1 During the war David still waxes stronger 2-5 Six sons are born to him in Hebron 6 Abner, displeased with Ish-bosheth 7-12 revolts to David 13-16 David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal 17-21 Abner, having communed with the Israelites, is feasted by David, and dismissed 22-27 Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner 28-30 David curses Joab 31-39 and mourns for Abner

long war 1Ki 14:30 15:16,32

between Ge 3:15 Ps 45:3-5 Mt 10:35,36 Ga 5:17 Eph 6:12

David waxed 2Sa 2:17 Es 6:13 Job 8:7 17:9 Ps 84:7 Pr 4:18,19 Da 2:34,35,44,45 Re 6:2

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

sons born 1Ch 3:1-4

Amnon 2Sa 13:1-29 Ge 49:3,4

Ahinoam 1Sa 25:43

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;

Chileab 1Ch 3:1 Daniel
Abigail 2Sa 2:2 1Sa 25:3,42

Absalom 2Sa 13:20-28 14:24-33 15:1-18 17:1-14 18:9-18,33

Talmai 2Sa 13:37,38

Geshur De 3:14 Jos 13:13 1Sa 27:8

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

Adonijah 1Ki 1:5 2:13-25

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.

Abner 2Sa 2:8,9 2Ki 10:23 2Ch 25:8 Pr 21:30 Isa 8:9,10 Joe 3:9-13 Mt 12:30

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?

Rizpah 2Sa 21:8-11

Wherefore. This action of Abner's seems a most evident proof that he in- tended to seize on the government; and it was so understood by Ish-bosheth; see Parallel Texts.

gone in 2Sa 12:8 16:21,22 1Ki 2:17,21,22

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show 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?

Abner Ps 76:10 Mr 6:18,19

Am I a dog's head This was a proverbial expression among the Hebrews to denote whatever was deemed worthless and contemptible. Something similar to this was the answer of the Turkish commander at Ber, on the Euphrates, to a request made to see the castle. `Do they,' said he, `take me for a child, or {an ass's head}, that they would feed me with sweet meats, and dupe me with a bit of cloth? No, they shall not see the castle.' 2Sa 9:8 16:9 De 23:18 1Sa 24:14,15 2Ki 8:13

so shew 2Sa 2:9,18 5:2 1Sa 15:23 Ps 2:1-4 Isa 37:23 Ac 9:4,5

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

So do God 2Sa 3:35 19:13 Ru 1:17 1Sa 3:17 14:44 25:22 1Ki 19:2

as the Lord 1Sa 3:17 14:44 25:22 1Ki 19:2

as the Lord 1Sa 15:28 16:1-13 28:17 1Ch 12:23 Ps 89:3,4,19,20,35-37

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.

from Dam 2Sa 17:11 24:2 Jud 20:1 1Ki 4:25

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

because 2Sa 3:39

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.

Whose 2Sa 19:6 20:1-13

Make Ps 62:9 Lu 16:5-8

my hand 2Sa 3:21,27 5:1-3 19:14,41-43 20:1,2 1Ch 11:1-3 Mt 21:8-10

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.

that is [heb] saying
Thou shalt Ge 43:3 44:23,26

except
As Michal was not divorced, but violently separated from David, he had a legal demand to her, and was justified in receiving her again. It is probable, also, that her marriage with Phaltiel was a force upon her inclinations; and whatever affections he might have for her, it was highly criminal for him to take another man's wife. David required Michal probably out of affection for her, and to strengthen his interest, by asserting his affinity with the house of Saul.

Michal 2Sa 3:20-23 1Sa 18:20-28 19:11-17 1Ch 15:29

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.

Ish-bosheth 2Sa 2:10

and hundred 1Sa 18:25,27

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

Phaltiel 1Sa 25:44

Phalti

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

along weeping [heb] going and weeping Pr 9:17,18

Bahurim 2Sa 16:5 17:18 19:16 1Ki 2:8

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

in times past [heb] both yesterday and third day

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.

for the Lord 2Sa 3:9 1Sa 13:14 15:28 16:1,12,13 Joh 12:42,43

By the hand Ps 89:3,4,19-23 132:17,18

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.

Benjamin 1Sa 10:20,21 1Ch 12:29 Ps 68:27

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.

