2 Samuel 3:21

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 with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him. 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast. Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way. 22But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them. 23When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.

2 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 3:10I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.”
• 2 Samuel 2:9There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.
• Philippians 2:21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.
• 1 Kings 11:37And I will place you on the throne of Israel, and you will rule over all that your heart desires.
• Psalms 20:4May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.

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

• Abner
• Conspiracy
• Government
• Treason

In the dictionaries

• Abner
• David
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Communication
• Ishbosheth
• Rizpah
• 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