able any more
to turn back Abner a word
because of his fearing him.
And he could not answer Abner a word again
.... That is
he would not
he durst not; otherwise
if it was fact he charged him with
he
could have insisted on the truth of it
and aggravated the crime and scandal of
it; and observed it to him
that the kindness he had shown him was no excuse
for it; but such things
though he would
he durst not say:
because he feared him; he had the army at his
command
and could dethrone him when he pleased; and it has been the fate of
greater men than Ishbosheth to be awed by their generals
and even David
himself; see 2 Samuel 3:39.
2 Samuel 3:12 12 Then Abner sent messengers
on his behalf to David
saying
“Whose is the land?” saying also
“Make your covenant with me
and indeed my hand shall be with you to
bring all Israel to you.”
YLT
12And Abner sendeth
messengers unto David for himself
saying
`Whose [is] the land?' saying
`Make
thy covenant with me
and lo
my hand [is] with thee
to bring round unto thee all
Israel.'
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 3:13 13 And David said
“Good
I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you
shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal
Saul’s daughter
when you
come to see my face.”
YLT
13And he saith
`Good -- I
make with thee a covenant; only
one thing I am asking of thee
that is
Thou
dost not see my face
except thou dost first bring in Michal
daughter of Saul
in thy coming into see my face.'
And he said
well
I will make a league with thee
.... He
accepted of the offer
he was ready and willing to enter into a covenant of
friendship with him
and forgive all past offences:
but one thing I require of thee; as the condition of this
covenant:
that is
thou shall not see my face; be admitted into my
presence
or have any mark of my favour and respect:
except thou first bring Michal
Saul's daughter
when thou comest
to see my face; he insisted on it that Michal
Saul's daughter
and his wife
should be brought along with him
and presented to him; this was the
preliminary to the league and covenant; if this was not complied with
the
proposal would not be attended to. This shows the great affection David
retained for his first wife
though he had had six since
see 2 Samuel 3:2
and
though she had lived with another man
1 Samuel 25:44; as
also his great regard to the honour of Saul's family
that one of them might
share with him in the grandeur of the kingdom; though this also might be a
piece of policy in him
to gain the friends of Saul's family to him.
2 Samuel 3:14 14 So David sent messengers
to Ishbosheth
Saul’s son
saying
“Give me my wife Michal
whom I
betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
YLT
14And David sendeth
messengers unto Ish-Bosheth son of Saul
saying
`Give up my wife Michal
whom
I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'
And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth
Saul's son
.... When
Abner's messengers returned to him
and acquainted him with the condition of
David's entering into a league with him
it is highly probable that Abner sent
them or others to David
to let him know that he could not do this of himself;
that it was advisable for him to write to Ishbosheth
whose sister she was
and
demand her of him; and that then he would use his interest with Ishbosheth to
grant it
and this method David took:
saying
deliver me my wife Michal
which I espoused to me
for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines; two arguments he made
use of to enforce his demand; one is
that it was his wife he required
to whom
he had a right
and no other man; and the other is
that he had purchased her
at a great expense
at the risk of his life
in slaying an hundred Philistines
whose foreskins he paid in for her at the instance of Saul; he mentions but one
hundred
though he gave two hundred as her dowry
no more being required than
one hundred; see 1 Samuel 18:25.
Josephus very wrongly says six hundredF2Antiqu. l 7. c. 1. sect. 4.
; the Syriac and Arabic have here two hundred.
2 Samuel 3:15 15 And Ishbosheth sent and
took her from her husband
from Paltiel[a] the son of
Laish.
YLT
15And Ish-Bosheth sendeth
and taketh her from a man
from Phaltiel son of Laish
And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband
.... Her
second husband
to whom Saul had given her
1 Samuel 25:44
even from Phaltiel
the son of Laish; he is called Phalti in 1 Samuel 25:44.
2 Samuel 3:16 16 Then her husband went
along with her to Bahurim
weeping behind her. So Abner said to him
“Go
return!” And he returned.
