A j 1-. House of David.
k -1. House of Saul.
l 2-5. Sons of David.
k 6-11. House of Saul.
j 12-39. House of David.960 to 953 B.C.
2 Samuel 3)
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.
2: And to David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon (= faithful), of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3: And his second, Chileab (= like his father), of Abigail the wife of Nabal (Fig., by which Abigail is still so called by way of explanation. see 1 Sam.30:5) the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom (= father of peace. Born in Jubilee year, 958-957. Hence his name) the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4: And the fourth, Adonijah (= my Lord is Yehovah) the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah (= judged by Yehovah) the son of Abital;
5: And the sixth, Ithream (= abundance of people), by Eglah David's wife (probably added, parenthetically, to indicate his first wife). These were born to David in Hebron.
k m 6. Abner. Strong.
n 7. Ish-bosheth. Wrath with Abner.
m 8-10. Abner. Wrath.
n 11. Ish-bosheth. Fear of Abner.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.
7: And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah (= a hot stone), the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in unto my father's concubine?”
8: Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, “Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a iniquity concerning this woman?
9: So do God to Abner, and more also, except, according as the Lord has sworn to David, even so I do to him;
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 Beer-sheba.”
11: And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
j o 12. Abner's overtures to David.
p 13-16. Return of Michal to David.
o 17-19. Abner's overtures to Israel.
p 20-39. Return of Abner to David.12: And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel to you.”
13: And he said, “Good; I will make a league with yo: but one thing I require of you, that is, You shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.”
14: And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
15: And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
16: And her husband went with her weeping as he went behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.
17: And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel (i.e the other tribes), saying, “You all sought for David in times past to be king over you:
18: Now then act: for the Lord has 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.’ ”
19: And Abner also spoke 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.
p q 20. Feasting.
r 21-26. Treatment of Abner.
s 27-34. Death of Abner. Joab guilty.
q 35,36. Fasting.
r 37. Treatment of Abner.
s 38,39. Death of Abner. David innocent.
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.
21: And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a league with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” And David let Abner go; and he went in peace.
22: And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from making a raid, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23: When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.”
24: Then Joab came to the king, and said, “What have you done? behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? (The evil spirit of jealousy rears its ugly head again)
25: You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.” (This is a lie)
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 did this behind David's back)
s v 27. Retaliation of Joab.
w 28,29. David's imprecation.
v 30. Retaliation of Joab.
w 31-34. David's lamentation.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. (This was murder. Abner was not worthy in this retaliation. He tried to prevent this)
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 (Heb. = bloods. Fig., = much or noble blood):
29: Let it recoil on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper (see Judg. 11:31), or that leans on a staff, or that falls on the sword (Fig., put for death by executioner; or in war: commonly used where quilt of some kind is involved), or that lacks bread. (7 fold curse. He had to pass this sentence as a rightful ruler)
30: So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner (= murdered), because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. (Cp. 2:13. Killing in a battle is NOT murder)
31: And David said to Joab, and to all the People that were with him, “Tear your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And king David himself followed the bier (Heb. mittah, a bed; see 4:7, and cp. Ex. 8:3. The poor man's couch by day was his bed by night, and sometimes his bier [= a framework on which a coffin is laid before burial]).
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.
33: And the king lamented over Abner, and said, “Died Abner as a fool dies? (i.e. running into needless danger)
34: Your hands were not bound (i.e. as a malefactor. Cp. 1 Sam. 25:25,26), nor your feet put into fetters: as a man falls before wicked men, so fell you.” And all the People wept again over him. (He was not considering him for murder)
35: And when all the People came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David sware, saying, “So do Elohim to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, till the sun be down.” (To show he was in mourning)
36: And all the People took notice of it, and it was good in their eyes: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
37: For all the People and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38: And the king said to his servants, “Know not you all that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39: And I am this day weak (tender, emotional. Kin are supposed to love one another. Jealousy will destroy), 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.” (Cp. 1 Kings 2:5,6)