2 Samuel 3
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 3
NJB (MT versing) The House of David Strengthened Sons of David Continuation of the War with Israel David's Sons The Sons of David at Hebron 3:1 3:2-5 3:2-5 3:2-5 3:2-5 3:2-5 Abner Joins David Abner Joins Forces with David Abner Quarrels with Ishbaal Abner Joins David The Rift Between Abner and Ishbaal 3:6-11 3:6-11 3:6-11 3:6-11 3:6-11 Abner Negotiates with David Abner Negotiates with David 3:12-16 3:12-16 3:12-16 3:12 3:12-16 3:13-16 3:17-19 3:17-21 3:17-19 3:17-19 3:17-19 3:20-21 3:20-21 3:20-21 3:20-21 Joab Murders Abner The Murder of Abner by Joab Abner Is Murdered The Murder of Abner 3:22-25 3:22-27 3:22-25 3:22-25 3:22-25 Joab Murders Abner 3:26-30 3:26-30 3:26-29 3:26-34 (33b-34) 3:28-30 3:30 David Mourns Abner David's Mourning for Abner Abner Is Buried 3:31-39 (33b-34) 3:31-34 (33b-34) 3:31-39 (33b-34) 3:31-34 (33b-34) 3:35-39 3:35-39 3:35-37 3:38-39 Etc.
2 Samuel 3:1
3:1 "there was a long war" The civil war between Abraham's seed (i.e., the tribes of Israel) continued for a protracted period. ▣ "David grew steadily stronger" This was a sign of YHWH's favor with David/Judah. This same favor is shown in 2 Sam. 2:30-31.
2 Samuel 3:2-5
3:2-5 This paragraph lists David's children born during his seven years at Hebron (2 Sam. 2:11). Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess Chileab by Abigail, the widow of Nabal, the Carmelite (called Daniel in 1 Chr. 2:1) Absalom by Maacah, the daughter of the King of Geshur (small semi-independent state east of the Sea of Chinnereth) Adonijah by Haggith Shephatiah by Abital Ithream by Eglah Numbers 1, 3, and 4 caused major problems later in life, while the other three are never mentioned again; possibly they died early. This list of David's children differs from 1 Chr. 3:1-3, see detailed notes there online. Notice only the first male child is named, surely there were female children and other males not listed. These marriages were, in one sense, political ways of assuring support. David's kingdom was growing but Ish-bosheth had only Abner as a supporter. How quickly the tribes followed Abner's suggestion in vv. 17-19 shows the weakness of Ish-bosheth.
2 Samuel 3:6-11
3:6 "Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul" Abner was the power behind the throne. Ish-bosheth was a weak figurehead (cf. v. 11). 3:7 "Saul had a concubine" One wonders how the VERB is functioning. does it denote a sexual act ("gone in to," stated later in v. 7) does it denote he possessed her for a period of time The MT has no VERB but one must be supplied in English (and Greek). ▣ "concubine" Concubines were socially accepted as legal marital partners. They did not have the full rights of a wife but they did have limited rights and limited inheritance for their children, NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 615-619. ▣ "Aiah" This is a masculine name (BDB 17 II, cf. Gen. 36:24; 1 Chr. 1:40). The name appears in 2 Sam. 21:8,10,11, where he is mentioned as the father of Aiah who bore Saul two sons. ▣ "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine" This could be viewed as an attempt by Abner to claim the throne. see 2 Sam. 16:22 for Absalom's actions see 1 Kgs. 2:22-23 for Adonijah's request note this is why David wanted Michal, Saul's daughter back (v. 13) 3:8-10 Abner took Ish-bosheth's words as a charge of treason. Abner denied this in vivid idiomatic language. However, the charge of treason after all he had done for Ish-bosheth, made him very angry. He will actively become the one who facilitates David's ascension over Ish-bosheth's kingdom. 3:9 "May God do so to Abner, and more also" This is a self-induced curse formula (cf. Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam. 14:44; 1 Kgs. 2:23; 19;2). It has two IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE sense. do ‒ BDB 793, KB 889, Qal IMPERFECT do again ‒ BDB 414, KB 418, Hiphil IMPERFECT 3:10 "Dan, even to Beersheba" Dan was the farthest northern city of Israel, while Beersheba was a very southern city of Judah. This became a descriptive idiom for all the Promised Land (cf. Jdgs. 20:1; 1 Sam. 3:20; 2 Sam. 17:11; 1 Kgs. 4:25). 3:11 Ish-bosheth was a weak and fearful person who was not fit to rule.
