2 Samuel 3
Lutheran reading notes
In 2 Samuel chapter 3, the account continues the story of the reign of King David and establishment of his kingdom. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2 Samuel 3:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
2 Samuel 3:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And 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; {Chileab: or, Daniel}
2 Samuel 3:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
2 Samuel 3:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
2 Samuel 3:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
2 Samuel 3:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And Saul had a concubine, whose name {was} Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and {Ishbosheth} said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
2 Samuel 3:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, {Am} I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
2 Samuel 3:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
2 Samuel 3:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
2 Samuel 3:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
2 Samuel 3:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose {is} the land? saying {also}, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand {shall be} with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
2 Samuel 3:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. {that is: Heb. saying}
2 Samuel 3:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver {me} my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
2 Samuel 3:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from {her} husband, {even} from Phaltiel the son of Laish. {Phaltiel: also called, Phalti}
2 Samuel 3:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. {along...: Heb. going and weeping}
2 Samuel 3:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past {to be} king over you: {in times...: Heb. both yesterday and the third day}
2 Samuel 3:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
Now then do {it}: for the LORD hath 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.
2 Samuel 3:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And Abner also spake 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 that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
2 Samuel 3:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that {were} with him a feast.
2 Samuel 3:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
2 Samuel 3:21 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from {pursuing} a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner {was} not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
2 Samuel 3:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
When Joab and all the host that {was} with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
2 Samuel 3:23 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why {is} it {that} thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
2 Samuel 3:24 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
2 Samuel 3:25 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew {it} not.
2 Samuel 3:26 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth {rib}, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. {quietly: or, peaceably}
2 Samuel 3:27 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
And afterward when David heard {it}, he said, I and my kingdom {are} guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: {blood: Heb. bloods}
2 Samuel 3:28 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. {fail: Heb. be cut off}
2 Samuel 3:29 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
2 Samuel 3:30 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that {were} with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David {himself} followed the bier. {bier: Heb. bed}
2 Samuel 3:31 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
32
And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
2 Samuel 3:32 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
33
And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
2 Samuel 3:33 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
34
Thy hands {were} not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, {so} fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. {wicked...: Heb. children of iniquity}
2 Samuel 3:34 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
35
And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
2 Samuel 3:35 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
36
And all the people took notice {of it}, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. {pleased them: Heb. was good in their eyes}
2 Samuel 3:36 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
37
For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
2 Samuel 3:37 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
38
And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
2 Samuel 3:38 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
39
And I {am} this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah {be} too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. {weak: Heb. tender}
2 Samuel 3:39 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.