2 Samuel 3:6

2 Samuel 3:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul.
• English Standard Version (ESV)While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.

Context of 2 Samuel 3:6

4the fourth, Adonijah the son of [his wife] Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of [his wife] Abital; 5and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These [sons] were born to David in Hebron. Now while war continued between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was proving himself strong in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, “Am I a dog’s head [a despicable traitor] that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty and kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and his friends, by not having you handed over to David; and yet you charge me today with guilt concerning this woman.

2 Samuel 3:6 word by word

וַיְהִ֗י בִּֽהְיוֹת֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְאַבְנֵ֛ר הָיָ֥ה מִתְחַזֵּ֖ק בְּבֵ֥ית שָׁאֽוּל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, while there was warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• between the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• of Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• that Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
• made himself strongחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 3:6

• 2 Samuel 2:8Now [Saul’s cousin] Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
• 2 Kings 10:23Then Jehu with Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the house of Baal; and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search carefully and see that there are no servants of the Lord here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”
• 2 Chronicles 25:8But if you do go [in spite of this warning], be strong and courageous for battle; yet God will cause you to stumble and fall before the enemy, for God has power to help and to cause people to stumble.”
• Proverbs 21:30There is no [human] wisdom or understanding Or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.
• Isaiah 8:9“Be broken [in pieces], O peoples, and be shattered! Listen, all you [our enemies from the] far countries. Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered; Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered.
• Joel 3:9Proclaim this among the [pagan] nations: Prepare a war! Stir up the mighty men! Let all the men of war come near, let them come up!
• Matthew 12:30He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Abner made himself strong - This strengthening of himself, and going in to the late king's concubine, were most evident proofs that he wished to seize upon the government. See 1 Kings 2:21, 1 Kings 2:22; 1 Kings 12:8; 1 Kings 16:21.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Render, “And it came to pass, while the war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted, that Abner assisted the house of Saul.”Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-39The house of David (David’s family line and those loyal to his rule) grew stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker. A key turning point came when Abner, who held the real political power among Saul’s followers, changed his loyalty to David. When Abner did this, many of his relatives from the northern tribes followed him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-116-11. Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul--In the East, the wives and concubines of a king are the property of his successor to this extent, that for a private person to aspire to marry one of them would be considered a virtual advance of pretensions to the crown (see 1Ki 2:17). It is not clear whether the accusation against Abner was well or ill founded. But he resented the charge as an indignity, and, impelled by revenge, determined to…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 3:6

• Abner
• Ish-Bosheth
• Treason

In the dictionaries

• Abner
• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• house of David
• house, household, house of Israel, house of David
• Communication
• Ishbosheth
• Sackcloth
• Translate

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings