2 Samuel 3:6-21
Expanded Bible
Abner Joins David
6 During the war between the ·supporters of Saul’s family [L house of Saul] and the ·supporters of David’s family [L house of David], Abner made himself ·a main leader [strong] ·among the supporters [L in the house] of Saul.
7 Saul once had a ·slave woman [concubine; C a secondary wife of lower status than a primary wife, but higher than a common servant] named Rizpah, who was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why ·did you have sexual relations with [L have you gone in to] my father’s ·slave woman [concubine]?”
8 Abner was ·very angry [furious; in a rage] because of what Ish-Bosheth said, and he replied, “I have ·been loyal [shown kindness/faithful love] to [L the house of your father] Saul and his ·family [L brothers] and friends! I didn’t hand you over to David. ·I am not a traitor working for Judah! [L Am I a Judean dog/dog’s head for Judah?] But now you are ·saying I did something wrong with [finding fault with me/charging me with wrong regarding] this woman! 9 May God ·help [deal severely with] me if I don’t ·join David! I will make sure that what the Lord promised does happen [L …accomplish for David everything the Lord has promised him]! 10 I will ·take [transfer] the kingdom from the ·family [L the house] of Saul and ·make David king of [L establish the throne of David over] Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba [C in the far north and south of Israel]!” 11 Ish-Bosheth ·couldn’t [dared not] say anything to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to ask David [L on his own behalf; or at his place], “·Who is going to rule the land [L Whose land is it]? Make an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with me, and ·I will help you unite [L my hand will be with you to bring over to you] all Israel.”
13 David answered, “Good! I will make an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with you, but I ·ask [demand/require of] you one thing. I will not ·meet with you [L allow you to see my face/in my presence] unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me [L when you come; C to strengthen his claim to the throne; 1 Sam. 18:26–29].” 14 Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth, saying, “Give me my wife Michal. She was ·promised [engaged; betrothed] to me, ·and I killed a hundred Philistines to get her [L for one hundred Philistine foreskins].”
15 So Ish-Bosheth sent men to take Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Michal’s husband went with her, crying as he followed her ·to [as far as] Bahurim. But Abner said to Paltiel, “Go back home.” So he went home.
17 Abner ·sent this message to [consulted/conferred with] the elders of Israel: “[L For some time now] You have been wanting to make David your king. 18 Now do it! The Lord said of David, ‘·Through [L By the hand of] my servant David, I will ·save [rescue; T deliver] my people Israel from the [L hand of the] Philistines and all their enemies.’”
19 Abner also said these things to the people of Benjamin. He then went to Hebron to tell David what the Benjaminites and Israel ·wanted [agreed] to do. 20 Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron. There David prepared a ·feast [banquet] for them. 21 Abner said to David, “·I will [Let me] go and ·bring all the Israelites [L gather all Israel] to my ·master [lord] and king. Then they will make an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with you so you will rule over all ·Israel as you wanted [L that your soul desires].” So David let Abner go, and he left in peace.
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2 Samuel 3:6-21
New American Standard Bible
Abner Joins David
6 Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, (A)Abner was [a]strengthening himself in the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine whose name was (B)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and [b]Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s [c]question and said, “(C)Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not let you fall into the hands of David; yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing with [d]that woman? 9 (D)May God do so to [e]me, and more so, if (E)as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him: 10 (F)to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, (G)from Dan even to Beersheba!” 11 And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to David at his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13 And he said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, only I require one thing of you, [f]namely, that (H)you shall not see my face unless you (I)first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see [g]me.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed (J)for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ish-bosheth sent men and [h]had her taken from her husband, from [i]Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, [j]following her as far as (K)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.
17 Now Abner had a [k]consultation with (L)the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘(M)By the hand of My servant David [l]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke [m]to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak [n]to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to (N)the entire house of Benjamin.
20 Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, “Let me set out and go and (O)gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that (P)you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 3:6 Or remaining faithful to
- 2 Samuel 3:7 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT he
- 2 Samuel 3:8 Lit words
- 2 Samuel 3:8 Lit the
- 2 Samuel 3:9 Lit Abner
- 2 Samuel 3:13 Lit saying
- 2 Samuel 3:13 Lit my face
- 2 Samuel 3:15 Lit took her
- 2 Samuel 3:15 In 1 Sam 25:44, Palti
- 2 Samuel 3:16 Lit after her
- 2 Samuel 3:17 Lit a word
- 2 Samuel 3:18 As in many mss and ancient versions; MT he
- 2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
- 2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
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