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a Gk Compare 1 Chr 8.33; 9.39: Heb Ish-bosheth, “man of shame”
b Gk Compare 1 Chr 8.33; 9.39: Heb Ish-bosheth, “man of shame”
c Gk Compare 1 Chr 8.33; 9.39: Heb Ish-bosheth, “man of shame”
d Gk Compare 1 Chr 8.33; 9.39: Heb Ish-bosheth, “man of shame”
e That is Field of Sword-edges
f Meaning of Heb uncertain
2.1–7 David’s kin, the people of Judah, are the first to embrace him as king.
2.1 Hebron. See note on 1 Sam 30.31.
2.2 For David’s two wives, see 1 Sam 25.42–43; 27.3; 30.5. Jezreel, Carmel, both towns in the vicinity of Hebron (see notes on 1 Sam 15.12; 25.43).
2.4 People of Judah, probably the same as the elders of Judah in 1 Sam 30.26–31, to whom David distributed the booty from his raid against the Amalekites (cf. 2 Sam 19.11, 14). In the present form of the larger story, which has been shaped by a prophetic view of kingship (see Introduction), David has already been anointed in private by Samuel. Here, in an early part of the narrative, he is anointed by the leading citizens of Judah in a public ceremony. Saul’s burial by the people of Jabesh-gilead is reported in 1 Sam 31.11–13.
2.5–7 David’s message to the people of Jabesh-gilead is an overture to an alliance with one of Saul’s principal constituencies; it will lead to conflict with Saul’s heir, as the rest of the chapter shows.
2.8–11 Abner sets up a rump government in Transjordan with Saul’s son Ishbaal as king.
2.8 Abner, Saul’s uncle and chief military officer (see 1 Sam 14.50–51), installs Saul’s only surviving son on the throne of Israel. Ishbaal in Hebrew means “Man of Baal,” but this does not mean that the family of Saul worshiped the god Baal (Jonathan’s name contains the name of the God of Israel). Baal meant “lord” or “master” and was probably an acceptable way of referring to the God of Israel in Saul’s day. In later times the strong association of the word with the Canaanite god Baal caused it to be avoided. Scribes who found baal offensive often replaced it with bosheth, “shame,” so that Saul’s heir seems to be called “Man of Shame” (Ish-bosheth; see text note a). Mahanaim, a town in the Transjordanian tribal territory of Gad (Josh 13.26, 30; cf. notes on 1 Sam 10.27b; 13.7); its exact location is uncertain. Abner probably moved the government of Israel to Transjordan because of Philistine domination of the central hills in the aftermath of the battle of Mount Gilboa; it was too dangerous to place a son of Saul on the throne in Saul’s capital of Gibeah (cf. notes on 1 Sam 9.1; 11.4).
2.9 Gilead, a common designation for Transjordanian Israel in general (see notes on 1 Sam 10.27b; 13.7), is here used in its stricter sense as the territory of the tribes of Gad and Reuben, which Saul ruled as a result of his victory over Nahash the Ammonite (see 1 Sam 10.27–11.15). Ashurites (Masoretic Text), perhaps “Assyrians,” who are wholly out of place here, or “Asherites,” i.e., people of the north Galilean tribe of Asher, but they also are too far away. The Peshitta and Vulgate reflect “Geshurites,” who lived north of Gilead and east of Jezreel, which fits perfectly into the present list. Jezreel, the eastern section of the fertile valley that separated the Galilee from the Ephraimite hills. Ephraim, here probably the Samarian hill country in general, including the hills of both Ephraim and Manasseh. Benjamin, located to the south, was the home base of the house of Saul (see notes on 1 Sam 4.12; 9.1). All Israel (cf. 3.12, 21), probably intended as a summary reference to the territories just listed.
2.10–11 These concluding chronological notices derive from the hand of the Deuteronomistic Historian (see Introduction; note on 1 Sam 13.1).
2.12–32 The conflict between David’s army and that of Ishbaal erupts in open hostility.
2.12 Abner’s expedition should probably be interpreted as a show of force in response to David’s overture to the people of Jabesh-gilead. Gibeon, about six miles north-north-west of Jerusalem.
2.13 Joab, the most prominent of the three sons of David’s sister Zeruiah (see 1 Sam 26.6), was the commander of David’s army (see 8.16; 20.23). Pool of Gibeon, a well-known landmark (see Jer 41.12); it has been identified with the Iron Age water system of the city, a deep, wide circular cavity carved out of the rock on the northern part of the site.
