Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
2 Kings (2 Samuel) Chapter 3
Overview
Sa2 3:1, During the war David still waxes stronger; Sa2 3:2, Six sons are born to him in Hebron; Sa2 3:6, Abner, displeased with Ish-bosheth, Sa2 3:7, revolts to David; Sa2 3:13, David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal; Sa2 3:17, Abner, having communed with the Israelites, is feasted by David, and dismissed; Sa2 3:22, Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner; Sa2 3:28, David curses Joab; Sa2 3:31, and mourns for Abner.
long war: Kg1 14:30, Kg1 15:16, Kg1 15:32
between: Gen 3:15; Psa 45:3-5; Mat 10:35, Mat 10:36; Gal 5:17; Eph 6:12
David waxed: Sa2 2:17; Est 6:13; Job 8:7, Job 17:9; Psa 84:7; Pro 4:18, Pro 4:19; Dan 2:34, Dan 2:35, Dan 2:44, Dan 2:45; Rev 6:2
sons born: Ch1 3:1-4
Amnon: 2Sam. 13:1-29; Gen 49:3, Gen 49:4
Ahinoam: Sa1 25:43
Chileab: Ch1 3:1, Daniel
Abigail: Sa2 2:2; Sa1 25:3, Sa1 25:42
Absalom: Sa2 13:20-28, Sa2 14:24-33, 15:1-18, Sa2 17:1-14, Sa2 18:9-18, Sa2 18:33
Geshur: Deu 3:14; Jos 13:13; Sa1 27:8
Adonijah: Kg1 1:5-18, Kg1 2:13-25
Abner: Sa2 2:8, Sa2 2:9; Kg2 10:23; Ch2 25:8; Pro 21:30; Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10; Joe 3:9-13; Mat 12:30
Rizpah: Sa2 21:8-11
Wherefore: This action of Abner's seems a most evident proof that he intended to seize on the government; and it was so understood by Ish-bosheth; see parallel texts.
gone in: Sa2 12:8, Sa2 16:21, Sa2 16:22; Kg1 2:17, Kg1 2:21, Kg1 2:22
Abner: Psa 76:10; Mar 6:18, Mar 6:19
Amos I a dog's head: This was a proverbial expression among the Hebrews to denote whatever was deemed worthless and contemptible. Something similar to this was the answer of the Turkish commander at Beer, on the Euphrates, to a request made to see the castle. "Do they," said he, "take me for a child, or an ass's head, that they would feed me with sweet meats, and dupe me with a bit of cloth? No, they shall not see the castle." Sa2 9:8, Sa2 16:9; Deu 23:18; Sa1 24:14, Sa1 24:15; Kg2 8:13
do show: Sa2 3:9, Sa2 3:18, Sa2 5:2; Sa1 15:28; Psa 2:1-4; Isa 37:23; Act 9:4, Act 9:5
So do God: Sa2 3:35, Sa2 19:13; Rut 1:17; Sa1 3:17, Sa1 14:44, Sa1 25:22; Kg1 19:2
as the Lord: Sa1 15:28, Sa1 16:1-13, Sa1 28:17; Ch1 12:23; Psa 89:3, Psa 89:4, Psa 89:19, Psa 89:20, Psa 89:35-37
from Dan: Sa2 17:11, Sa2 24:2; Jdg 20:1; Kg1 4:25
because: Sa2 3:39
Whose: Sa2 19:6, Sa2 20:1-13
Make: Psa 62:9; Luk 16:5-8
my hand: Sa2 3:21, Sa2 3:27, Sa2 5:1-3, Sa2 19:14, Sa2 19:41-43, Sa2 20:1, Sa2 20:2; Ch1 11:1-3, Ch1 12:38-40; Mat 21:8-10
that is: Heb. saying
Thou shalt: Gen 43:3, Gen 44:23, Gen 44:26
except: As Michal was not divorced, but violently separated from David, he had a legal right to demand her, and was justified in receiving her again. It is probable, also, that her marriage with Phaltiel was a force upon her inclinations; and whatever affections he might have for her, it was highly criminal for him to take another man's wife. David required Michal probably both out of affection for her, and to strengthen his interest, by asserting his affinity with the house of Saul.
