2 Samuel 3:6-21
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. 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?
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? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 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.
And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
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.
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. 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.
And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 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. 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.
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. 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.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): The recent battle at Gibeon did not end the war; Ishbosheth had reigned two years when it was fought and he reigned five years longer—the war carried on, but “David waxed stronger and stronger,” persons continually coming over to his side from several tribes: and “the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker,” 2 Samuel 3:1.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): Immediately after Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul, Ishbosheth accused 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 Ishbosheth aside.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): This strengthening of himself, and going in to the late king’s concubine, were most evident proofs that Abner wished to seize upon the government.
THE EDITOR: David’s sons, Absalom and Adonijah, later did similar things in their attempts to seize their father’s throne, 2 Samuel 16:20-22; 1 Kings 1:1-7; 1 Kings 2:13-22.
THOMAS COKE: However this might be, Abner was enraged at the charge, and broke out into bitter resentment.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Abner knew God had sworn to David to give him the kingdom, and yet opposed it with all his might from a principle of ambition; but now he complies with it from a principle of revenge, under colour of some regard to the will of God, which was but a pretense.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): He confesses David’s right to the kingdom, as appointed by the Lord: so that he acted contrary to his conscience. It is not said whether the crime Ishbosheth charged him with was true or false. But his resentment was unbounded. Having taken up lshbosheth’s cause, without regard to God’s laws, Abner as easily drops it, without an eye to the Lord’s approbation.
MATTHEW HENRY: Those that are slaves to their lusts have many masters, which drive some one way and some another, and men are violently hurried into self-contradictions. Abner’s ambition made him zealous for Ishbosheth, and now his revenge made him as zealous for David. If he had sincerely regarded God’s promise to David, and acted with an eye to that, he would have been steady and uniform in his counsels, and acted in consistency. But, while Abner serves his own lusts, God by him serves His own purposes, makes even His wrath and revenge to praise Him, and ordains strength to David by it.
THE EDITOR: Pride, rage, revenge, and ambition were the four horsemen driving Abner. He knew Israel would lose the war, but he hoped to remain “captain of the host” by delivering the kingdom to David. Why did David insist that Abner first must deliver his wife to him?
JOHN WESLEY (1703-1791): David demands her, both for the affection he still retained to her, and upon a political consideration that she might strengthen his title to the kingdom.
THE EDITOR: Well, she was Saul’s daughter. But Abner had approached David in Ishbosheth’s name. Therefore David wrote directly to Ishbosheth about it to test Abner’s sincerity, and to determine if Abner actually had sufficient power and influence over Ishbosheth to deliver Israel to him.
MATTHEW HENRY: Abner conducted her to David, not doubting but that then he should be doubly welcome when he brought him a wife in one hand, and a crown in the other.
ROBERT HAWKER: Certainly it was blameable in David to countenance such a traitor as Abner was to Ishbosheth.
THE EDITOR: Now Joab enters the scene. “The servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop…and 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. 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? 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 3:22-25. Joab instantly suspected Abner’s motives; both those men were very much alike in their passions of pride, revenge, ambition, and self-interest. And was Joab any less contemptuous of David than Abner was to Ishbosheth?
MATTHEW HENRY: Joab very insolently fell foul upon David for treating with Abner, as if he had the same sway in David’s cause that Abner had in Ish-bosheth’s—he chides David, and reproaches him to his face: What hast thou done? as if David were accountable to him for what he did.
ALEXANDER WHYTE (1836-1921): Notwithstanding their family relationship, David and Joab were of a similar age, and that accounts for a good deal that went on between them.
JOHN GILL: “When Joab was come out from David,” perhaps as soon as he had spoken his mind—he flew out of the room in a great passion, not waiting for the king’s answer; though maybe the king disdained to give him one, or cared not to confer with him until his passion subsided; or chose not to provoke him more, for it is plain Joab had great power over him. Joab sent messengers in David’s name after Abner to fetch him back; it was not done by David’s order, with his consent or knowledge.
THE EDITOR: No doubt, that deceitful act was what Joab did; Abner would never have returned merely at Joab’s behest.
ADAM CLARKE: Joab feared that, after having rendered such essential services to David, Abner would be made captain of the host: he therefore determined to prevent it by murdering the man, under pretense of avenging the death of his brother Asahel.
JOHN GILL: “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,” 2 Samuel 3:27. This was a public place, where people were continually passing, where judicial courts were held; wherefore Abner might think himself safe here with Joab and have no suspicion at all. It shows how fearless Joab was of God or men.
THOMAS COKE: Envy, and jealousy of Abner’s merit with David in gaining over the tribes to him, were principal motives to this base action, as well as revenge.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): Thus was Joab’s design; but God had other designs in it, to punish Abner’s manifest wickedness, and particularly his rebellion against David, and against God and his own conscience; and that David might not owe his kingdom to Abner’s revenge and treachery, but wholly to God’s wise and powerful providence.
THE EDITOR: Those are all valid reasons. But the Bible clearly states that Joab’s brother Abishai was his accomplice, and their principle motive was revenge, 2 Samuel 3:30. This reveals another very dangerous aspect of Joab’s character: he waited five years for the most opportune time to exact his revenge—then he struck without a moment’s hesitation.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): Joab never once reflected on the account which he should one day give of it to God; but with horrid treachery, and deliberate cruelty, he plunged the dagger into Abner.