YLT
16and her husband goeth with
her
going on and weeping behind her
unto Bahurim
and Abner saith unto him
`Go
turn back;' and he turneth back.
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 JosephusF3Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 7. calls
Bachures
and says it was not far from Jerusalem. BuntingF4Travels
p. 144. 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.
2 Samuel 3:17 17 Now Abner had communicated
with the elders of Israel
saying
“In time past you were seeking for David to
be king over you.
YLT
17And the word of Abner was
with the elders of Israel
saying
`Heretofore ye have been seeking David for
king over you
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel
.... Had a
conference with the chiefs of the several tribes about the affairs of the
kingdom:
saying
ye sought for David in time past to be king over
you; that is
at the death of Saul
and not before; for it was pretty
generally known throughout the kingdom that David was anointed by Samuel and
Saul himself had declared that he knew the kingdom would come to him; so that
upon his death it was the general expectation and desire of the people that the
government would devolve upon him
as it doubtless would
if Abner had not set
up one of Saul's house
and persuaded the Israelites to own him their king.
2 Samuel 3:18 18 Now then
do it!
For the Lord
has spoken of David
saying
‘By the hand of My servant David
I[b] will save My
people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their
enemies.’”
YLT
18and now
do [it]
for
Jehovah hath spoken of David saying
By the hand of David my servant -- to save
My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines
and out of the hand of all
their enemies.'
Now then do it
.... Make him your king
and I shall no longer oppose it as I have done:
for the Lord hath spoken of David; concerning his being
king
and the saviour of his people Israel:
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; and which
though where recorded in so many words
yet was the
sense of the promise of making him king
and the design of his unction; and
besides they might have been spoken to Samuel
though not written; and which he
might report
and so might pass from one to another to be generally known.
2 Samuel 3:19 19 And Abner also spoke in
the hearing of Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David
in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.
YLT
19And Abner speaketh also in
the ears of Benjamin
and Abner goeth also to speak in the ears of David in
Hebron all that [is] good in the eyes of Israel
and in the eyes of all the
house of Benjamin
And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin
.... Of the
inhabitants of the tribe of Benjamin
of which tribe he was
and among whom he
had the greatest influence; and with whom it was necessary to take some pains
because of their attachment to the family of Saul
which was of that tribe; and
being near to that of Judah
might give David a good deal of trouble
if they
were not won over to him:
and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron; having
sounded the elders of Israel
and won their thoughts about the change of
government
and found them well disposed to David
and had prevailed upon them
to consent to make him king
and had gained the tribe of Benjamin on his side
went and reported to David the success he had:
all that seemed good to Israel
and that seemed good to the whole
house of Benjamin; how agreeable it was to the elders of Israel
and particularly
to the tribe of Benjamin
to have David king over them.
2 Samuel 3:20 20 So Abner and twenty men
with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men
who were with him.
YLT
20and Abner cometh in unto
David
to Hebron
and with him twenty men
and David maketh for Abner
and for
the men who [are] with him
a banquet.
So Abner came to David to Hebron
and twenty men with him
.... Before he
went privately to him
and conferred with him
but now
having gained so many
of the Israelites in favour of David
he appeared more publicly and brought
perhaps some of the principal of the nation with film
to join in the league
and covenant to be made:
and David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast; not only in
honour to them
as great personages
especially Abner
and as expressive of
reconciliation; but as a token of the covenant they were entering into
and for
the confirmation of it; it being usual to have feasts when covenants were made;
see Genesis 26:28.
2 Samuel 3:21 21 Then Abner said to David
“I will arise and go
and gather all Israel to my lord the king
that they may
make a covenant with you
and that you may reign over all that your heart
desires.” So David sent Abner away
and he went in peace.
YLT
21And Abner saith unto David
`I arise
and go
and gather unto my lord the king the whole of Israel
and
they make with thee a covenant
and thou hast reigned over all that thy soul
desireth;' and David sendeth away Abner
and he goeth in peace.
