2 Samuel 3

David Grows Stronger and Abner Defects

¹Now there was long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.

²Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

³and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

⁴and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

⁵and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

⁶While there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner made himself strong in Saul’s house.

⁷Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

⁸Then Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to your father Saul’s house, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman!

⁹God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him:

¹⁰to transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”

¹¹He could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.

¹²Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel around to you.”

¹³David said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

¹⁴David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

¹⁵Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish.

¹⁶Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.

¹⁷Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.

¹⁸Now then do it! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”

¹⁹Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

²⁰So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.

²¹Abner 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 soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

Joab Kills Abner

²²Behold, David’s servants and Joab came from a raid and brought in a great plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

²³When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

²⁴Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is already gone?

²⁵You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”

²⁶When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it.

²⁷When Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

²⁸Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

²⁹Let it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

³⁰So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

³¹David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier.

³²They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept.

³³The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

³⁴Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” All the people wept again over him.

³⁵All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, until the sun goes down.”

³⁶All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

³⁷So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

³⁸The king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel?

³⁹I am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

Previous 2 Samuel 2

Next 2 Samuel 4

This chapter chronicles the gradual shift of power from Saul's house to David's during their prolonged civil war. The turning point comes when Abner, Saul's military commander, defects to David after a dispute with Ishbosheth over Saul's concubine Rizpah. However, David's commander Joab treacherously murders Abner in revenge for his brother's death, leaving David to publicly mourn and distance himself from this act of vengeance.

Context

This chapter advances the civil war narrative from chapter 2, setting up the final collapse of Saul's dynasty that will be completed in chapter 4.

Key Themes

Outline

1-5
David's Growing Strength David's house grows stronger while Saul's weakens, and six sons are born to David in Hebron
6-11
Abner's Dispute with Ishbosheth Abner breaks with Ishbosheth over accusations regarding Saul's concubine Rizpah
12-21
Abner's Defection to David Abner negotiates with David and successfully rallies Israel's support for David's kingship
22-30
Joab's Murder of Abner Joab kills Abner in revenge for his brother Asahel's death, despite David's peace treaty
31-39
David's Public Mourning David publicly grieves Abner's death and curses Joab to demonstrate his innocence in the murder

David Grows Stronger and Abner Defects

3:1–3:21

narrative narration contemplative

David's house grows stronger while Saul's weakens during prolonged civil war. Abner defects to David after a dispute with Ishbosheth over Saul's concubine.

person_contrast

David's accumulation of wives and sons in verses 2-5 mirrors ancient Near Eastern royal practices where polygamy demonstrated political strength and secured dynastic succession during civil war.

Joab Kills Abner

3:22–3:39

narrative narration mournful

Joab kills Abner in revenge for his brother Asahel's death. David publicly mourns Abner and curses Joab's house to demonstrate his innocence in the murder.

person_contrast

David's elaborate public mourning for Abner—fasting, composing laments, and cursing Joab's lineage—reveals his desperate need to distance himself from political assassination, transforming from warrior-king to grief-stricken mourner.

Insight Character Study

David's accumulation of wives and sons in verses 2-5 mirrors ancient Near Eastern royal practices where polygamy demonstrated political strength and secured dynastic succession during civil war.

Insight Character Study