Full Commentary
Open the full commentary units that overlap this chapter:
Old Testament
NET Bible® Scripture text without NET Bible notes. Verse anchors allow direct linking to exact verses.
2 Samuel 3:11However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Kgs 14:302 Sam 2:17Job 8:7Prov 4:18-19Eph 6:12Job 17:9Ps 84:71 Kgs 15:161 Kgs 15:32Esth 6:13
2 Samuel 3:22Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Chr 3:1-41 Sam 25:42-432 Sam 13:1-29Gen 49:3-4
2 Samuel 3:33His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Sam 27:81 Chr 3:11 Sam 25:31 Sam 25:422 Sam 13:20-282 Sam 13:37-382 Sam 2:2Deut 3:14Josh 13:132 Sam 14:24-15:18
2 Samuel 3:44His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abital.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Kgs 1:5-181 Kgs 2:13-25
2 Samuel 3:55His sixth son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AI
2 Samuel 3:66As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 2:8-92 Chr 25:82 Kgs 10:23Isa 8:9-10Joel 3:9-13Matt 12:30Prov 21:30
2 Samuel 3:77Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 21:8-111 Kgs 2:171 Kgs 2:21-222 Sam 12:82 Sam 16:21-22
2 Samuel 3:88These words of Ish Bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today!Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 9:82 Sam 16:91 Sam 15:281 Sam 24:14-152 Kgs 8:132 Sam 3:182 Sam 3:92 Sam 5:2Acts 9:4-5Deut 23:18
2 Samuel 3:99God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him,Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Sam 15:281 Kgs 19:21 Chr 12:231 Sam 28:17Ruth 1:171 Sam 14:441 Sam 16:1-131 Sam 25:221 Sam 3:172 Sam 19:13
2 Samuel 3:1010namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Sam 3:20Judg 20:11 Kgs 4:252 Sam 17:112 Sam 24:2
2 Samuel 3:1111Ish Bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AI
2 Samuel 3:1212Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you.”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Chr 12:38-401 Chr 11:1-32 Sam 19:142 Sam 19:41-20:132 Sam 19:62 Sam 3:212 Sam 3:272 Sam 5:1-3Luke 16:5-8Matt 21:8-10
2 Samuel 3:1313So David said, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to visit me.”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Gen 43:31 Chr 15:291 Sam 18:20-281 Sam 19:11-172 Sam 3:20-23Gen 44:23Gen 44:26
2 Samuel 3:1414David sent messengers to Ish Bosheth son of Saul with this demand: “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for 100 Philistine foreskins.”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Sam 18:271 Sam 18:252 Sam 2:10
2 Samuel 3:1515So Ish Bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Sam 25:44
2 Samuel 3:1616Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, “Go back!” So he returned home.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 16:52 Sam 19:161 Kgs 2:82 Sam 17:18Prov 9:17-18
2 Samuel 3:1717Abner advised the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AI
2 Samuel 3:1818Act now! For the Lord has said to David, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.’”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Sam 15:28Ps 89:19-231 Sam 9:16Ps 89:3-41 Sam 13:141 Sam 16:11 Sam 16:12-132 Sam 3:9Ps 132:17-18John 12:42-43
2 Samuel 3:1919Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Chr 12:291 Sam 10:20-21Ps 68:27
2 Samuel 3:2020When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Esth 1:3Gen 26:30Gen 31:54
2 Samuel 3:2121Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Kgs 11:372 Sam 3:122 Sam 3:102 Sam 2:9Phil 2:21Ps 20:4
2 Samuel 3:2222Now David’s soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AI
2 Samuel 3:2323When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AI
2 Samuel 3:2424So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner has come to you. Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way!Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 19:5-72 Sam 3:392 Sam 3:8John 18:35Num 23:11
2 Samuel 3:2525You know Abner the son of Ner. Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Deut 28:6Isa 37:28Num 27:171 Sam 29:4-62 Kgs 18:322 Sam 10:32 Sam 3:27Gen 42:12Gen 42:16Gen 42:9
2 Samuel 3:2626Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.)Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Prov 26:23-26Prov 27:4-6
2 Samuel 3:2727When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Kgs 2:52 Sam 20:9-101 Kgs 2:32Deut 27:242 Sam 2:19-23Jer 41:2Jer 41:6-7
2 Samuel 3:2828When David later heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Num 35:33Deut 21:1-9Exod 21:12Gen 4:10Gen 9:6Matt 27:24
2 Samuel 3:2929May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab’s house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 1:16Ps 109:8-191 Kgs 2:31-341 Sam 2:32-362 Kgs 5:12 Kgs 5:27Acts 28:4Judg 9:24Judg 9:56-57Lev 13:44-46
2 Samuel 3:3030So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 2:19-23Acts 28:4Prov 28:17
2 Samuel 3:3131David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes. Put on sackcloth. Lament before Abner!” Now King David followed behind the funeral pallet.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Gen 37:342 Sam 1:112 Sam 1:2Josh 7:6Judg 11:352 Kgs 19:1Gen 37:29Luke 7:14
2 Samuel 3:3232So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner’s grave, and all the people wept too.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Prov 24:17Job 31:281 Sam 30:42 Sam 1:122 Sam 18:33Luke 19:41-42
2 Samuel 3:3333The king chanted the following lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died like a fool?Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Chr 35:252 Sam 1:172 Sam 13:12-13Luke 12:19-20Eccl 2:15-16Jer 17:11Prov 18:7
2 Samuel 3:3434Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals.” All the people wept over him again.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 1:12Hos 6:9Job 24:14Judg 16:21Ps 107:10-11
2 Samuel 3:3535Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, “God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 1:122 Sam 12:17Jer 16:7Ruth 1:17Ezek 24:17Judg 20:261 Sam 3:172 Sam 3:9Ezek 24:22
2 Samuel 3:3636All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Mark 7:372 Sam 15:6Mark 15:11-13Ps 62:92 Sam 15:13
2 Samuel 3:3737All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation.Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AI
2 Samuel 3:3838Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Job 32:91 Sam 14:50-512 Sam 2:82 Sam 3:12
2 Samuel 3:3939Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!”Copy LinkKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Ps 28:4Ps 101:81 Kgs 2:33-34Prov 25:5Ps 62:121 Kgs 2:5-62 Chr 19:6-72 Tim 4:14Rom 13:41 Chr 2:15-16
Open the full commentary units that overlap this chapter:
Open the lite commentary units that overlap this chapter:
Open the simple commentary units that overlap this chapter:
Review the broader setting, structure, and message of this biblical book.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.