And Abner said to David
I will arise and go
.... Into the
several parts of the land of Israel:
and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king; the princes
of the several tribes
and the elders of the people
their heads and principal
men:
that they may make a league with thee; come into the
league and covenant now made with Abner
and those with him:
and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth: which he
supposed reached to all the people of the house of Israel and of Judah
though
David had not expressed any eager and impatient desire of government
but
waited the Lord's time to be put into the possession of the whole kingdom of
Israel:
and David sent Abner away
and he went in peace; with inward
satisfaction of mind
pleased that things were so well settled and adjusted to
the content of all parties
and with outward satiety of body
no insults or
attempts being made upon him by any of David's men; which perhaps would not
have been the case if Joab had been at court
as may be concluded from what
follows.
2 Samuel 3:22 22 At that moment the
servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them.
But Abner was not with David in Hebron
for he had sent him away
and he
had gone in peace.
YLT
22And lo
the servants of
David
and Joab
have come from the troop
and much spoil have brought with
them
and Abner is not with David in Hebron
for he hath sent him away
and he
goeth in peace;
And
behold
the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing
a troop
.... A troop of robbers
that made an incursion into the land
taking the advantage of a civil war between Israel and Judah; such as the
Edomites
Amalekites
and especially the Philistines; which Joab hearing of
went out in pursuit of them
and overtook them:
and brought in a great spoil with them; which they
took from them:
but Abner was not with David in Hebron: when Joab and
his army entered the city with their booty:
for he had sent him away
and he was gone in peace; he had just
dismissed him
and he was gone off safely.
2 Samuel 3:23 23 When Joab and all the
troops that were with him had come
they told Joab
saying
“Abner the
son of Ner came to the king
and he sent him away
and he has gone in peace.”
YLT
23and Joab and all the host
that [is] with him have come
and they declare to Joab
saying
`Abner son of
Ner hath come unto the king
and he sendeth him away
and he goeth in peace.'
When Joab and all the host that was with him were come
.... To
Hebron
or rather to David's court; for their coming to the city is before
mentioned; this must be understood not of the whole army
of all the common
soldiers
but of the chief officers
who with Joab came to court
to wait upon
David
and report their success:
they told Joab
saying
Abner the son
of Ner came to the king; some of the
courtiers informed him of it
who knew it would not be very agreeable to him:
and he hath sent him away
and he is gone in peace: instead of
seizing him
and laying him in a prison as his enemy
he has let him go with
all the marks of friendship and good will.
2 Samuel 3:24 24 Then Joab came to the king
and said
“What have you done? Look
Abner came to you; why is it that
you sent him away
and he has already gone?
YLT
24And Joab cometh unto the
king
and saith
`What hast thou done? lo
Abner hath come unto thee! why [is]
this -- thou hast sent him away
and he is really gone?
Then Joab came to the king
.... To the apartment
where he was; perhaps he was told the above at his first entering into the
king's palace
by some in waiting
before he came to the king
which filled him
with wrath
so that he came to him in a passion:
and said to him
what hast thou done? which was
very insolent in a subject to say to his prince:
behold
Abner came unto thee; I have been credibly
informed of it
and am assured it is a fact which cannot be denied; he
represents it as if he had done a wrong thing to admit him to come to him; but
perhaps the great fault was that he had let him go:
why is it that thou hast sent him away
and he is
quite gone? or "going
is gone"F5וילך הלוך "et abiit
eundo"
Pagninus
Montanus. ; is clean gone off
when he ought to have
been laid hold on as a traitor
and put in irons.
2 Samuel 3:25 25 Surely you realize that
Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you
to know your going out and your
coming in
and to know all that you are doing.”
YLT
25Thou hast known Abner son
of Ner
that to deceive thee he came
and to know thy going out and thy coming
in
and to know all that thou art doing.'
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner
.... Thou canst not be
ignorant what a cunning deceitful man he is
nor of his designs; or dost thou
not know? art thou ignorant? so read the Septuagint
Vulgate Latin
Syriac
and
Arabic versions
with an interrogation:
that he came to deceive thee: with false hopes
or to
lead into wrong measures with an intention to involve and ruin him:
and to know thy going out
and coming in; the affairs
of his court
the secrets of his government
to observe his conduct and
behaviour
and all his actions
and improve them against him:
and to know all that thou doest; he suggests that he came
not as a friend
but as a spy
and therefore ought to have been taken up
and
detained
and not dismissed. This Joab said to set David against him
fearing
if he should be received into favour
he would be a rival of his; and besides
his breast was full of revenge against him for the death of his brother.
