2 Samuel 3: Abner comes over to David, and Joab kills him
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What happens?
The war between Saul's house and David's house goes on, and David grows stronger while Saul's house grows weaker. Six sons are born to David in Hebron. When Ishbosheth asks Abner why he has gone in to Saul's concubine Rizpah, Abner is very angry and swears to bring the kingdom over to David. David first asks for his wife Michal, and she is taken from her husband Paltiel, who follows her weeping. Abner speaks with the elders of Israel and of Benjamin, comes to David at Hebron with twenty men, and is sent away in peace after a feast. Joab, back from a raid, tells the king that Abner came to deceive him, has Abner brought back, and kills him in the gate of Hebron for the blood of his brother Asahel. David says that he and his kingdom are innocent of Abner's blood, says it should fall on the head of Joab and all his father's house, walks behind the bier, sings a lament for Abner and fasts until sunset, and all the people know that the killing was not the king's doing.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Ishbosheth speaks to Abner in verse 7, and Abner answers him with an oath in verses 8 to 10. Abner's messages to David are in verse 12, and David answers in verse 13 and sends word to Ishbosheth in verse 14. Abner speaks to Paltiel in verse 16, to the elders of Israel in verses 17 and 18, and to David in verse 21. In verse 18 Abner gives words he says Yahweh spoke about David; they are Abner's telling, not Yahweh speaking. Joab is told the news in verse 23 and speaks to the king in verses 24 and 25. David speaks in verses 28, 29, 31 and 33 to 35, and to his servants in verses 38 and 39. The oaths and words about Yahweh in this chapter are the speakers' own. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.
In plain English: There was a long war between Saul's house and David's house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul's house grew weaker and weaker.
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2Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
In plain English: Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel (this Bible: the Jezreelitess);
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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;
In plain English: his second was Chileab, by Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel (this Bible: the Carmelite); the third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
Good to know: to lists the same six sons born in Hebron, but it names Abigail's son "Daniel" instead of Chileab. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "Daluia" here. The text does not explain the different names.
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4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
In plain English: the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital;
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5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
In plain English: and the sixth was Ithream, by Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
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6While there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner made himself strong in Saul’s house.
In plain English: While there was war between Saul's house and David's house, Abner was making himself strong in Saul's house.
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7Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
In plain English: Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth (the Hebrew says only: he) said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to (that is: slept with) my father's concubine?"
Good to know: The text does not say whether the charge was true. In verse 8 Abner answers it in anger, and in verse 9 he swears to bring the kingdom over to David. Rizpah is named again in as the mother of two of Saul's sons.
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8Then Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to your father Saul’s house, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman!
In plain English: Abner was very angry (literally: it burned in Abner) at Ishbosheth's words, and he said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah (see the note)? Today I am showing kindness (or: loyalty) to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and to his friends, and I have not handed you over to David. Yet today you charge me with a wrong (this Bible: a fault) over this woman!
The Hebrew word: "Dog" is keleb, which the dictionary gives as "a dog". Word for word Abner asks, "Am I a dog's head, which is for Judah?" The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has only "Am I a dog's head?"
What changes: Read with "that belongs to Judah", Abner asks whether Ishbosheth takes him for a dog on Judah's side. Read the way Brenton has it, he asks only whether he is taken for a dog. Either way, he goes on to say that he has been loyal to Saul's house.
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9God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him:
In plain English: May God do so to Abner, and more too, if I do not do for David what Yahweh has sworn to him:
Good to know: "God do so to Abner, and more also" is a way of swearing an oath (see the note on ). 1 Samuel does not give these words of Yahweh swearing to David. In Samuel told Saul that Yahweh had torn the kingdom from him and given it "to a neighbor of yours who is better than you". "From Dan to Beersheba" names the whole land, from the north to the south, as in and .
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10to transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”
In plain English: to take the kingdom away from Saul's house, and to set up David's throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."
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11He could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.
In plain English: Ishbosheth (the Hebrew says only: he) could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.
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12Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel around to you.”
In plain English: Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf (or: from where he was), saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make your covenant (this Bible: alliance) with me, and look, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you."
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13David said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
In plain English: David said, "Good. I will make a covenant (this Bible: treaty) with you. But I ask one thing of you: you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me (literally: to see my face)."
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14David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
In plain English: David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry (literally: whom I betrothed to myself) for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."
Good to know: In Saul asked for "one hundred foreskins of the Philistines" as the bride price, and in David killed two hundred Philistines and brought their foreskins, and Saul gave him Michal. Here David speaks of one hundred. The text does not explain the difference.
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15Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish.
In plain English: Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish.
Good to know: says that Saul had given Michal, David's wife, to "Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim". Here he is called Paltiel.
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16Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.
In plain English: Her husband went with her, weeping as he walked behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, go back!" And he went back.
