UNROLL
Evening at the gate of Hebron: the plain stone gateway of the hill town with its deep passage in shadow and empty stone benches, a dusty road running north between low walls and olive trees, one small figure far down the road walking away, under a calm amber sky.

The Book of

2 Samuel 3

Saul’s general turns to David and promises him all Israel. Joab has a brother’s blood to avenge.

39 verses≈ 8 min8 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–4King in HebronThe house of Saul fallsChapter 3
  2. 5–6JerusalemThe ark comes home
  3. 7–10A house foreverGod's promise to David
  4. 11–12David's sinBathsheba and Nathan
  5. 13–20The swordAmnon, Absalom and Sheba
  6. 21–24Last wordsSongs, heroes and an altar

The House of David Strengthened

Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 3:1

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

A stone courtyard in Hebron in morning light: six young mothers, fully and modestly dressed in differently dyed head coverings, sit on mats and a low stone bench with six boys of different ages, from a baby in arms to a boy of about seven with a wooden toy, beside a fig tree and clay jars.

Sons born in Hebron

Six sons in Hebron

  1. Firstborn

    Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel

    And sons were born to David in Hebron:

    His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

  2. Second and third

    Chileab (Abigail), Absalom (Maacah)

    his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;

    his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

  3. Fourth and fifth

    Adonijah (Haggith), Shephatiah (Abital)

    his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith;

    his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

  4. Sixth

    Ithream, by Eglah

    and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah.

  5. All six born in Hebron

    These sons were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah.

Ish-bosheth

So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation.

Abner

“Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.

2 Samuel 3:10

Abner

Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

David

“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”

Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.

Reflect

“Her husband followed her, weeping”

Paltiel had no say in the bargain between Abner and David. “Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim,” until he was told to go home. Where are people around you being hurt by plans they had no part in? Write down one way you could notice them and do right by them.

Evening in the gateway of a hill town in Israel: the gray-bearded general Abner stands speaking earnestly, one hand open, to a half-circle of gray-bearded elders seated on the stone benches in plain wool cloaks and head cloths, some leaning forward, some with arms folded.

Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

Pray

He went in peace

Pray for peacemakers, in your family, your church and your nation. Ask God for honest dealing between rivals, and for the grace to keep your word, and to wait for His timing, even when others break theirs. David sent Abner away “in peace”: ask that your dealings would leave others safe with you.

Joab Murders Abner

Late afternoon on the road below Hebron: Joab strides at the head of a dusty column of David's men driving captured sheep, goats and laden donkeys up toward the town gate, dust glowing in the low sun, under a hazy gold sky.

Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him on his way in peace. When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”

0:17

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David was unaware of it.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

David Mourns for Abner

And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.”

2 Samuel 3:33–34

And all the people wept over him even more.

Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

Question

Quick question

Joab called Abner back from the well of Sirah without the king’s knowledge.

Why did Joab kill Abner?

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2 Samuel 3

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A verse to carry with you

Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 3:1

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