2 Samuel 3:26 26 And when Joab had gone
from David’s presence
he sent messengers after Abner
who brought him back
from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.
YLT
26And Joab goeth out from
David
and sendeth messengers after Abner
and they bring him back from the
well of Sirah
and David knew not.
And when Joab was come out from David
.... Which
perhaps he did at once
as soon as ever he had spoken his mind
and flew out of
the room in a great passion
not waiting for the king's answer
since we read
of none returned; though it may be the king disdained to give him one
or cared
not to confer with him while in his passion
until it subsided; or chose not to
provoke him more
for it is plain he had great power over him; which generals
of armies at this time very much assumed
see 2 Samuel 3:39;
he sent messengers after Abner; in the name of the king
as Abarbinel rightly supposes
and so JosephusF6Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1.
sect. 5. ; for otherwise it can hardly be thought he would have returned on a
message from Joab only
who he knew bore him ill will:
which brought him again from the well of Sirah; which might
have its name from the thorns and briers that grew about it. JosephusF7Ibid.
calls it Besira
and says it was twenty furlongs or two and an half miles from
Hebron:
but David knew it not; that Joab had sent
messengers in his name after Abner to fetch him back; it was not done by his
order
with his consent or knowledge; this is observed
to clear David from any
concern in the death of Abner
as follows.
2 Samuel 3:27 27 Now when Abner had
returned to Hebron
Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him
privately
and there stabbed him in the stomach
so that he died for the blood
of Asahel his brother.
YLT
27And Abner turneth back to
Hebron
and Joab turneth him aside unto the midst of the gate to speak with him
quietly
and smiteth him there in the fifth [rib] -- and he dieth -- for the
blood of Asahel his brother.
And when Abner was returned to Hebron
.... Alone
and not the twenty men with him; not to David's court
but just to the city
to
the gate of it:
Joab took him aside in the gate: where he was waiting for
him
and met him; this was a public place
where people were continually
passing and repassing
and where courts of judicature used to be held;
wherefore Abner might think himself safe here with Joab
and have no suspicion
at all of his design
and shows how fearless Joab was of God or men:
to speak with him quietly; peaceably
in a friendly
manner
as all his gestures towards him showed; so that Abner made no
difficulty of turning aside with him
supposing he had something to communicate
to him from the king
which he had forgot:
and smote him under the fifth rib
that he died; in the same
place that Abner had smote his brother
of which see 2 Samuel 2:23; and
this he did:
for the blood of Asahel his brother; for Abner's shedding his
brother's blood; but this was not the only reason
and perhaps not the chief;
but
as JosephusF8Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 5. observes
because he
was fearful if Abner was received into the friendship of the king
he would be
preferred unto him
and take his place as general of the army
as being an
older and more experienced officer; so Procopius Gazaeus
and Theodoret.
2 Samuel 3:28 28 Afterward
when David
heard it
he said
“My kingdom and I are guiltless before the Lord forever of the
blood of Abner the son of Ner.
YLT
28And David heareth
afterwards and saith
`Acquitted [am] I
and my kingdom
by Jehovah
unto the
age
from the blood of Abner son of Ner;
And afterward
when David heard it
.... That Joab
had sent to fetch Abner back
and that he had stabbed him in the gate of the
city
and he was dead; it was some time after it was done that the news of it
was brought to David; this circumstance is observed
the more to clear the king
from any concern in this affair:
he said; in a public manner
in open court
before all his princes; he called
God to witness
and
as JosephusF9Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 6. says
stretching out his right hand to God
he cried aloud:
I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever
from the blood of Abner the son of Ner; he was sensible it would
be known that Abner had been with him
and that Joab his general had killed
him; and therefore it might be suspected that he had an hand in it
and that it
was done by his order
with his privy council; and therefore
to purge him and
them from it
he made this public declaration
that neither he nor his council
knew anything of it; and that it was not done with their knowledge and consent
and by their order
but through the resentment of a single person; and
therefore hoped that no man would impute the shedding of this blood unto them
or that God would punish them for it; and he was the rather led to make this
public declaration
because he knew that the death of Abner in this way would
be resented by the friends of Saul's family
and be an obstruction to the union
of the two kingdoms
which it was known Abner was endeavouring to bring about.
