2 Samuel 3

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 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.

2And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3And 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;

4And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6And 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, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

8Then 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?

9So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10To 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.

11And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12And 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.

13And 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.

14And 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.

15And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from [her] husband, [even] from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you:

18Now 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.

19And 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.

20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that [were] with him a feast.

21And 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.

22¶ And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from [pursuing] a troop, 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.

23When 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 hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24Then 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?

25Thou 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.

26And 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.

27And 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.

28And 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:

29Let 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.

30So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31And 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.

32And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

34Thy 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.

35And 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.

36And all the people took notice [of it], and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The chapter details the ongoing war between the house of Saul and the house of David, with David's power increasing. Abner, Saul's general, angered by Ishbosheth, pledges allegiance to David and works to unite Israel under him. However, Joab, David's commander, murders Abner in Hebron as revenge for his brother's death, deeply grieving David, who publicly disavows the act.

Medium Summary

The conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David continued, with David's strength steadily growing. Abner, the commander of Saul's army, became enraged when Ishbosheth accused him concerning Saul's concubine, leading Abner to vow to transfer the kingdom to David as the LORD had sworn. Abner then initiated negotiations with David, promising to bring all Israel under his rule, a proposal David accepted on the condition that his wife Michal be returned. After securing Michal and consulting with the elders of Israel, Abner met David in Hebron and pledged his full support. However, upon Joab's return, David's general, Abner was lured back to Hebron and treacherously murdered by Joab and Abishai in retaliation for Abner's killing of their brother Asahel. David vehemently denied any involvement in Abner's death, publicly mourned him, and pronounced a curse upon Joab's house, acknowledging his own inability to control the powerful sons of Zeruiah.

Long Summary

The chapter opens by describing the protracted conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David, noting David's increasing strength and Saul's house's decline. During this period, David's six sons were born in Hebron. Abner, the chief captain of Saul's army, was a significant figure in maintaining Saul's house. A pivotal moment occurred when Ishbosheth, Saul's son, accused Abner of taking Saul's concubine, Rizpah. This accusation infuriated Abner, who declared his intention to fulfill the LORD's oath by transferring the entire kingdom from Saul's lineage to David, from Dan to Beersheba. Ishbosheth, fearing Abner, could not respond. Abner then sent messengers to David, proposing a covenant to unite all Israel under David's rule. David agreed, but stipulated that Michal, Saul's daughter and his former wife, must first be returned to him. Ishbosheth complied, sending Michal, whose current husband, Phaltiel, sorrowfully accompanied her part of the way. Abner subsequently consulted with the elders of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, reminding them of their previous desire for David as king and reiterating the LORD's promise to save Israel through David. Following these discussions, Abner, accompanied by twenty men, met David in Hebron, where David hosted a feast, and Abner reaffirmed his commitment to gather all Israel for David. David then sent Abner away in peace. Shortly thereafter, Joab, David's commander, returned from a raid and, upon learning of Abner's visit and peaceful departure, confronted David, suspecting Abner's motives. Without David's knowledge, Joab sent for Abner, brought him back to Hebron, and murdered him at the city gate, avenging the death of his brother Asahel. David, upon hearing of Abner's assassination, publicly declared his and his kingdom's innocence in the matter, placing the guilt and a curse upon Joab and his household. David commanded a period of public mourning for Abner, personally participating in the funeral procession and lamenting Abner's untimely death. The people understood that David was not complicit in the murder. David expressed his frustration over the power of Joab and Abishai, acknowledging his weakness despite being the anointed king, and left the ultimate judgment to the LORD.

Core Concepts

  • Transfer of KingdomAbner's decision to shift allegiance from Ishbosheth to David, driven by a personal slight and a recognition of God's sworn promise to David, marks a significant turning point in the unification of Israel.
  • David's Growing PowerThe narrative consistently emphasizes David's increasing strength and the decline of Saul's house, illustrated by the birth of David's sons in Hebron and Abner's eventual overtures.
  • Michal's ReturnDavid's demand for the return of Michal, Saul's daughter, as a condition for his league with Abner, highlights his claim to legitimacy and his connection to the former royal house.
  • Joab's VengeanceJoab's murder of Abner, motivated by blood revenge for his brother Asahel, demonstrates the powerful and often violent nature of tribal loyalties and personal vendettas in this period.
  • David's Innocence and GriefDavid's public declaration of innocence regarding Abner's death, his profound mourning, and his curse upon Joab's house underscore his moral authority and his distress over the act, despite his inability to directly punish Joab.
  • Divine MandateAbner explicitly references the LORD's oath to David, stating his intention to "translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel," indicating a belief in David's divinely appointed destiny.
  • Political PragmatismAbner's actions, from his initial strengthening of Saul's house to his subsequent alliance with David, showcase a blend of personal ambition, strategic calculation, and a recognition of the shifting political landscape.