And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith ,.... The same that usurped the throne before his father's death, to anticipate Solomon, and died by his order, 1 Kings 1:5 , and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital ; of whom we read nowhere else. read more
( HEBRON .) The house of David. 1 . The theocracy had its chief support in David and his house. On him also rested the Messianic hope ( 2 Samuel 7:13 ). Hence the importance which attaches to events of his life that would otherwise have been left unrecorded. 2 . "The summary narrative of these seven years presents the still youthful king in a very lovable light. The same temper which had marked his first acts after Saul's death is here strikingly brought out. He seems to have... read more
Rival interests. The facts are: 1. A desultory war is carried on between the house of Saul and the house of David, in which the latter has the advantage. 2 . David has six sons born to him while at Hebron. 3 . A quarrel arises between Abner and Ishbosheth, consequent on an accusation resented by Abner. 4 . Abner charges his master with ingratitude, and threatens to transfer his allegiance to David. 5 . In seeking to give emphasis to his threat, Abner indicates his... read more
Chileab . The Midrash explains Chileab as meaning "Quite like the father." He is called Daniel in the parallel genealogy in 1 Chronicles 3:1 , and this was probably his real name, and Chileab a name of affection. He must have died young, for Adonijah appears as David's eldest son after the death of Amnon and Absalom; and it is thus natural that he should still be known by the name he bore as a child. Geshur . The word signifies "Bridgeland," and is the name of two districts, one of which... read more
Adonijah - The same who, when David was dying, aspired to the crown, and was put to death by Solomon.Shephatiah - “God is judge.” This is the same name as Jehoshaphat, only with the two elements composing it placed in inverted order. Nothing more is known of him or of his brother Ithream. read more
End of the line of Saul (3:2-4:12)On becoming king of Judah, David followed the pattern of neighbouring kings by taking a number of wives (2-5). (For the more important people of David’s family and relatives see the appendix at the end of the commentary on 2 Samuel.) Meanwhile Abner became so powerful among Ishbosheth’s supporters, that Ishbosheth accused him of trying to gain the throne for himself. (According to an eastern custom, one way a person signified his claim to the throne was by... read more
6. The strengthening of David’s position 3:1-5The first verse in this chapter summarizes 2 Samuel 2:8-32. The point of the remaining verses is that during the seven and one-half years that David ruled Judah, he grew stronger because God was blessing him. Many of the sections of 2 Samuel, beginning with this pericope, plus 1 Samuel 31, were recast in 1 Chronicles. [Note: For the parallel references, see Youngblood, p. 803; William D. Crockett, A Harmony of the Books of Samuel, Kings, and... read more
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
(2-5) And unto David.—The list of David’s sons born during his seven and a half years’ reign in Hebron rather interrupts the continuity of the narrative, but is quite in accordance with the habit of the sacred historians to insert at the beginning or at some turning point in each reign statistics about the house or family of the king. (See 1 Samuel 14:49-51; 2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 15:2; 1 Kings 15:9, &c.)Amnon.—Written “Aminon” in 2 Samuel 13:20. His great crime... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 3:1-6
Here is, I. The struggle that David had with the house of Saul before his settlement in the throne was completed, 2 Sam. 3:1. 1. Both sides contested. Saul's house, though beheaded and diminished, would not fall tamely. It is not strange between them, but one would wonder it should be a long war, when David's house had right on its side, and therefore God on its side; but, though truth and equity will triumph at last, God made for wise and holy ends prolonged the conflict. The length of this... read more