2 Samuel 3:29 29 Let it rest on the head of
Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house
of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper
who leans on a staff or falls by
the sword
or who lacks bread.”
YLT
29it doth stay on the head of
Joab
and on all the house of his father
and there is not cut off from the
house of Joab one having an issue
and leprous
and laying hold on a staff
and
falling by a sword
and lacking bread.'
Let it rest on the head of Joab
.... That is
the blood
of Abner
who was the shedder of it; let the guilt of it be charged to him
and
let punishment for it be inflicted on him:
and on all his father's house; on Abishai his brother
and other relations that might be privy to the death of Abner
and advising to
it
and ready to assist in it if necessary:
and let there not fail from the house of Joab; let there be
always in his family
and of his seed
one or other of the persons described as
follows:
one that hath an issue; a gonorrhoea
which was
reckoned infamous
and very impure
according to the Jewish law
and rendered
persons unfit for society; see Leviticus 15:1
or that is a leper; whose disease was very loathsome and
infectious
and shut him out of the company of men; see Leviticus 13:1
or that leaneth on a staff; being blind
as Aquila
renders the word; or through weakness of body
not being able to walk without
one; or through some disease of the feet
as the Jewish writers generally
understand it; and R. Isaiah interprets it of the gout particularly: the word
for "staff" is rendered "spindle"
Proverbs 31:19; and
to this sense it is rendered here in
the Vulgate Latin
Syriac
and Arabic
versions; and then the meaning is
let his posterity
or some of them
be so
poor
that they shall be obliged to get their livelihood in so mean a way as by
spinning; or let them be of such an effeminate disposition
as be more fit to
handle the spindle
and do the
work of women
than to use the sword:
or that falleth on the sword; not by it honourably in
the field of battle
but cowardly destroying themselves with it:
or that lacketh bread; and is obliged to beg
it: all which David might say
not by a spirit of prophecy
but in a passion;
and to show with what horror he resented the action
and how detestable it was
to him
and how far it was for him to have any concern in it: but though it was
a very wicked action in Joab to murder Abner in this manner
and for the
reasons he did; yet it was a just vengeance from the Lord on Abner for fighting
against God
and acting against the dictates of his own conscience; for his
rebellion against David
and perfidy to Ishbosheth
and for having been the
cause of much bloodshed in Israel.
2 Samuel 3:30 30 So Joab and Abishai his
brother killed Abner
because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in
the battle.
YLT
30And Joab and Abishai his
brother slew Abner because that he put to death Asahel their brother
in
Gibeon
in battle.
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner
.... For
though it was only Joab that gave him the thrust of which he died
Abishai was
in the secret
and was consenting and advising to his death
and so an
accessory to it; and might be present
ready to assist in it
if occasion
required; and so JosephusF11Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 6.)
expressly says
that Abishai his brother was with him when he drew his sword
and smote him:
because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle: which was no
just reason at all; his blood was shed in war
this in peace
in cold blood
and under the guise of friendship; that was shed with reluctance
and after
fair warning
and in defence of himself; but this wilfully in Joab
unawares to
Abner
and in great deceit and hypocrisy; see 1 Kings 2:5.
2 Samuel 3:31 31 Then David said to Joab
and to all the people who were with him
“Tear your clothes
gird yourselves
with sackcloth
and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.
YLT
31And David saith unto Joab
and unto all the people who [are] with him
`Rend your garments
and gird on
sackcloth
and mourn before Abner;' and king David is going after the bier.
