God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 3:21
21Abner told David, “I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make a treaty with you, and you will rule everything your heart desires.” Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.
2 Samuel 3:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Context of 2 Samuel 3:21
19Abner also spoke specifically to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron to tell him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved. 20So Abner came with 20 men to David in Hebron, and David had a feast for Abner and his men. Abner told David, “I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make a treaty with you, and you will rule everything your heart desires.” Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully. 22Just then David’s men and Joab were coming home from a raid with a lot of goods. Abner had been dismissed, so he was no longer with David in Hebron. 23When Joab came back with the whole army, he was told, “Ner’s son Abner came to the king, but David dismissed him, and Abner left peacefully.”
Read all of 2 Samuel 32 Samuel 3:21 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְנֵ֣ר אֶל־דָּוִ֡ד אָק֣וּמָה׀ וְֽאֵלֵ֡כָה וְאֶקְבְּצָה֩ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִכְרְת֤וּ אִתְּךָ֙ בְּרִ֔ית וּמָ֣לַכְתָּ֔ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תְּאַוֶּ֖ה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיְּשַׁלַּ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- I will ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- and goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- and will gatherקָבַץqâbats · to gatherH6908
- all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- unto my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- that they may makeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
- a leagueבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
- with thee, and that thou mayest reignמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
- over all that thine heartנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- desirethאָוָה'âvâh · to desireH183
- sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- awayשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- in peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 3:21
- 2 Samuel 3:10‘I, the Lord, will transfer the kingship from Saul’s family and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.’ ”
- 2 Samuel 2:9Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel.
- Philippians 2:21Everyone else looks after his own interests, not after those of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Kings 11:37“I will choose you so that you can rule everything you desire. You will be king of Israel.
- Psalms 20:4He will give you your heart’s desire and carry out all your plans.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He went in peace - David dismissed him in good faith, having no sinister design in reference to him.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Abner repeats the offer 2 Samuel 3:12; and the condition of Michal‘s return 2 Samuel 3:13 being now fulfilled, David accepts it, and the league between them was solemnly ratified at David‘s board, amidst the rites of hospitality.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-21Verses 7-21 Many, like Abner, are not above committing base crimes, who are too proud to bear reproof, or even the suspicion of being guilty. While men go on in sin, and apparently without concern, they are often conscious that they are fighting against God. Many mean to serve their own purposes; and will betray those who trust them, when they can get any advantage. Yet the Lord serves his own designs, even by those who are thus actuated by revenge…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21The narrator emphasized that David sent Abner safely on his way as a friend and an ally (restated in 2 Samuel 3:22–23). David was at peace with Abner and was not involved in the killing of this well-known military leader (see 2 Samuel 3:28–29). Despite Abner's murder (2 Samuel 3:27), the northern tribes later did make a covenant with David to make him their king, just as Abner had promised earlier (2 Samuel 5:1–3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2117-21. Abner had communication with the elders of Israel--He spoke the truth in impressing their minds with the well-known fact of David's divine designation to the kingdom. But he acted a base and hypocritical part in pretending that his present movement was prompted by religious motives, when it sprang entirely from malice and revenge against Ish-bosheth. The particular appeal of the Benjamites was a necessary policy; their tribe enjoyed the honor of…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 3:21
In the dictionaries
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
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