2 Samuel 3 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments
  • 2 Samuel 3:8 open_in_new

    Am I a dog's head, which against Judah?] RV 'Am I a dog's head that belongeth to Judah?' i.e. a despised enemy. Do shew kindness this day] RV 'This day' (i.e. at the very time you bring this trivial charge) 'do I shew kindness': see on 1 Kings 2:17. This woman] LXX 'a woman.' It was the question of a mere woman.

  • 2 Samuel 3:9 open_in_new

    Except.. even so I do to him] RV 'if. I do not even so to him,' i.e. support David instead of Ish-bosheth.

  • 2 Samuel 3:16 open_in_new

    Bahurim] in Benjamin, on the road from Jerusalem to the Jordan. It was probably the last town in the dominions of Ish-bosheth.

  • 2 Samuel 3:17 open_in_new

    Ye sought for David] It would thus seem that even in northern Israel there was a strong party, who wished to make David king on the death of Saul. It was probably the personal influence of Abner that decided the day in favour of Ish-bosheth. The whole passage clearly shows how weak was the hereditary principle, and how completely the 'king' was still regarded merely as a military leader and 'judge.' The element of popular choice is more fully emphasised here than in Judges (except for the Abimelech episode).

  • 2 Samuel 3:19 open_in_new

    Benjamin] as being Saul's fellow-tribesmen they would be specially attached to the royal house and need additional persuasion.

  • 2 Samuel 3:24 open_in_new

    Why is it that thou hast sent him away?] As a kinsman of Asahel, Joab thought that David should have avenged his death.

  • 2 Samuel 3:27 open_in_new

    For the blood of Asahel his brother] According to Eastern ideas Joab was bound to avenge his brother's murder. Neither Judaism, Christianity, nor Mohammedanism has been able to eradicate this feeling. But the Law provided a remedy in the Cities of Refuge (see Numbers 35:11). In the case before us, Joab was probably influenced by the fear that Abner would interfere with his authority: see on

  • 2 Samuel 3:35 open_in_new

    Till the sun be down] The regular time for ending a fast, as it still is in Mohammedan countries. The Hebrew day was reckoned from sunset to sunset.