2 Samuel 3:12-16
3:12 The uniting of all Israel under one king was David's goal! This desire was thwarted again and again. David saw a golden opportunity. In this chapter, after Abner's murder David does several things to show Israel that he had no part in Abner's murder. cursed Joab made Joab a public participant of Abner's funeral David publicly and intensely mourned Abner's death wrote a lament refused to eat at the funeral meal David praised Abner (vv. 38-39) The result was that Israel did not hold David responsible for Abner's death (vv. 36-37). Still it took years for the reality of a united monarchy to come to pass. ▣ NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "Whose is the land" NRSV, JPSOA, NET "To whom does the land belong" "Who is going to rule this land" NJB, LXX —omits phrase— "Who is to control the land" The MT has "to whom the land?" This cryptic phrase is left out in both LXX and NJB. It seems to assert that Ish-bosheth is not the God-ordained leader. 3:13 The return of Michal, Saul's daughter, as David's wife (cf. 1 Sam. 17:25; 18:17-19; 25:44) gave some credence to David's claim of kingship. David was publicly shamed by Saul when he gave his wife to another man (cf. 1 Sam. 25:44). This royal honor must be restored! 3:14 This was a task required for David to become Saul's son-in-law (cf. 1 Sam. 18:20-27). 3:15-16 Abner's power is seen by his demand to Ish-bosheth to return David's first wife. What a sad story of the terrible condition of women in the ANE. They were seen as property! SPECIAL TOPIC: WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
2 Samuel 3:17-19
3:17 "the elders of Israel" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDERS. ▣ "In times past you were seeking David to be king over you" This is never stated in 1 Samuel. It could refer to Samuel's anointing at Jesse's house in Bethlehem, 1 Sam. 16:13 the women's song of David's valor, 1 Sam. 18:6-7,16 the desertion of many of Saul's people to David's army, 1 Sam. 22:1-2 possibly a reference to Israel's desire for a king, 1 Sam. 8:4-9 3:18 This may refer to 1 Sam. 9:16 or 15:28. ▣ "hand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND. ▣ "My servant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, LXX, Peshitta "I will save" "I will use. . .to rescue" NJB, REB, JPSOA "I shall deliver" The MT has a Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 446, KB 448) or it may be a Hiphil PERFECT. This uncertainty has caused some Hebrew texts and ancient versions to have I will save. I have saved. I am saving. It is surely possible that the grammar implies "God will surely save." The MT has "he," which obviously refers to YHWH. He will deliver Israel from all her enemies, through David, His anointed King. 3:19 Notice the different groups then agreed to a united monarchy. tribe of Benjamin, Saul's tribe tribe of Judah of which David was king Israel, the other tribes from Jacob
2 Samuel 3:20-21
3:20 "Hebron" David's capital was Hebron for a long period of time. Jerusalem was not captured until much later in David's lifetime. It was still a strong Canaanite city under the Jebusites. See note at 2 Sam. 2:1. ▣ "David made a feast" The covenant was accompanied by a feast to seal the pact. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT 3:21 This verse has three opening cohortatives. arise ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal go ‒ BDB 229, KB 246, Qal gather ‒ BDB 867, KKB 1062, Qal Abner commits himself to act in order to assure a new united Israel.
