2 Samuel 3

Chapter context

What is happening in 2 Samuel 3?

Davidic covenantsin and judgmentmercykingship

2 Samuel 3 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as David’s accession and victories. Second Samuel narrates David’s consolidation of rule, the covenant promise to his house, his sin with Bathsheba, and the convulsions that follow within his family and kingdom. Read this chapter with the wider themes of Davidic covenant, sin and judgment, and mercy in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

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 unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; ³ And 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; ⁴ And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 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 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? ⁸ Then 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? ⁹ So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath 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 Beersheba. 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, 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. ¹³ And 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. ¹⁴ And 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. ¹⁵ And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶ And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. ¹⁷ And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: ¹⁸ Now 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. ¹⁹ And 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. 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 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. 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 deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. 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, 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. 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: ²⁹ Let 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. ³⁰ So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. ³¹ And 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. 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 dieth? ³⁴ Thy 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. ³⁵ And 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. ³⁶ And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased 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 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.

Study helps

Glossary

David Person v. 1-2, 5-6, 8-10, 12, 14, 17-22, 26, 28, 31, 35: Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25 .
Saul Person v. 1, 6-8, 10: Asked for. (1. ) A king of Edom ( Gen. 36:37 , 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48 .
Ahinoam Person v. 2: Brother of pleasantness = pleasant. (1. ) The daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of Saul ( 1 Sam. 14:50 ). (2. ) A Jezreelitess, the first wife of David ( 1 Sam. 25:43 ; 27:3 ). She was the mother of Amnon ( 2 Sam. 3:2 ).
Amnon Person v. 2: Faithful. (1. ) One of the sons of Shammai, of the children of Ezra ( 1 Chr. 4:20 ; comp. 17). (2. ) The eldest son of David, by Ahinoam of Jezreel ( 1 Chr. 3:1 ; 2 Sam. 3:2 ).
Hebron Place v. 2, 5, 12, 19-20, 22, 27, 32: A community; alliance. (1. ) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. Modern identification: Tel Rumeida.
Jezreel Place v. 2: God scatters. (1. ) A town of Issachar ( Josh. 19:18 ), where the kings of Israel often resided ( 1 Kings 18:45 ; 21:1 ; 2 Kings 9:30 ). Modern identification: Yatta.
Abigail Person v. 3: Father (i. e., “leader”) of the dance, or “of joy. ” (1. ) The sister of David, and wife of Jether an Ishmaelite ( 1 Chr. 2:16 , 17). She was the mother of Amasa ( 2 Sam. 17:25 ).
Absalom Person v. 3: Father of peace; i. e., “peaceful” David’s son by Maacah ( 2 Sam. 3:3 ; comp. 1 Kings 1:6 ). He was noted for his personal beauty and for the extra-ordinary profusion of the hair of his head ( 2 Sam. 14:25 ,26).
Carmel Place v. 3: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet el Kirmil.
Geshur Place v. 3: Bridge, the name of a district or principality of Syria near Gilead, between Mount Hermon and the Lake of Tiberias ( 2 Sam. 15:8 ; 1 Chr. 2:23 ). Modern identification: Fiq.
Talmai Person v. 3: Abounding in furrows. (1. ) One of the Anakim of Hebron, who were slain by the men of Judah under Caleb ( Num. 13:22 ; Josh. 15:14 ; Judg. 1:10 ).
Abital Person v. 4: Father of dew; i. e., “fresh”, David’s fifth wife ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ).
Adonijah Person v. 4: My Lord is Jehovah. (1. ) The fourth son of David ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him.
Haggith Person v. 4: Festive; the dancer, a wife of David and the mother of Adonijah ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ; 1 Kings 1:5 , 11; 2:13; 1 Chr. 3:2 ), who, like Absalom, was famed for his beauty.
Shephatiah Person v. 4: Judged of the Lord. (1. ) A son of David by Abital ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). (2. ) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ). (3. ) A Simeonite prince in David’s time ( 1 Chr. 27:16 ).
Eglah Person v. 5: A heifer, one of David’s wives, and mother of Ithream ( 2 Sam. 3:5 ; 1 Chr. 3:3 ). According to a Jewish tradition she was Michal.
Abner Person v. 6-9, 11-12, 16-17, 19-28, 30-33, 37: Father of light; i. e., “enlightening”, the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul’s army ( 1 Sam. 14:50 ; 17:55 ; 20:25 ).
Rizpah Person v. 7: Coal; hot stone, the daughter of Aiah, and one of Saul’s concubines. She was the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth ( 2 Sam. 3:7 ; 21:8 , 10, 11).
Beersheba Place v. 10: Well of the oath, or well of seven, a well dug by Abraham, and so named because he and Abimelech here entered into a compact ( Gen. 21:31 ). On re-opening it, Isaac gave it the same name ( Gen. 26:31-33 ). Modern identification: Tel Beer Sheva.
Dan Place v. 10: Woodland Dan, a place probably somewhere in the direction of Dan, near the sources of the Jordan ( 2 Sam. 24:6 ). The LXX. and the Vulgate read “Dan-ja’ar”, i. e., “Dan in the forest. ”. Modern identification: Tel Dan.
Bahurim Place v. 16: Young men, a place east of Jerusalem ( 2 Sam. 3:16 ; 19:16 ), on the road to the Jordan valley. Modern identification: Ras Tumeim.
Benjamin Person v. 19: Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.
Joab Person v. 22-24, 26-27, 29-31: Jehovah is his father. (1. ) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign ( 2 Sam. 2:13 ; 10:7 ; 11:1 ; 1 Kings 11:15 ).
Ner Person v. 23, 25, 28, 37: Light, the father of Kish ( 1 Chr. 8:33 ). 1 Sam. 14:51 should be read.
Sirah Place v. 26: Retiring, a well from which Joab’s messenger brought back Abner ( 2 Sam. 3:26 ). It is now called ‘Ain Sarah, and is situated about a mile from Hebron, on the road to the north.
Asahel Person v. 27, 30: Made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot.
Abishai Person v. 30: Father of (i. e., “desirous of”) a gift, the eldest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel ( 2 Sam. 2:18 ; 1 Chr. 2:16 ).
Gibeon Place v. 30: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: El Jib.
Sackcloth People v. 31: Cloth made of black goats’ hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners ( Gen. 37:34 ; 42:25 ; 2 Sam. 3:31 ; Esther 4:1 , 2; Ps. 30:11 , etc. ), and as a sign of repentance ( Matt. 11:21 ).
Zeruiah Person v. 39: Stricken of the Lord, David’s sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.