2 Samuel 3:12 NVT

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Samuel 3:12

ABNER PROPOSED A COVENANT WITH DAVID"And Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you." And he said, "Good, I will make a covenant with you; but one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face, unless you bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face." Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 3:12

12, 13. Abner sent messengers to David—Though his language implied a secret conviction, that in supporting Ish-bosheth he had been laboring to frustrate the divine purpose of conferring the sovereignty of the kingdom on David, this acknowledgment was no justification either of the measure he was now adopting, or of the motives that prompted it. Nor does it seem possible to uphold the full integrity and honor of David's conduct in entertaining his secret overtures for undermining Ish-bosheth,... 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 3:12

(12) Whose is the land?—These words in themselves may be understood in either of two senses: (1) “Is not the land thine by promise?” or (2) “Who has the power to bring the land into subjection to whom he will except myself?” Since the question is put forward as the basis for making a league with Abner, the latter is evidently the sense intended, and it is quite in accordance with the pride and haughtiness of Abner’s character. He proposes a league, that he may have a definite assurance of... 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

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