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2 Samuel 3:6-21
New English Translation

Abner Defects to David’s Camp

6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential[a] in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish Bosheth[b] said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with[c] my father’s concubine?”[d]

8 These 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[e] loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives[f] and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today![g] 9 God will severely judge Abner[h] if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him,[i] 10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!” 11 Ish Bosheth[j] was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers[k] to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement[l] with me, and I will do whatever I can[m] to cause all Israel to turn to you.” 13 So David said, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to visit me.”[n]

14 David sent messengers to Ish Bosheth son of Saul with this demand:[o] “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired[p] for 100 Philistine foreskins.” 15 So Ish Bosheth took her[q] from her husband Paltiel[r] son of Laish. 16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, “Go back!”[s] So he returned home.

17 Abner advised[t] the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king.[u] 18 Act now! For the Lord has said to David, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save[v] my people Israel from[w] the Philistines and from all their enemies.’”

19 Then Abner spoke privately with[x] the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately[y] of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.[z] 20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement[aa] with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:6 tn Heb “was strengthening himself.” The statement may have a negative sense here, perhaps suggesting that Abner was overstepping the bounds of political propriety in a self-serving way.
  2. 2 Samuel 3:7 tc The Hebrew of the MT reads simply “and he said,” with no expressed subject for the verb. It is not likely that the text originally had no expressed subject for this verb, since the antecedent is not immediately clear from the context. We should probably restore to the Hebrew text the name “Ish Bosheth.” See a few medieval Hebrew mss, Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion, and Vulgate. Perhaps the name was accidentally omitted by homoioarcton. Note that both the name Ish Bosheth and the following preposition אֶל (ʾel) begin with the letter alef.
  3. 2 Samuel 3:7 tn The expression בּוֹא אֶל (boʾ ʾel) means “come to” or “approach,” but is also used as a euphemism for sexual relations.
  4. 2 Samuel 3:7 sn This accusation against Abner is a very serious one, since an act of sexual infringement on the king’s harem would probably have been understood as a blatant declaration of aspirations to kingship. As such it was not merely a matter of ethical impropriety but an act of grave political significance as well.
  5. 2 Samuel 3:8 tn Heb “I do.”
  6. 2 Samuel 3:8 tn Heb “brothers.”
  7. 2 Samuel 3:8 tn Heb “and you have laid upon me the guilt of the woman today.”
  8. 2 Samuel 3:9 tn Heb “So will God do to Abner and so he will add to him.”
  9. 2 Samuel 3:9 tc Heb “has sworn to David.” The LXX, with the exception of the recension of Origen, adds “in this day.”
  10. 2 Samuel 3:11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ish Bosheth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  11. 2 Samuel 3:12 tn The Hebrew text adds here, “on his behalf.”
  12. 2 Samuel 3:12 tn Heb “cut a covenant.” So also in vv. 13, 21.
  13. 2 Samuel 3:12 tn Heb “and behold, my hand is with you.”
  14. 2 Samuel 3:13 tn The words “when you come to see my face,” though found in the Hebrew text, are somewhat redundant given the similar expression in the earlier part of the verse. The words are absent from the Syriac Peshitta.
  15. 2 Samuel 3:14 tn Heb “to Ish Bosheth son of Saul saying.” To avoid excessive sibilance (especially when read aloud) the translation renders “saying” as “with this demand.”
  16. 2 Samuel 3:14 tn Heb “whom I betrothed to myself.”
  17. 2 Samuel 3:15 tn Heb “sent and took her.”
  18. 2 Samuel 3:15 tn In 1 Sam 25:44 this name appears as “Palti.”
  19. 2 Samuel 3:16 tn Heb “Go, return.”
  20. 2 Samuel 3:17 tn Heb “the word of Abner was with.”
  21. 2 Samuel 3:17 tn Heb “you were seeking David to be king over you.”
  22. 2 Samuel 3:18 tc The present translation follows the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate in reading “I will save,” rather than the MT “he saved” or “to save." The context calls for the first person common singular imperfect of the verb rather than the third person masculine singular perfect or the infinitive construct.
  23. 2 Samuel 3:18 tn Heb “from the hand of.”
  24. 2 Samuel 3:19 tn Heb “into the ears of.”
  25. 2 Samuel 3:19 tn Heb “also Abner went to speak into the ears of David in Hebron.”
  26. 2 Samuel 3:19 tn Heb “all which was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.”
  27. 2 Samuel 3:21 tn After the cohortatives, the prefixed verbal form with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.
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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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