2.14–16 This event is sometimes interpreted as a sporting contest that went out of control, but the term translated young men can be used to refer to seasoned soldiers, and the engagement is more likely to be a battle by representatives similar to the famous contest between the Roman Horatii and Curiatii. Apparently, however, everyone on both sides was slain, so that the contest was inconclusive and a general battle ensued.
2.18 Abishai. See 1 Sam 26.6. Asahel, the youngest of the sons of Zeruiah and a member of David’s elite corps of the Thirty (see 2 Sam 23.24), shares the fierce impetuosity of his older brothers. Wild gazelle. Cf. note on 1.19; 1 Chr 12.8.
2.24 Ammah, probably “water channel” Giah, probably “spring.” The pursuit that began at one water system (v. 13) seems to end at another; the general direction is to the east toward the wilderness of Gibeon.
2.29 Abner’s troops return by marching northwest through the Arabah, or rift valley south of the Sea of Galilee.
2 SAMUEL 3
Abner Defects to David
1There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
2Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom son of Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; 4the fourth, Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah son of Abital; 5and the sixth, Ithream, of David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
6While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaala said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8The words of Ishbaalb made Abner very angry; he said, “Am I a dog’s head for Judah? Today I keep showing loyalty to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me now with a crime concerning this woman. 9So may God do to Abner and so may he add to it! For just what the LORD has sworn to David, that will I accomplish for him, 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba.” 11And Ishbaalc could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron,d saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and I will give you my support to bring all Israel over to you.” 13He said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall never appear in my presence unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” 14Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ishbaal,e saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I became engaged at the price of one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15Ishbaalesent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16But her husband went with her, weeping as he walked behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.
17Abner sent word to the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18Now then bring it about; for the LORD has promised David: Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from all their enemies.” 19Abner also spoke directly to the Benjaminites; then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin were ready to do.
20When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21Abner said to David, “Let me go and rally all Israel to my lord the king, in order that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign ov
er all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went away in peace.
Abner Is Killed by Joab
22Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for Davidf had dismissed him, and he had gone away in peace. 23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he has dismissed him, and he has gone away in peace.” 24Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you; why did you dismiss him, so that he got away? 25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing.”
26When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. So he died for sheddingg the blood of Asahel, Joab’sh brother. 28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29May the guilti fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous,j or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!” 30So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.” And King David followed the bier. 32They buried Abner at Hebron. The king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33The king lamented for Abner, saying,
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34Your hands were not bound,
your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
you have fallen.”
And all the people wept over him again. 35Then all the people came to persuade David to eat something while it was still day; but David swore, saying, “So may God do to me, and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down!” 36All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; just as everything the king did pleased all the people. 37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner. 38And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39Today I am powerless, even though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me. The LORD pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness!”
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a Heb And he
b Gk Compare 1 Chr 8.33; 9.39: Heb Ish-bosheth, “man of shame”
c Heb And he
d Gk: Heb where he was
e Heb Ish-bosheth
f Heb he
g Heb lacks shedding
h Heb his
i Heb May it
j A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
3.1–5 The story is interrupted by the insertion of a list of the sons of David born in Hebron.
3.2 For the story of Amnon, David’s ill-fated firstborn, see ch. 13; for Amnon’s mother, Ahinoam, see 1 Sam 25.43.
3.3 Chileab (Masoretic Text), should probably be corrected to “Daluiah” with the Septuagint and a scroll from Qumran (4QSama; cf. Daniel in 1 Chr 3.1). Whatever his name was, he does not figure in the story elsewhere. For his mother, Abigail, and her first husband, Nabal, see 1 Sam 25.2–43. For the story of Absalom, see chs. 13–19; in 13.37 he will seek refuge in the Transjordanian kingdom of Geshur (see 2.9) with his grandfather Talmai.
3.4–5 For the story of Adonijah, see 1 Kings 1–2; nothing else is known of his mother, Haggith. Shephatiah and Ithream, mentioned only here and in a similar list in 1 Chr 3.3.
3.6–39 After attempting to reach an agreement with David, Abner is slain by Joab for personal reasons. The author of the old story of David’s rise to power (see Introduction), aware of the sensibilities of the Benjaminites and others in his audience, places special stress on David’s innocence of the death of the popular Benjaminite Abner, who, says the author, initiated private negotiations with David (cf. note on 3.12), came to Jerusalem voluntarily, left his audience with David in peace (a point made three times in vv. 21–23!), and was killed without David’s knowledge (v. 26) by Joab, who was motivated not by politics but by a family matter of bloodguilt (v. 27)
3.6 A repetition of the essence of v. 1 after the interruption of the list of David’s sons, adding now the news of Abner ’s increasing power.
