2 Samuel 3:1-39 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Bible Comments

2 Samuel 3:1. Long war, of contention and strife, rather than of bloody battles.

2 Samuel 3:3. The daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. David had invaded the country of this prince, and might have led her away among the captives; and in that case she might be married by an Israelite.

2 Samuel 3:8. Am I a dog's head? This phrase is brief, and therefore obscure. Moses says, thou shalt not bring the price of a dog's head into the house of the Lord. Abner gives himself this low name to show his folly in opposing the house of David.

2 Samuel 3:9. Except as the Lord hath sworn to David. Why had he then resisted David for seven years? Had he obeyed from the first, he had not killed Asahel, neither had Joab revenged his brother's blood. They that take the sword shall perish by the sword.

2 Samuel 3:15. Took her from her husband. The original term here rendered husband is not baalah, her husband, but only ishah, her man, which is often rendered keeper or overseer. Abarbanel thinks that Phaltiel was an old man, and that Saul had entrusted Michal to his care; but this is perfectly gratuitous.

2 Samuel 3:22. Joab came from pursuing a troop of Philistines, or their allies.

2 Samuel 3:27. Joab smote Abner under the fifth rib. This Hebraism displeases the critics. LXX, εις την ψοαν in the groin, which coincides with the discharges of the feces.

2 Samuel 3:28. I and my kingdom are guiltless of the blood of Abner. Moses directs the elders to wash their hands, and attest their innocence when a man was found murdered; because the Lord is the avenger of blood: and David's curse fell on the head of Joab when Solomon slew him at the altar.

REFLECTIONS.

This chapter presents us with David's rising household; and as he had but one son by each wife, we may conclude that he did not take this step till the fifth or sixth year of his reign; and that in this he followed the custom of the age, with a view to the stability of his throne. A king having but six wives would be thought a model of continence to all the kings of the east; such is human policy; it proved to David however a source of inquietude and trouble all his life, and disturbed his kingdom after his death. No man can violate the law of God without incurring his displeasure. The first woman he married in Hebron was Maachah, daughter of the king of Geshur, beyond the Jordan. This was not unlawful, if she were a captive in war, or a proselyte to Judaism; but if David intended this alliance to strengthen him on his throne, it proved the greatest source of all his calamities. Absalom, after the assassination of his brother Amnon fled to Geshur, where he plotted the dethroning of his sire. Good men guided by the divine counsel, have no need of any sinful policy.

While David thus strengthened himself in his kingdom, Abner did the same for the house of Saul; but in the skirmishes which happened, and in the scale of national influence, the house of David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul weaker and weaker. So the kingdom of Christ shall rise and spread in all the earth, and the kingdom of darkness shall be overwhelmed in its progress. So grace shall triumph over nature in the faithful soul till sin is all destroyed, and till every thought is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

The means by which David was confirmed in his kingdom highly exemplify the wisdom and wonders of providence. Abner, wishing to reign while Ishbosheth had the name, took Rizpah, Saul's favourite concubine, a woman of influence, for his concubine. The relict of a king being deemed sacred in her person, Abner incurred by his presumption a severe reproof. This so mortified his pride, and inflamed his anger, that he swore to bring over the kingdom to David. This his conscience had long suggested was his duty, and a duty he owed more to God than to David. Had he done so on Saul's death, and from a loyal motive, he had secured his life, and immortalized his name among the worthies of Israel. But acting now from a base motive, God would not accept his services. The wicked very often do the Lord's people a great service; but aiming solely to gratify their own passions, they have no reward. Abner acted as another wicked man, and was permitted to fall before he had lived to perform his vow.

If Abner was treacherous, Joab was still more so; and through mere malice against him, urged the right of avenging his brother's blood, as though Asahel had not fallen in fair battle. With these purposes he forged the king's commands to recal Abner, and taking him aside he stabbed him in that part of the body where he had pierced Asahel with the hilt of his spear. He did more, he traduced his memory as having come to Hebron to betray David. Hereby Joab completed his character as an assassin, and associated his name with those who ought not to see the light of the sun.

However much this crime of Joab might contribute to ruin the houshold of Saul, it awfully implicated David in the guilt of injustice. Joab was his nephew; he was his general, and had been the faithful companion of his exile; therefore his feelings would not suffer him to put him to death. This was wrong, for justice is more than the greatest of men. David had cause afterwards to repent; yet he honoured Abner as a prince in his burial, and entailed a curse on his assassin. How unhappy are princes when surrounded by factions of wicked men.

Related Commentaries of 2 Samuel 3:1

2 Samuel 3:1-39

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,a 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,b 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 Phaltielc 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 timesd 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,e 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 bloodf 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 failg 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.h

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 wickedi 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 kingj 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,k 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.