Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Bishop's Bible

2 Samuel 3:17

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying: Ye sought for Dauid in times past, that he might be your king:

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Abner;   Conspiracy;   Government;   Treason;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Michal;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abner;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Israel;   Rizpah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ishbosheth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Elder;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abner;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Dwelling;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Government of the Hebrews;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Alliance;   Benjamin;   Joab;   Number;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Abner;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Covenant;   Elder;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: “In the past you wanted David to be king over you.
Hebrew Names Version
Aviner had communication with the Zakenim of Yisra'el, saying, In times past you sought for David to be king over you:
King James Version
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
Lexham English Bible
The word of Abner came to the elders of Israel, saying, "For quite some time you were seeking David as king over you.
English Standard Version
And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.
New Century Version
Abner sent this message to the elders of Israel: "You have been wanting to make David your king.
New English Translation
Abner advised the elders of Israel, "Previously you were wanting David to be your king.
Amplified Bible
Abner talked with the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel, saying, "In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
New American Standard Bible
Now Abner had a consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Abner had communication with the Elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for Dauid in times past, that he might be your King.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
Contemporary English Version
Abner talked with the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, "You've wanted to make David your king for a long time now.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then Avner conferred with the leaders of Isra'el. He said, "In the past, you wanted David to be king over you.
Darby Translation
Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David aforetime to be king over you;
Easy-to-Read Version
Abner sent this message to the leaders of Israel. He said, "For a long time you have wanted to make David your king.
George Lamsa Translation
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying. You have sought for David in times past to be king over you;
Good News Translation
Abner went to the leaders of Israel and said to them, "For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.
Literal Translation
And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, Before now you have been seeking David for king over you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Abner talked with the Elders in Israel, and sayde: Youre myndes haue bene set afore tyme and longe a goo vpon Dauid, that he mighte be kynge ouer you,
American Standard Version
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:
Bible in Basic English
Then Abner had a talk with the chief men of Israel, saying, In the past it was your desire to make David your king: so now, do it:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying: 'In times past ye sought for David to be king over you;
King James Version (1611)
And Abner had communication with the Elders of Israel, saying, Yee sought for Dauid in times past, to be king ouer you.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Abenner spoke to the elders of Israel, saying, In former days ye sought David to reign over you;
English Revised Version
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:
Berean Standard Bible
Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "In the past you sought David as your king.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also Abner brouyte in a word to the eldere men of Israel, and seide, Bothe yistirdai and the thridde dai ago ye souyten Dauid, that he schulde regne on you.
Young's Literal Translation
And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, `Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,
Update Bible Version
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past you sought for David to be king over you:
Webster's Bible Translation
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you:
World English Bible
Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past you sought for David to be king over you:
New King James Version
Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, "In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
New Living Translation
Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. "For some time now," he told them, "you have wanted to make David your king.
New Life Bible
Now Abner spoke with the leaders of Israel, saying, "In times past you wanted David to be your king.
New Revised Standard
Abner sent word to the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then had Abner, speech, with the elders of Israel, saying, - In times past, ye were seeking David, to be king over you.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought for David that he might reign over you.
Revised Standard Version
And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.
THE MESSAGE
Abner got the elders of Israel together and said, "Only yesterday, it seems, you were looking for a way to make David your king. So do it—now! For God has given the go-ahead on David: ‘By my servant David's hand, I'll save my people Israel from the oppression of the Philistines and all their other enemies.'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

Contextual Overview

7 And Saul had a concubine named Rispha, the daughter of Ahia: And Isboseth sayd to Abner, Wherfore hast thou gone in vnto my fathers concubine? 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the wordes of Isboseth, and sayde: Am I a dogges head, whiche against Iuda do shew mercie this day vnto the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and frendes, & haue not deliuered thee into the hande of Dauid: and thou fyndest a fault in me this day for this woman? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the Lorde hath sworne to Dauid, euen so will I do to him, 10 To bring the kingdome fro the house of Saul, that the throne of Dauid may be stablisshed ouer Israel and ouer Iuda, euen from Dan to Beerseba. 11 And he coulde geue Abner neuer a worde to aunswere, because he feared him. 12 And Abner sent messengers to Dauid secretly, saying: Whose is the land? Who should [also] say, Make a bond with me, and beholde my hande is with thee, to bring all Israel vnto thee. 13 He sayde: Well, I will make a bonde with the: But one thing I require of thee, that is, that thou see not my face, except thou first bring Michol Sauls daughter, when thou comest to see me. 14 And Dauid sent messengers to Isboseth Sauls sonne, saying: Deliuer me my wife Michol, whiche I maried for an hundred foreskinnes of ye Philistines. 15 And Isboseth sent, and toke her from her husband Phalti the sonne of Lais. 16 And her husband went with her, and came weeping behinde her, til they came to Bahurim. Then sayde Abner vnto him, Go and returne. And he returned.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in times past: Heb. both yesterday and the third day, 2 Samuel 3:17

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 24:20 - I know well 1 Chronicles 11:10 - to make Psalms 75:7 - he putteth

Cross-References

Genesis 3:2
And the woman sayde vnto the serpent: We eate of ye fruite of the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:3
But as for the fruite of the tree which is in the myddes of the garden, God hath sayde, ye shall not eate of it, neither shal ye touche of it, lest peraduenture ye dye.
Genesis 3:5
For God doth knowe, that the same day that ye eate therof, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shalbe eue as gods, knowyng good and euyll.
Genesis 3:6
And so the woman, seing that the same tree was good to eate of, and pleasaunt to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, toke of the fruite therof, and dyd eate, and gaue also vnto her husbande beyng with her, and he dyd eate.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knewe that they were naked, and they sowed fygge leaues together, & made them selues apernes.
Genesis 3:9
And the Lorde called Adam, & sayde vnto hym: where art thou?
Genesis 3:11
And he sayde: Who tolde thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou not eaten of the same tree, concernyng the which I commaunded thee that thou shouldest not eate of it?
Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God sayd vnto the woman: Why hast thou done this? And the woman sayde: the serpent begyled me, and I dyd eate.
Genesis 3:14
And the lord god said vnto ye serpent: Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed aboue all cattel, and aboue euery beast of the fielde: vpon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy lyfe.
Genesis 3:16
But vnto the woman he sayde: I wyll very much multiplie thy sorowe, and thy griefes of chylde bearyng, In sorowe shalt thou bring foorth children: thy desire [shalbe] to thy husbande, and he shall haue the rule of thee.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel,.... Had a conference with the chiefs of the several tribes about the affairs of the kingdom:

saying, ye sought for David in time past [to be] king over you; that is, at the death of Saul, and not before; for it was pretty generally known throughout the kingdom that David was anointed by Samuel and Saul himself had declared that he knew the kingdom would come to him; so that upon his death it was the general expectation and desire of the people that the government would devolve upon him, as it doubtless would, if Abner had not set up one of Saul's house, and persuaded the Israelites to own him their king.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ye sought for David ... - Compare 1 Samuel 18:5. It was only by Abner’s great influence that the elders of Israel had been restrained hitherto from declaring for David, and this accounts for Ish-bosheth’s helpless submission to his uncle’s dictation.


 
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