And David said to Joab
and to all the people that were
with him
.... To his whole court
Joab being present: for he did not flee
nor was he laid hold on in order to be brought to justice; which shows how
great his power was
and that he was too hard for David
as in 2 Samuel 3:39;
however this he did
he enjoined his whole court
and Joab also
to express
public mourning on this account:
rend your clothes and gird you with sackcloth; which were
expressions of mourning used on various occasions
and on account of the dead
and which with the Heathens were carried to a greater excess
even to the
tearing of their flesh:
and mourn before Abner; before his corpse
as
carried to the grave
when it was usual to make great lamentations: see Acts 8:2
and King David himself followed the bier; or
"bed"F12המטה της
κλινης
Sept. "lectum"
Piscator. on which his body was
laid
and carried to the grave. On these the rich and noble among the Greeks
and Romans were carried
and those of the meaner sort on biersF14Salmuth.
ad Pancirol. par. 1. tit. 62. p. 343. Kirchman. de Funer. Roman. l. 2. c. 9. p.
375. ; and so with the Jews; See Gill on Luke 7:14; some of
which were gilded with gold
and were made of ivory
and had ivory feetF15Alstorph.
de lect. vet. c. 19. p. 149. ; that of Herod's was all of gold
inlaid with
precious stones
and the body covered with purple
and followed by his sons and
kindred
the soldiers going before armed
and their leaders followingF16Joseph.
de Bello Jud. l. 1. c. 33. sect. 9. ; the bier or bed with the Romans was
sometimes carried by six persons
sometimes by eight or moreF17Kirchman.
ut supra. (de Funer. Roman. l. 2. c. 9. p. 375.) . It was not usual for kings
as the Jews sayF18Misn. Sanhedrin
c. 2. sect. 3. Maimon in Hilchot
Ebel. c. 7. sect. 7. David de Pomis
Lexic. fol. 119. 4.
to attend a funeral
to go out of the doors of their palace after their own dead
and much less
others; but David did this to satisfy the people
and to root out of their mind
all suspicion of his having any hand in Abner's death; and to show that he was
not slain by his will
and with his consent.
2 Samuel 3:32 32 So they buried Abner in
Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner
and
all the people wept.
YLT
32And they bury Abner in
Hebron
and the king lifteth up his voice
and weepeth at the grave of Abner
and all the people weep;
And they buried Abner in Hebron
.... According to the
Jewish account of places of burialF19Cippi Heb. p. 8.
he was
buried in the midst of the city
though burying places were generally without;
and so FullerF20Pisgah-Sight
&c. in the Map of Judah. places
this in his map; whether the cave of Machpelah
which was near Hebron
was now
used for a burying place
is not certain:
and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; made a great
outcry
a loud lamentation
so as to be heard by all the people; and which no
doubt was real and hearty
and not done merely with political views:
and all the people wept; through concern for the
death of Abner
especially on account of the manner in which it was
and in
imitation of the king
and being affected with his tears and cries.
2 Samuel 3:33 33 And the king sang a
lament over Abner and said: “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
YLT
33and the king lamenteth for
Abner
and saith: -- `As the death of a fool doth Abner die?
And the king lamented over
Abner
.... Delivered an elegy or funeral oration
which he had composed
on this occasion
as JosephusF21Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect.
6.) suggests: for he had cried and wept before
but now he expressed something
as follows:
and said
died Abner as a fool dieth? the meaning
of the interrogation is
he did not; the Targum is"did Abner die as wicked
men die?'no
he did not; he did not die for any wickedness he had been guilty
of; he did not die as a malefactor
whose crime has been charged and proved in
open court
and sentence of condemnation pronounced on him righteously for it;
but he died without anything being laid to his charge
and much less proved
and without judge or jury; he was murdered in a clandestine
insidious
and
deceitful manner; so the word "fool" is often taken in Scripture for
a wicked man
especially in the book of Proverbs; the Septuagint version leaves
the word untranslated
"died Abner according to the death of Nabal?'no; but
it could hardly be thought that David would mention the name of any particular
person on such an occasion.