Michal: Sa2 3:20-23; Sa1 18:20-28, Sa1 19:11-17; Ch1 15:29
Ishbosheth: Sa2 2:10
an hundred: Sa1 18:25, Sa1 18:27
Phaltiel: Sa1 25:44, Phalti
along weeping: Heb. going and weeping, Pro 9:17, Pro 9:18
Bahurim: Sa2 16:5, Sa2 17:18, Sa2 19:16; Kg1 2:8
in times past: Heb. both yesterday and the third day, Sa2 3:17
for the Lord: Sa2 3:9; Sa1 13:14, Sa1 15:28, Sa1 16:1, Sa1 16:12, Sa1 16:13; Joh 12:42, Joh 12:43
By the hand: Psa 89:3, Psa 89:4, Psa 89:19-23, Psa 132:17, Psa 132:18
Benjamin: Sa1 10:20, Sa1 10:21; Ch1 12:29; Psa 68:27
David: Gen 26:30, Gen 31:54; Est 1:3
will gather: Sa2 3:10, Sa2 3:12, Sa2 2:9; Phi 2:21
reign over: Kg1 11:37; Psa 20:4
What hast: Joab and his brother Abishai, David's nephews, had been very faithful and highly useful to him in his distresses; and, from gratitude and natural affection, he had inadvertently permitted them to assume almost as much ascendancy over him as Abner had over the pusillanimous Ishbosheth. he trusted and feared them too much, and allowed them all the importance they claimed; which had emboldened them, especially Joab, to a high degree of presumption. Sa2 3:8, Sa2 3:39, Sa2 19:5-7; Num 23:11; Joh 18:35
that he came: Sa2 3:27; Kg2 18:32 *marg. Joh 7:12, Joh 7:47; Rom 2:1
and to know: Sa2 10:3; Gen 42:9, Gen 42:12, Gen 42:16; Num 27:17; Deu 28:6; Sa1 29:4-6; Psa 121:8; Isa 37:28
he sent: Pro 26:23-26, Pro 27:4-6
took him: Sa2 20:9, Sa2 20:10; Deu 27:24; Kg1 2:5, Kg1 2:32
quietly: or, peaceably, Jer 41:2, Jer 41:6, Jer 41:7
and smote: Joab was afraid that Abner, after rendering such essential service to David, would be made the general of the army; and therefore, under pretence of avenging the death of his brother, he treacherously assassinated the unsuspecting and too-confiding Abner, and such was the power of this cool-blooded and nefarious murderer, that the king dared not bring him to justice for his crime. But, while Joab's conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner's punishment; who, from ambition, had pertinaciously, against his conscience, opposed the declared will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert Ish-bosheth, and offer his services to David. See note on Sa2 3:6, and see note on Sa2 4:6.
for the blood: Sa2 2:19-23
guiltless: Gen 9:6; Exo 21:12; Num 35:33; Deu 21:1-9; Mat 27:24
blood: Heb. bloods, Gen 4:10 *marg.
rest: Sa2 1:16; Jdg 9:24, Jdg 9:56, Jdg 9:57; Kg1 2:31-34; Act 28:4; Rev 16:6
let there: Sa1 2:32-36; Kg2 5:27; Psa 109:8-19
fail: Heb. be cut off
an issue: Lev 13:44-46; Kg2 5:1
slew Abner: Pro 28:17; Act 28:4
because: Sa2 2:19-23
And David: David, intending no doubt to punish Joab, and to lessen his authority with the people, commanded him to take upon him the office of chief mourner; but, as his revenge was gratified, his rival removed, and no heavier punishment inflicted, it is probable his hardened mind would feel but little objection to the ceremony.
Rend: Sa2 1:2, Sa2 1:11; Gen 37:29, Gen 37:34; Jos 7:6; Jdg 11:35; Kg2 19:1
bier: Heb. bed, Luk 7:14
lifted: Sa2 1:12, Sa2 18:33; Sa1 30:4; Job 31:28; Pro 24:17; Luk 19:41, Luk 19:42
as a fool dieth: That is, as a bad man, as the word frequently signifies in Scripture. Sa2 13:12, Sa2 13:13, Sa2 13:28, Sa2 13:29; Pro 18:7; Ecc 2:15, Ecc 2:16; Jer 17:11; Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20
hands: The hand of malefactors were usually secured with cords, and their feet with fetters; a custom to which David affectingly alludes in his lamentation over the dust of Abner. Thy hands, O Abner, were not bound, as found to be a malefactor, nor thy feet put in fetters; thou was treated with honour by him whose business it was to judge thee, and thy attachment to the house of Saul was esteemed rather generous than culpable. as the best of men may fall, so thou fellest by the sword of treachery, not of justice. Jdg 16:21; Psa 107:10, Psa 107:11
wicked men: Heb. children of iniquity, Job 24:14; Hos 6:9
wept: Sa2 1:12
cause: Sa2 12:17; Jer 16:7; Eze 24:17, Eze 24:22
pleased them: Heb. was good in their eyes
as: Sa2 15:6, Sa2 15:13; Psa 62:9; Mar 7:37, Mar 15:11-13
a prince: Sa2 3:12, Sa2 2:8; Sa1 14:50, Sa1 14:51; Job 32:9
I am: Exo 21:12; Ch2 19:6, Ch2 19:7; Psa 75:10, Psa 101:8; Pro 20:8, Pro 25:5
weak: Heb. tender, Ch1 22:5; Isa 7:4 *marg. Rom 13:4
too hard: Sa2 19:6, Sa2 19:7, Sa2 19:13
the Lord: Kg1 2:5, Kg1 2:6, Kg1 2:33, Kg1 2:34; Psa 7:16, Psa 28:4, Psa 62:12; Ti2 4:14