2 Samuel

2 Samuel 3 ©

1 During the course of the war David still groweth stronger. 2 The six sons which were born to him in Hebron. 6 Abner, offended by Ish-bosheth, threateneth to revolt to David; 12 to whom he sendeth to offer his service. 13 David refuseth to treat, till he hath first received back his wife Michal; who on his demand is restored to him. 17 Abner having communed with the Israelites goeth to David, by whom he is feasted, and sent away in peace. 22 Joab returning from battle is displeased with the king, and following Abner murdereth him treacherously. 28 David curseth Joab, 31 and mourneth for Abner.

1

NOW there was along war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but bDavid waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

a 1Ki. 14.30; 15.16. Ge. 3.15. Ga. 5.17. Ep. 6.12.
b Job 8.7; 17.9. Pr. 4.18,19. Da. 2.34. Es. 6.13.
2

¶And unto David cwere sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was dAmnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

c 1Ch. 3.1-4. 1Sa. 25.43.
d ch. 13. Ge. 49.3,4.
3

And his second, 1Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, eAbsalom the son of Maacah the daughter of fTalmai king of gGeshur;

e ch. 13.20-38; 14-18.
f ch. 13.37.
g Jos. 13.11,13. De. 3.14. 1Ch. 3.2. ch. 14.23,32; 15.8.
4

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

h 1Ki. 1.5-53; 2.13-25. 1Ch. 3.2.
5

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

6

¶And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made ihimself strong for the house of Saul.

i v.7. Phi. 2.21. Pr. 21.30. Is. 8.9,10.
7

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was jRizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast kthou gone in unto my father's concubine?

j ch. 21.8,10.
k ch. 16.21. 1Ki. 2.21,22.
8

Then was Abner lvery *wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a mdog'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?

l Mar. 6.19. 2Ti. 4.3.
m De. 23.18. ch. 9.8; 16.9. 1Sa. 17.43; 24.14. 2Ki. 8.13.
9

So ndo God to Abner, and more also, except, oas the LORD hath psworn to David, even so I do to him;

n Ru. 1.17. 1Sa. 25.22. 1Ki. 19.2. v.35.
o 1Sa. 15.28.
p 1Sa. 16.13. Ps. 89.3,4,19,20.
10

To *translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, qfrom Dan even to Beer-sheba.

q Ju. 20.1. ch. 17.11; 24.2. 1Ki. 4.24,25. 1Sa. 3.20.
11

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

12

¶And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, rWhose is the land? saying also, sMake thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

r 1Sa. 13.14; 15.28.
s Lu. 16.5-8. Ps. 62.9.
13

¶And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, 2that is, tThou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring uMichal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

t Ge. 43.3.
u 1Sa. 14.49.
14

And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me vmy wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

v 1Sa. 18.20-28; 19.11,12.
15

And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from 3Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16

And her husband went with her along 4weeping behind her to wBahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

w ch. 16.5; 17.18; 19.16.
17

¶And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David 5in times past to be king over you:

18

Now then do it : for the xLORD hath spoken of David, saying, yBy 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.

x 1Sa. 13.14; 15.28. ch. 2.8,9.
y Nu. 24.10. Ps. 89.19-24. Ge. 49.8-10. 1Sa. 16.1,13.
19

And Abner also spake in the ears of zBenjamin: 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.

z 1Sa. 10.20,21. 1Ch. 12.29.
20

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

a Ge. 26.30; 31.46,54; 43.16. Es. 1.3. Ex. 18.12. 1Sa. 25.36.
21

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather ball Israel unto my lord the king, cthat 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.

b ch. 2.9. Mat. 3.5. Phi. 2.21.
c v.12,13.
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.

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

24

Then 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?

25

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to ddeceive thee, and to know thy egoing out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

d Ju. 14.15; 16.5-17.
e Nu. 27.17. De. 28.6. Ps. 121.8. Eze. 43.11. 1Sa. 29.6.
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.

27

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, fJoab took him aside in the gate to speak with him 6quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

f 1Ki. 2.5. ch. 2.23; 20.9,10. Ps. 55.21; 12.2. Pr. 5.3,4.
28

¶And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are gguiltless before the LORD for ever from the 7blood of Abner the son of Ner:

g Ge. 31.53. Job 31.2,4. De. 21.7. Ps. 7.3,4.
29

Let hit rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not 8fail from the house of Joab one ithat hath an issue, or jthat is a leper, or that leaneth on ka staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

h Ju. 9.24. Re. 16.6; 13.10. 1Sa. 2.31,36. 2Ki. 5.27. Ps. 109.8-19; 140.11; 55.23. 1Ki. 2.32,33.
i Le. 15.2.
j Le. 14.2. 2Ki. 5.1.
k Pr. 31.19.
30

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

l ch. 2.23. Ge. 9.6. Ex. 21.12. Pr. 25.5. 1Ch. 27.7.
31

¶And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, mRend your clothes, and n*gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the 9*bier.

m Ge. 37.29,34. Jos. 7.6. 2Ki. 19.1. ch. 1.2,11. Ju. 11.35.
n 1Ki. 20.31.
32

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

o Job 31.29. Pr. 24.17. Ro. 12.15. Ps. 35.13,14.
33

And the king plamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a qfool dieth?

p ch. 1.17.
q ch. 13.12,13.
34

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into *fetters: as a man falleth before 10wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people rwept again over him.

r Ge. 50.10. Nu. 20.29. De. 34.8. 1Sa. 25.1. ch. 1.12.
35

And when all the people came to scause David to eat *meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, tSo do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

s ch. 12.17. Je. 16.7.
t v.9. ch. 1.12. 1Sa. 31.13.
36

And all the people took notice of it, and it 11pleased them: 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 unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39

And I am this day 12weak, though anointed king; and these men uthe sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD vshall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

u 1Sa. 26.6.
v 1Ki. 2.5,6,33,34. Ps. 28.4; 62.12; 101.8; 75.2,10. Pr. 21.3; 20.8; 1.31; 13.21. Is. 3.11. Mat. 7.2. Ju. 1.7. Je. 2.17,19; 4.18; 5.25; 6.19. Ro. 2.8,9. 2Ti. 4.14.