2 Samuel 3:34 34 Your hands were not bound Nor
your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men
so you
fell.” Then all the people wept over him again.
YLT
34Thy hands not bound
And
thy feet to fetters not brought nigh! As one falling before sons of evil --
Thou hast fallen!' and all the people add to weep over him.
Thy hands were not
bound
nor thy feet put into fetters
.... As malefactors are
when they are taken up for any crime
and especially when proved upon them
and
condemned for it
and brought forth to be executed. This was not his case
and
had he been aware of the design against him
as his hands and feet were at
liberty
he might have defended himself; or if he found he had too many to deal
with
might have made use of his feet and fled:
as a man falleth before wicked men
so fellest thou; as a man
being before bloodthirsty and deceitful men
falls before them
through
treachery and deceit
privately and unawares
so fell Abner before Joab and
Abishai; this David said in the presence of Joab
and before all the people
to
declare the plain fact how it was
to express his detestation of it
and to
show he had no hand in it; and Joab must be an hardened creature to stand at
the grave of Abner
and hear all this
and not be affected with it:
and all the people wept again over him; over Abner
being laid in his grave; they had wept before
but hearing this funeral oration
delivered by the king in such moving language
and in such a mournful tone
it
drew tears afresh from them.
2 Samuel 3:35 35 And when all the people
came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day
David took an oath
saying
“God do so to me
and more also
if I taste bread or anything else till
the sun goes down!”
YLT
35And all the people come to
cause David to eat bread while yet day
and David sweareth
saying
`Thus doth
God to me
and thus He doth add
for -- before the going in of the sun
I taste
no bread or any other thing.'
And when all the people
came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day
.... The
custom was to bury in the daytime
and after the funeral was over to provide
and send in food to the relations of the deceased
and come and eat with them;
as was also the usage with the Greeks and RomansF23Vid. Kirchman. de
Funer. Roman
l. 4. c. 5. & 6. ; See Gill on Jeremiah 16:5 and
See Gill on Jeremiah 16:7; and
kings themselves used to attend those feasts; for the Jews sayF24Misn.
ut supra. (Sanhedrin
c. 2. sect. 3.) David de Pomis ut supra. (Lexic. fol.
119. 4.)
"when they cause him (the king) to eat
all the people sit upon
the ground
and he sits upon the bed;'but in this case David refused to eat
with them:
David sware
saying
so do God to me
and more also; may the
greatest evils
and such as I care not to mention
befall me; and even more and
worse than I can think of and express:
if I taste bread
or ought else
till the sun be down; perhaps the
funeral was in the morning
as funerals with the Jews generally now are; for
otherwise if it was now towards evening
his abstinence from food till that
time would not have seemed so much
nor required much notice
and still less an
oath.
2 Samuel 3:36 36 Now all the people took
note of it
and it pleased them
since whatever the king did pleased all
the people.
YLT
36And all the people have
discerned [it]
and it is good in their eyes
as all that the king hath done is
good in the eyes of all the people;
And all the people took
notice of it
.... Not only of his oath
that he would not eat food till
evening
but of his whole conduct at the funeral of Abner; the sorrow he
expressed for his death
and the oration he made on account of it
in which he
pretty severely reflected on his murderer:
and it pleased them; that he showed such a
concern for his death
and that it was a clear case he had no hand in it:
as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people; what he did
at this time
burying Abhor with so much pomp and ceremony; and indeed he had
so much the hearts of the people
and such a share in their affections
and
they had such an high opinion of him
that all that he did in public and
private affairs they reckoned well done; they were highly approved of by them
such an interest had he in them.
2 Samuel 3:37 37 For all the people and all
Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner
the son of Ner.
YLT
37and all the people know
even all Israel
in that day
that it hath not been from the king -- to put to
death Abner son of Ner.
For all the people and all
Israel understood that day
.... Not the people of Judah only
but of
Israel also
to whom the knowledge of these things came; they knew and were
satisfied by his conduct and behaviour
by his words and actions:
that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner; it was not by
the counsel or advice of the king
as the Targum; it was without his knowledge
and consent
was contrary to his mind and will; that he had no manner of
concern in it
and that if it had been in his power he would have prevented it.