2 Samuel 3:22-25
3:22-25 Joab was not present when David and Abner made the covenant. It is uncertain from the text if Joab did not trust Abner, v. 25 wanted revenge for Asahel's death (he was acting as the blood avenger for his family, v. 30) wanted to eliminate a rival to his position as military commander (i.e., 2 Sam. 19:13; 20:9-10) 3:22 "he had gone in peace" This important phrase is repeated in v. 23. Abner was under the protection of his covenant with David. This is what makes Joab's act of revenge so unacceptable. 3:24 "he is already gone" This is an emphatic construction of an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB from the same root (BDB 229, KB 246, Qal).
2 Samuel 3:26-30
3:26 Joab gave orders to give Abner a message that David knew nothing about. ▣ "the well of Sirah" Josephus, Antiq. 7.1.5, says the well was about a half mile north of Hebron. 3:27 "in the middle of the gate" "aside in the gate" NRSV, REB "aside in the gateway" "aside at the gate" "aside in the town-gate" "aside within the gate" "aside beside the gate" "aside to a secret place within the gate" The NASB reflects the MT. The UBS Text Project, p. 214, gives the MT an "A" rating. Apparently there was a large gate at Hebron that had side rooms. Joab lured Abner into the small private place in order to surprise him with a knife thrust! ▣ "he struck him in the belly" This was the same painful and lingering wound that Abner had done to Asahel (cf. 2 Sam. 2:23). It is not stated how long it took Abner, or for that matter Asahel, to die. 3:28 There seem to be two possible backgrounds for David's statement. The shedding of innocent blood was a major crime in Israel that had lasting consequences on those involved (i.e., individual and corporate). David wanted a united monarchy; Joab's rash act jeopardized this. 3:29 This is David's curse on Joab's household (cf. v. 39). It is ironical that Joab killed Abner to save the honor of his house, but in so doing, brought down the curse of God on his descendants. David's curse involves "one who has a discharge" would be ceremonially unclean to participate in temple ritual (cf. Leviticus 15) "one who is a leper" was considered to be divinely cursed by God (cf. Leviticus 13-14) "one who holds the distaff" refers either to men doing women's work or possibly all the children would be born cripples or slaves "who falls by the sword" refers to ultimate defeat in every battle "one who lacks bread" refers to a curse of poverty ▣ NASB, NRSV. TEV, NJB, JPSOA, LXX "fall on" NKJV, Peshitta "rest on" "recoil on" "whirl over" The MT has the VERB (BDB 296, KB 297, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense), which means "to whirl," "to dance," "to writhe." It refers to Abner's blood! This type of imagery is similar to "Cain's blood crying to God from the ground" (Gen. 4:10). It demanded justice.
2 Samuel 3:31-39
3:31 "David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him" Joab and his entire family had to attend the elaborate state funeral for Abner and participate in the mourning rites. 3:32 "wept" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BURIAL PRACTICES and SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES. 3:33b-34 This poetic lament clearly accuses Joab of a wicked, selfish act! Abner was tricked and suddenly attacked. It was an ambush by a supposed covenant representative. 3:35 "before the sun goes down" Usually the day of a funeral was a day of an elaborate meal but David refused to eat because he was fasting as a sign of mourning to show the people that he had no duplicity in Abner's death. 3:36 David was always a very popular figure with the people (cf. 1 Sam. 18:16). But Joab's tragic act delayed for many years the uniting of Israel and Judah under one monarch. 3:37 See note at 2 Sam. 3:29. 3:38 As often happens at funerals, hyperbolic language is used to accentuate the qualities of the dead. This description does not reflect Abner's character! David is using the opportunity to again affirm that he had no part in Abner's murder! 3:39 "anointed king" Three offices were anointed in the OT: prophet, priest, and king. This became John Calvin's categories for Christology (cf. Heb. 1:1-3). Anointing shows YHWH's special calling and equipping to a specific task. SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE ▣ "Zeruiah" This was David's sister. ▣ "May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil" David had the same problem at court that Ish-bosheth had in relation to a right hand man who was impulsive and powerful. David decided to leave Joab's punishment to YHWH. The punishment was specifically given to Solomon at David's death (cf. 1 Kgs. 2:5-6,28-34).