# 2 Samuel 03 đ: Abner Joins David and Is Killed
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[[-2 Samuel Overview]] | [[2 Samuel 02]] | [[2 Samuel 04]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]]Â However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.
[[#Verse 02.]]Â Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.Â
[[#Verse 04.]]Â His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abital.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] His sixth son was Ithream, born to Davidâs wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.
### Abner Defects to Davidâs Camp
[[#Verse 06.]] As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish Bosheth said to Abner, âWhy did you sleep with my fatherâs concubine?â
[[#Verse 08.]] These words of Ish Bosheth really angered Abner and he said, âAm I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today!
[[#Verse 09.]] God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him,Â
[[#Verse 10.]] namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!âÂ
[[#Verse 11.]] Ish Bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.
[[#Verse 12.]] Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, âTo whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you.âÂ
[[#Verse 13.]]Â So David said, âGood! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saulâs daughter Michal when you come to visit me.â
[[#Verse 14.]] David sent messengers to Ish Bosheth son of Saul with this demand: âGive me my wife Michal whom I acquired for 100 Philistine foreskins.âÂ
[[#Verse 15.]] So Ish Bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, âGo back!â So he returned home.
[[#Verse 17.]] Abner advised the elders of Israel, âPreviously you were wanting David to be your king.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] Act now! For the Lord has said to David, âBy the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.ââ
[[#Verse 19.]] Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.Â
[[#Verse 20.]]Â When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] Abner said to David, âLet me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.â So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.
### Abner Is Killed
[[#Verse 22.]] Now Davidâs soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace.Â
[[#Verse 23.]]Â When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: âAbner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!â
[[#Verse 24.]] So Joab went to the king and said, âWhat have you done? Abner has come to you. Why would you send him away? Now heâs gone on his way!
[[#Verse 25.]] You know Abner the son of Ner. Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!â
[[#Verse 26.]]Â Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.)Â
[[#Verse 27.]] When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.
[[#Verse 28.]] When David later heard about this, he said, âI and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner.Â
[[#Verse 29.]] May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joabâs house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.
[[#Verse 31.]] David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, âTear your clothes. Put on sackcloth. Lament before Abner!â Now King David followed behind the funeral pallet.Â
[[#Verse 32.]] So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abnerâs grave, and all the people wept too.Â
[[#Verse 33.]]Â The king chanted the following lament for Abner: âShould Abner have died like a fool?
[[#Verse 34.]] Your hands were not bound,
and your feet were not put into irons.
You fell the way one falls before criminals.â
All the people wept over him again.Â
[[#Verse 35.]] Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, âGod will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!â
[[#Verse 36.]] All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people.Â
[[#Verse 37.]]Â All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the kingâs instigation.
[[#Verse 38.]] Then the king said to his servants, âDo you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?Â
[[#Verse 39.]] Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!â
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
###### Verse 36.
###### Verse 37.
###### Verse 38.
###### Verse 39.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Six sons were born to David in Hebron, each by a different mother (3:2-5).
2. Absalom's mother, Maacah, was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur (3:3). Absalom later fled to Geshur (13:37).
3. Taking a former king's concubine could signal a claim to the throne, which is why Ish-bosheth's accusation about Rizpah (3:7) was so serious.
4. Abner's oath mentions the land "from Dan to Beersheba" (3:10), a common way of describing all Israel from north to south.
5. David reminded Ish-bosheth that he had paid the bride-price Saul demanded for Michal (3:14; 1 Samuel 18:25-27).
6. Michal's second husband, Paltiel, followed her weeping as far as Bahurim (3:16).
7. Hebron was one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7), yet Joab killed Abner at its gate.
8. Joab's act was presented as revenge for his brother Asahel (3:27, 30), whom Abner had killed in battle (2:23).
9. David walked behind the funeral bier himself and fasted until sunset (3:31, 35).
10. David publicly honored Abner as a great leader who had fallen in Israel (3:38).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the King whose kingdom keeps growing while every rival fades (3:1). His government will increase without end (Isaiah 9:7), and He judges with perfect justice where David felt too weak to act (3:39; John 5:22).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. The house of David grew stronger while Saul's house grew weaker (3:1). How have you seen God's purposes advance slowly over time?
2. Joab took revenge into his own hands (3:27). Why is personal revenge so destructive, even when we have truly been wronged?
3. The people took note of David's grief and were pleased with everything he did (3:36). How does a leader's response in a crisis build or break trust?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 1: David grows stronger while the house of Saul grows weaker.
- đ verse 18: The Lord promised to rescue Israel through His servant David.
- đ verses 36-37: The people see David's grief and know he had no part in Abner's death.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[1 Kings 02#Verse 05.|1 Kings 2:5-6]] - David tells Solomon to deal with Joab.
- đ [[Romans 12#Verse 19.|Romans 12:19]] - Leave vengeance to God.
- đ [[Isaiah 09#Verse 07.|Isaiah 9:7]] - His government will grow without end.
- đ [[Joshua 20#Verse 07.|Joshua 20:7]] - Hebron set apart as a city of refuge.
- đ [[Proverbs 24#Verse 29.|Proverbs 24:29]] - Do not say, I will pay them back.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[2 Samuel 03 - SOAP|Authentic Goodness]]
## đ Internal Notes