2 Samuel 3:20 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

2 Samuel 3:20

18 Now then, do it! ^aFor the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David,¹ I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”

19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing of ^aBenjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

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

21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and ^agather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may ^breign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22 At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much¹ spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

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

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone?

25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know ^ayour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

26 And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab ^atook him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there¹ stabbed him ^bin the stomach, so that he died for the blood of ^cAsahel his brother.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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2 Samuel 3:17-21

Abner had communication with the elders of Israel—He spoke the truth in impressing their minds with the well-known fact of David's divine designation to the kingdom. But he acted a base and hypocritical part in pretending that his present movement was prompted by religious motives, when it sprang entirely from malice and revenge against Ish-bosheth. The particular appeal of the Benjamites was a necessary policy; their tribe enjoyed the honor of giving birth to the royal dynasty of Saul; they would naturally be disinclined to lose that prestige. They were, besides, a determined people, whose contiguity to Judah might render them troublesome and dangerous. The enlistment of their interest, therefore, in the scheme, would smooth the way for the adhesion of the other tribes; and Abner enjoyed the most convenient opportunity of using his great influence in gaining over that tribe while escorting Michal to David with a suitable equipage. The mission enabled him to cover his treacherous designs against his master—to draw the attention of the elders and people to David as uniting in himself the double recommendation of being the nominee of Jehovah, no less than a connection of the royal house of Saul, and, without suspicion of any dishonorable motives, to advocate policy of terminating the civil discord, by bestowing the sovereignty on the husband of Michal. In the same character of public ambassador, he was received and feted by David; and while, ostensibly, the restoration of Michal was the sole object of his visit, he busily employed himself in making private overtures to David for bringing over to his cause those tribes which he had artfully seduced. Abner pursued a course unworthy of an honorable man and though his offer was accepted by David, the guilt and infamy of the transaction were exclusively his.

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Joab Murders Abner

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