3.7 Rizpah daughter of Aiah plays an important role in the grim story in 21.1–14, where we are told that she had borne two sons to Saul. This gave her considerable status, despite the fact that she was only a concubine, a slave woman attached to the house of Saul, so that Ishbaal’s sensitivity about her relationship with Abner is understandable. If Abner has made a claim on Saul’s harem, as Ishbaal charges, he is only a step away from seizing the throne (see 16.20–22; 1 Kings 2.13–25).
3.8 A dog’s head. Abner may be euphemistically suggesting that he is being treated like a dog’s rear end. Dogs are often mentioned in expressions of self-abasement (see 1 Sam 24.14; 2 Sam 9.8). It has also been suggested that the expression refers to the dog-faced baboon, so that Abner may be claiming that he is being treated like an ape.
3.9–10 These two verses, in which Abner justifies his actions in terms that reflect the editorial viewpoint of the Deuteronomistic historian (see Introduction), are probably a secondary addition to the older story. From Dan to Beer-sheba, a convention describing the totality of ancient Israel, from its northernmost city, Dan, on the southern slope of Mount Hermon, to its southernmost, Beer-sheba, the principal town of the northern Negeb.
3.12 Having fallen out with Ishbaal, Abner now offers to swing his support to David.
3.13 David agrees to join forces with Abner, on the condition that Abner return Saul’s daughter Michal to David; their marriage (see 1 Sam 18.20–28), which Saul annulled (1 Sam 25.44) after Michal helped David escape from Saul (1 Sam 19.8–17), provides David with a claim on the throne of Israel.
3.14 By citing his payment of the bride price of one hundred foreskins of the Philistines (see 1 Sam 18.25, 27) David is stating a legal claim to Michal.
3.15 Paltiel. See note on 1 Sam 25.44.
3.16 Bahurim, a Benjaminite town just north of Jerusalem on the main road connecting Israel and Judah; it was the home of Shimei, David’s nemesis at the time of Absalom’s revolt (see 16.5; 19.16; 1 Kings 2.8), and Azmaveth, a member of David’s elite corps of the Thirty (23.31).
3.17 We have not been told explicitly that the Israelite leaders wanted David as their king, but it has been implicit in the references to their loyalty to him and his military leadership (see 1 Sam 18.16).
3.18b A statement probably stemming from the hand of the Deuteronomistic Historian (see Introduction); it looks forward to the Lord’s dynastic promise to David in ch. 7, in which the new king is also referred to as my servant David (vv. 5, 8; cf. v. 26), and to the synopsis in ch. 8 of his victories over the Philistines (8.1; cf. 5.17–25; 21.15–22; 23.8–17) and Israel’s other enemies.
3.19 The narrator reminds the Benjaminites and others in his audience who may have been suspicious of David’s complicity in Abner’s assassination that Abner was negotiating on David’s behalf just before his death.
3.21–23 The narrator stresses (three times) that Abner left David in peace.
3.25 Joab tries to convince David that Abner came to Jerusalem as a spy to discover his military plans, or comings and goings (see, e.g., 1 Sam 18.13, 16; 29.6).
3.26 Abner traveled two or three miles north from Hebron, where the cistern of Sirah was located, before being summoned back by Joab. Again, the narrator insists that David did not know a
bout it.
3.27 Joab kills Abner to avenge the blood of Asahel (see 2.17–28).
3.28–29 These verses show expansion by a Deuteronomistic editor (see Introduction), who was concerned not only about David’s guilt but also that of his kingdom or dynasty (cf. 7.12, 16). The oath against Joab anticipates the language of Solomon when he condemns Joab to death in 1 Kings 2.31–33. Holds a spindle, if correct, must mean “a man who holds the distaff,” i.e., an effeminate male; but another possible rendering is “clings to a crutch.”
3.30 For Abishai, see 2.18; 1 Sam 26.6. The statement that he too murdered Abner contradicts v. 27, which indicates that Joab did it privately, but the original text, preserved by the Septuagint and a scroll from Qumran (4QSama), read, “Joab and his brother Abishai had been setting an ambush for Abner” (cf. Prov 1.11, 18).
3.32 Though a Benjaminite, Abner, like Ishbaal (4.12), is buried at Hebron.
3.33 The Hebrew term rendered fool in English Bibles refers to someone who commits a serious breach of society’s norms (see 13.13; note on 1 Sam 25.3); David’s point is that Abner, a prince and a great man (v. 38), should not have suffered the ignominious death of an outcast lacking the protection of society.
3.36–37 The narrator of the old story of David’s rise to power (see Introduction) stresses the popular approval of David’s behavior, adding that David’s innocence of complicity in the murder was acknowledged by everyone, including not only Judah but all Israel, Abner’s own kin.
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