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Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 3:6-8

2 Samuel 3:6-8. Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul— Immediately after the sacred historian has informed us that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul, we have an account of Ish-bosheth's accusing him of a criminal intimacy with his father's concubine. Both these circumstances put together, excite a just suspicion that Abner meant, when he was strong enough to throw off the mask, to set up for himself, and lay Ish-bosheth aside; it being clearly enough to be collected from... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 3:6-16

B. The Unification of the Kingdom 3:6-5:16The writer also documented God’s blessing on David in this record of how David wisely unified the nation of Israel and became the leader of all 12 tribes."The story of how David became king of all Israel follows, in most essentials, the same outline already established in the account of his accession to kingship over Judah (2 Samuel 1:1 to 2 Samuel 3:5). Both begin with a warrior trying to curry David’s favor (an unnamed Amalekite, 2 Samuel 1:1-13;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 3:6-39

1. David’s acceptance of Abner 3:6-39Abner was the strong man in Israel; Ish-bosheth was simply a figurehead (2 Samuel 3:11). Abner’s loyalty to the house of Saul is clear from his actions so far. However there was conflict between Ish-bosheth and Abner. In the ancient Near East the king’s concubines were his means for raising up heirs if the queen could not bear children, or even if she could. Ish-bosheth regarded Abner’s act as a sign of disloyalty. He seemed to be trying to have an heir by a... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 3:1-39

Abner is Treacherously Murdered by Joab3. Chileab] We read nothing more of him and he probably died as a child. In 1 Chronicles 3:1 he is called Daniel. Geshur] a kingdom on the border of Bashan, where Absalom afterwards took refuge (2 Samuel 13:37) It must not be confused with the Geshur of 1 Samuel 27:8.4. Adonijah] see 1 Kings 1.7. Rizpah] see 2 Samuel 21:8-11. Gone in unto my father’s concubine] According to Eastern ideas this was equivalent to laying claim to the throne: see 2 Samuel 12:8;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 3:8

(8) Am I a dog’s head?—The translation of this clause is taken from the Vulg., and is hardly possible; it should rather be, Am I a dog’s head belonging to Judah? read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 3:1-21

CHAPTER IV.CONCLUSION OF THE CIVIL WAR.2 Samuel 3:1-21.THE victory at the pool of Gibeon was far from ending the opposition to David. In vain, for many a day, weary eyes looked out for the dove with the olive leaf. "There was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David." The war does not seem to have been carried on by pitched battles, but rather by a long series of those fretting and worrying little skirmishes which a state of civil war breeds, even when the volcano is... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Samuel 3:1-39

4. Abner’s Deeds and End CHAPTER 3 1. The long war and its results (2 Samuel 3:1 ) 2. David’s family (2 Samuel 3:2-5 ) 3. Abner’s defiant deed (2 Samuel 3:6-7 ) 4. Abner and Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 3:8-11 ) 5. Abner’s defection to David (2 Samuel 3:12 ) 6. David’s request (2 Samuel 3:13-16 ) 7. Abner with David (2 Samuel 3:17-22 ) 8. Abner’s end (2 Samuel 3:23-30 ) 9. David’s lamentation over Abner (2 Samuel 3:31-39 ) The first verse speaks of the long war between the house of... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 3:8

3:8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, [Am] I a {d} 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?(d) Do you esteem me no more than a dog, for all my service done to your father’s house? read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 3:1-39

Though Saul had died, yet there continues long war between his house and the house of David. We have seen that Saul stands for the energy of the flesh, which does not easily give up though it is doomed. The house of David waxes stronger and stronger, but the flesh cannot but expose its own weakness when it is given time. We are told now of David's having six sons, each by a different wife (vs.2-5). Never was it God's intention that a man should have more than one wife. At the beginning He had... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 3:1-39

DAVID MADE KING LAMENTING THE DEAD (2 Samuel 1:0 ) Surely the harshness and gentleness of David are strangely blended in this chapter. That one should so lament an enemy and slay the man who professed to murder him surpasses ordinary thought; but David was built on a large mould. Of course the Amalekite lied to David, for the inspired record of the death of Saul in the preceding book must be regarded as correct. Observe the motive governing David: “Wast thou not afraid.., to destroy the... read more

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