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

4His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. 5His sixth son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron. As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with my father’s concubine?” 8These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am 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!

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 Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and had brought him to Mahanaim.
• 2 Kings 10:23Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Make sure there are no servants of the Lord here with you; there must be only servants of Baal.”
• 2 Chronicles 25:8Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating.”
• Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the Lord.
• Isaiah 8:9You will be broken, O nations; you will be shattered! Pay attention, all you distant lands of the earth! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered!
• Joel 3:9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for a holy war! Call out the warriors! Let all these fighting men approach and attack!
• Matthew 12:30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not 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