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17Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.
In plain English: Abner spoke (literally: Abner's word was) with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time now (literally: both yesterday and the day before) you have wanted (this Bible: sought for) David to be king over you.
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18Now then do it! For Yahweh has 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.’”
In plain English: Now do it! For Yahweh has spoken of (or: to) David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'"
Good to know: These are Abner's words. 1 Samuel does not give these words of Yahweh about David. In Yahweh said something close to them about Saul: "He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines."
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19Abner also spoke 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 to the whole house of Benjamin.
In plain English: Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin (literally: in the ears of Benjamin). Then Abner went to Hebron to tell David (literally: to speak in the ears of David) all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good.
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20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
In plain English: So Abner came to David at Hebron, with twenty men, and David made a feast for Abner and the men with him.
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21Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
In plain English: Abner said to David, "Let me get up and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and you may reign over all that you desire (literally: all that your soul desires)." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
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22Behold, David’s servants and Joab came from a raid and brought in a great plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
In plain English: Just then David's servants and Joab came back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
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23When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”
In plain English: When Joab and all the army with him arrived, Joab was told, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace."
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24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is already gone?
In plain English: Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you send him away, so that he is already gone?
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25You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”
In plain English: You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, to find out your going out and your coming in, and to find out everything you are doing."
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26When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it.
In plain English: When Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well (or: cistern) of Sirah. But David did not know it.
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27When Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.
In plain English: When Abner came back to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him in private (this Bible: quietly), and there he struck him in the belly (this Bible: body), and he died, for the blood of Asahel, Joab's brother.
Good to know: Hebron was one of the cities set apart in , and calls it "the city of refuge for the man slayer". The text here does not mention it. Abner killed Asahel in the battle (), and verse 30 gives the reason the text states for his death.
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28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
In plain English: Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent (this Bible: guiltless) before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
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29Let it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
In plain English: Let it fall (literally: whirl down) on the head of Joab and on all his father's house. May the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge, or a leper (or: someone with a skin disease), or one who leans on a staff (or: holds a spindle: see the note), or one who falls by the sword, or one who lacks bread."
The Hebrew words: "Leans on a staff" is word for word "takes hold of a pelek". The dictionary gives pelek as "a circuit (i.e. district); also a spindle (as whirled); hence, a crutch". It is in 9 verses of the Bible: here, seven verses of , where this Bible says "district", and , where a woman's hands "hold the spindle".
What changes: Read as a staff or a crutch, David's words speak of men who are lame or weak. Read as a spindle, the tool for spinning thread, they speak of men who take hold of a spindle. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "one that leans on a staff". The text does not say more.
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30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
In plain English: So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
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31David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier.
In plain English: David said to Joab and to all the people with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner." King David walked behind the bier.
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32They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept.
In plain English: They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept aloud (literally: lifted up his voice and wept) at Abner's grave, and all the people wept.
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33The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
In plain English: The king sang a lament (this Bible: lamented) for Abner and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
The Hebrew word: "A fool" is nabal, which the dictionary gives as "stupid; wicked (especially impious)". It is also the name of Nabal, Abigail's husband, of whom she said, "as his name is, so is he" ().
What changes: Read as "a fool", David asks whether Abner should die like a foolish or wicked man. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) reads the name: "Shall Abenner die according to the death of Nabal?", the man Yahweh struck so that he died (). Either way, verse 34 says Abner was not bound or in chains, but fell as one falls before wicked men.
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34Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” All the people wept again over him.
In plain English: Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into fetters (literally: brought near to bronze chains). As a man falls before wicked men (this Bible: the children of iniquity), so you fell." And all the people wept over him again.
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35All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, until the sun goes down.”
In plain English: All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David swore, "May God do so to me, and more too, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down."
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36All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.
In plain English: All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people.
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37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.
In plain English: So all the people and all Israel knew that day that it was not the king's doing (literally: not from the king) to kill Abner the son of Ner.
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38The king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel?
In plain English: The king said to his servants, "Don't you know that a prince (or: a commander) and a great man has fallen today in Israel?
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39I am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
In plain English: Today I am weak (or: tender), though I am anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. May Yahweh pay back the one who does evil according to his evil (this Bible: wickedness)."
The Hebrew word: "Weak" is rak, which the dictionary gives as "tender (literally or figuratively); by implication, weak". This Bible says "tender" in 10 of the 16 verses that use it, and "weak" in 2.
What changes: Read as "weak", David says he is not strong enough to act against the sons of Zeruiah, though he is the anointed king. Read as "tender", he speaks of himself as mild today, while the sons of Zeruiah are hard. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) reads it another way: "I am this day a mere kinsman of his, and as it were a subject". Either way, he leaves it to Yahweh to pay back the one who does evil.
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