David Ge 26:30 31:54 Es 1:3

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.

will gather 2Sa 3:10,12 2:9 Php 2:21

reign over 1Ki 11:37 Ps 20:4

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?

What hast Joab and his brother Abishai, David's nephews, had been very faithful and highly useful to him in his distresses; and, from gratitude and natural affection, he had inadvertently permitted them to assume almost as much ascendancy over him as Abner had over the pusillanimous Ishbosheth: he trusted and feared them too much, and allowed them all the importance they claimed; which had emboldened them, especially Joab, to a high degree of presumption. 2Sa 3:8,39 19:5-7 Nu 23:11 Joh 18:35

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.

that he came 2Sa 3:27 2Ki 18:32 Joh 7:12,47 Ro 2:1

and to know 2Sa 10:3 Ge 42:9,12,16 Nu 27:17 De 28:6 1Sa 29:4-6 Ps 121:8 Isa 37:28

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 sent Pr 26:23-26 27:4-6

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.

took him 2Sa 20:9,10 De 27:24 1Ki 2:5,32

quietly. or, peaceably Jer 41:2 6:7

and smote Joab was afraid that Abner, after rendering such essential service to David, would be made the general of the army; and therefore, under pretence of avenging the death of his brother, he treacherously assassinated the unsuspecting and too-confiding Abner: and such was the power of this cold-blooded and nefarious murderer, that the king dared not bring him to justice for his crime. But, while Joab's conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner's punishment; who, from ambition, had pertinaciously, against his conscience, opposed the declared will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert Ish-bosheth, and offer his services to David. 2Sa 3:6-10 4:6

for the blood 2Sa 2:19-23

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:

guiltless Ge 9:6 Ex 21:12 Nu 35:33 De 21:1-9 Mt 27:24

blood [heb] bloods Ge 4:10

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.

rest 1Sa 1:16 Jud 9:24,56,57 1Ki 2:31-34 Ac 28:4 Re 16:6

let there 1Sa 2:32-36 2Ki 5:27 Ps 109:8-19

fail [heb] be cut off
an issue Le 13:44-46 2Ki 5:1

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

slew Abner Pr 28:17 Ac 28:4

because 2Sa 2:19-23

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.

And David David, intending no doubt to punish Joab, and to lessen his authority with the people, commanded him to take upon him the office of chief mourner; but, as his revenge was gratified, his rival removed, and no heavier punishment inflicted, it is probable his hardened mind would fell but little objection to the ceremony.

Rend 2Sa 1:2,11 Ge 37:29,34 Jos 7:6 Jud 11:35 2Ki 19:1

bier [heb] bed Lu 7:14

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.

lifted 2Sa 1:12 18:33 1Sa 30:4 Job 31:28 Pr 24:17 Lu 19:41,42

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

as a fool dieth That is, as a bad man, as the word frequently signifies in Scripture 2Sa 13:12,13,28,29 Pr 18:7 Ec 2:15,16 Jer 17:11 Lu 12:19,20

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.

hands The hand of malefactors were usually secured with cords, and their feet with fetters; a custom to which David affectingly alludes in his lamentation over the dust of Abner. Thy hands, O Abner, were not bound, as found to be a malefactor, nor thy feet put in fetters; thou was treated with honour by him whose business it was to judge thee, and thy attachment to the house of Saul was esteemed rather generous than culpable: as the best of men may fall, so thou fellest by the sword of treachery, not of justice. Jud 16:21 Ps 107:10,11

wicked men [heb] children of iniquity Job 24:14 Ho 6:9

wept 2Sa 1:12

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.

cause 1Sa 12:17 Jer 16:7 Eze 24:17,22

So do 2Sa 3:9 Ru 1:17

till the 2Sa 1:12 Jud 20:26

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

pleased them [heb] was good in their eyes
as 2Sa 15:6,13 Ps 62:9 Mr 7:37 15:11-13

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?

a prince 2Sa 3:12 2:8 1Sa 14:50,51 Job 32:9

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.

I am Ex 21:12 2Ch 19:6,7 Ps 75:10 101:8 Pr 20:8 25:5

weak [heb] tender 1Ch 22:5 Isa 7:4 Ro 13:4

the sons 1Ch 2:15,16

too hard 2Sa 19:6,7,13

the Lord 1Ki 2:5,6,33,34 Ps 7:16 28:4 62:12 2Ti 4:14