Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Samuel 3

The 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.

the war … was protracted: This civil war likely lasted for most of the more than seven years that David ruled from Hebron. The truce called by Joab and Abner did not last long (2 Samuel 2:26–28).

David grew stronger and stronger (2 Samuel 3:1) by marrying more wives and having a son with each wife. Three of David’s sons who were born in Hebron died violent deaths. Two died during David’s reign (Amnon and Absalom), and one, Adonijah, died shortly after David’s death.

Geshur was a small Canaanite kingdom in upper Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan) near the Sea of Galilee. Marrying into neighboring royal families created political alliances and secured David’s position against the northern tribes. Solomon also followed this practice (1 Kings 3:1; 11:1).

• Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?: It is not clear whether Abner actually did this. Taking a king’s wife or concubine was often a sign that someone was trying to take the king’s place (that is, trying to become king; see 2 Samuel 12:8; 16:21; 1 Kings 2:17–25).

• Rizpah: See also 2 Samuel 21:8–14.

• a dog that belongs to Judah: See 1 Samuel 17:43.

• have not delivered you into the hand of David: Abner had control over the life and death of Saul’s son.

do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: Abner was aware that God had chosen David to be king over all Israel (see also 2 Samuel 3:18).

• transfer the kingdom … David: Compare 1 Samuel 28:17.

• establish the throne of David: Whether as an ally or an enemy, Abner was a powerful man. In this moment, he speaks with authority, as if he is declaring God’s decision rather than his own (see 2 Samuel 7:13).

did not dare to say another word: Ish-bosheth’s silence clearly shows his weakness as a ruler. Abner, who made Ish-bosheth king and supported his rule, held the real power during Ish-bosheth’s reign (2 Samuel 2:8–9).

In the proposed solemn pact (or covenant), Abner acknowledged that David would become king. Abner may have hoped to serve as David’s chief leader under him (that is, second in authority).

Saul had given his daughter Michal to David as his wife (1 Samuel 18:20–27). However, when Michal saved David’s life from her father (1 Samuel 19:11–17), Saul ended the marriage and gave Michal to another man, Palti (1 Samuel 25:44). If David got her back now, it would strengthen his claim to Saul’s kingdom (see 1 Kings 2:13–25).

a hundred Philistine foreskins: Saul hoped that David would be killed while trying to pay the bride-price (the gift a man gave to a woman’s family before marriage; see 1 Samuel 18:17–27).

Ish-bosheth sent and took: Although Abner made the deal with David (2 Samuel 3:12–13), it was Ish-bosheth who gave Michal to David. This action shows Ishbosheth's weakness as a king and his fear of Abner (2 Samuel 3:11).

• Palti wept deeply as this happened, but he had no power to stop it (compare Judges 18:1–26).

• Bahurim was likely a place where people supported Saul’s family. It was located just east of Jerusalem (compare 2 Samuel 16:5).

It seems that support among the elders of Israel in the north had been growing to accept David as king, even though the text has not mentioned this earlier.

See also 2 Samuel 3:9. By freeing the people from the Philistines, David would do what Saul had failed to do (1 Samuel 9:16).

Because Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin, the men of Benjamin likely saw David, who was from Judah, as someone trying to take Saul’s place as king. However, Abner was widely respected among Saul’s followers. Because of this, Abner was able to gain support for David even within Saul’s own tribe.

• The 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).

• The exact location of the well of Sirah is unknown. It was likely near Hebron.

• David was unaware of it: See study note on 2 Samuel 3:21.

• as if to speak to him privately: Joab accused Abner of acting with deception (2 Samuel 3:25). However, Joab himself used deception when he drew Abner aside in order to kill him.

• on account of the blood: Joab acted according to the custom of blood vengeance (the practice of killing the person who had killed a close family member).

• David made it clear that he had no part in Abner’s death and described it as a crime. David understood that because his second-in-command had killed Abner, people loyal to Saul’s family might believe that David had ordered the killing.

• before the LORD: David called on the Lord to hold him accountable if he were lying.

• skin disease: While leprosy is a possible translation, the Hebrew term here likely refers to many kinds of skin problems or rashes, not only Hansen’s disease.

• who leans on a staff: This curse effectively separated Joab from David. From this point on, their relationship was only professional. David later ordered Solomon to deal with Joab before David died (1 Kings 2:5–6). Solomon’s later statement clearing David of guilt in Abner’s death (1 Kings 2:31–33) shows that David’s mourning for Abner was sincere.

See 2 Samuel 2:18–28.

King David himself walked: David took part publicly in the mourning procession. He wept openly at the gravesite (2 Samuel 3:32) and later refused to eat as a sign of mourning (2 Samuel 3:35). These actions made it clear to the people that David had not ordered the killing of Abner (2 Samuel 3:37).

By burying Abner in Hebron, which was David’s capital at the time, David showed publicly that Abner now stood with him rather than with Saul. This public act likely encouraged others from the northern tribes to follow Abner’s choice.

die the death of a fool: Joab deceived Abner by pretending to be his friend. He was actually an enemy (see 2 Samuel 3:27).

before the wicked: Normal warfare could not defeat Abner, who was an experienced warrior. He could be defeated only through betrayal.

urged David to eat something: See also 2 Samuel 12:17.

See study note on 2 Samuel 3:31.

too fierce for me: Just as Ish-bosheth could not control Abner, David could not control Joab. However, David had faith that the Lord would repay Joab for murdering Abner.