2 Samuel 3:38 38 Then the king said to his
servants
“Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in
Israel?
YLT
38And the king saith unto his
servants
`Do ye not know that a prince and a great one hath fallen this day in
Israel?
And the king said unto his
servants
.... His courtiers
giving a reason why he mourned as he did; or
"had said"F23יואמר "nam
dixerat"
Junius & Tremellius.
and so is a reason why the people
concluded
and were fully satisfied
he had no hand in his death; but the first
is best
because what follows was said not to the people at the grave
but to
his servants at court:
know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day
in Israel? a "prince"
being of the royal family
his father was
Saul's uncle
and he his own cousin; a "great" man
being general of
the army
a very valiant and skilful commander
a man of great wisdom and
parts. David says nothing of his grace and virtue
only of his grandeur
his
high birth and civil excellencies; he praises him in what he was commendable
and proceeds no further; and this was sufficient to show there was just cause of
mourning on civil accounts; and this they might easily know and perceive
that
the fall or death of such a man
which had that day happened in Israel
was a
public loss
and matter of lamentation; and the rather as he was employing all
his excellent talents in civil affairs
and all his interest in the people of
Israel
to unite them to Judah
and bring them under the government of David.
2 Samuel 3:39 39 And I am weak
today
though anointed king; and these men
the sons of Zeruiah
are too
harsh for me. The Lord
shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
YLT
39and I to-day [am] tender
and an anointed king: and these men
sons of Zeruiah
[are] too hard for me;
Jehovah doth recompense to the doer of the evil according to his evil.'
And I am this day
weak
though anointed king
.... Which seems to be given as a reason
or
for an excuse why he did not inflict just punishment upon the murderer
according to the law of God
because he was "weak"; not in body or
mind
but with respect to the kingdom
that was like a tender branch
or in its
infant state; and great care and caution were to be used that it was not
overturned: he was a king by unction
not by birth; a son of the late king was
yet up against him
and was possessed of the far greater part of the kingdom;
he was indeed anointed by Samuel to be king over all Israel; but as yet he was
not put into the possession of the kingdom he was anointed to; he was anointed
and made king over Judah
and invested with the office of king there
and settled
in it; and yet his power was not very great there
for as follows:
and these men
the sons of Zeruiah
be too hard for me; his sister's
sons
Joab and Abishai
they were a check upon him; he could not do what he
would
their influence was so great
both in the court and in the camp; the one
was general of the army
and the other a considerable officer in it
and both
variant men
and very respectable among the people
for their achievements in
war
and the success they had; so that they were very much out of the reach of
David to bring them to justice
without shaking his kingdom; and therefore in
point of prudence he thought it best to connive at this fact until he was more
established in the kingdom. Whatever may be said for this conduct
it is certain
he was too dilatory
and which did not sit easy upon his mind
and therefore
gave it in charge to Solomon before his death not to suffer Joab to go to his
grave in peace
1 Kings 2:5. Some
take these words
"weak" and "hard"
in a different sense
that David was weak or "tender"F24רך
"tener"
Pagninus
Montanus.
as it may be rendered
tenderhearted
of a merciful disposition
and therefore spared Abner when he was in his hands
though he had done him so much harm
who was the Lord's anointed; but these
men
his sister's sons
were of cruel tempers
more unmerciful than he
and
therefore slew him; but the first sense seems best:
the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness; which may be
considered either as an imprecation of evil on Joab
or a prediction
that
sooner or later righteous judgment would be rendered to him by the Lord; with
whom he leaves it to take vengeance on him
satisfying himself with this for
the present
that though it was not in his power to do it
the Lord would in
his own time and way: but after all that can be said in favour of David
he
seems to have been too much in fear of men
and too distrustful of the power
and promise of God to establish him in his kingdom
and was too negligent of
public justice; which had it been exercised
might have prevented other sins
as the murder of Ishbosheth
to which the authors of it might be encouraged by
this lenity.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)