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Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

2 Samuel 3:1

There was war for a long time between Saul's family and David's family. David became stronger and stronger, but Saul's family became weaker and weaker.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Israel;   War;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ishbosheth;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abner;   David;   Judah, tribe and kingdom;   Easton Bible Dictionary - David;   Helkath-Hazzurim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abner;   Covenant;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dwelling;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - House;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ish-Bosheth;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Burial;   Chileab;   Ish-Bosheth;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
During the long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, David was growing stronger and the house of Saul was becoming weaker.
Hebrew Names Version
Now there was long war between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Sha'ul grew weaker and weaker.
King James Version
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
Lexham English Bible
The battle was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David was growing stronger and stronger while the house of Saul was becoming weaker and weaker.
English Standard Version
There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
New Century Version
There was a long war between the people who supported Saul's family and those who supported David's family. The supporters of David's family became stronger and stronger, but the supporters of Saul's family became weaker and weaker.
New English Translation
However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.
Amplified Bible
There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David grew steadily stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker [to the point of being powerless].
New American Standard Bible
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David became steadily stronger, while the house of Saul became steadily weaker.
Geneva Bible (1587)
There was then long warre betweene the house of Saul and the house of Dauid: but Dauid waxed stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.
Contemporary English Version
This battle was the beginning of a long war between the followers of Saul and the followers of David. Saul's power grew weaker, but David's grew stronger.
Complete Jewish Bible
The war between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David dragged on, but David grew stronger, while the house of Sha'ul became weaker.
Darby Translation
And the war was long between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker.
George Lamsa Translation
NOW there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and impoverished.
Good News Translation
The fighting between the forces supporting Saul's family and those supporting David went on for a long time. As David became stronger and stronger, his opponents became weaker and weaker.
Literal Translation
And there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David was going on and was strong, but the house of Saul was going on and was weak.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And there was a longe battayll betwene the house of Saul and the house of Dauid. But Dauid wente and increased, and the house of Saul wente and mynished.
American Standard Version
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
Bible in Basic English
Now there was a long war between Saul's people and David's people; and David became stronger and stronger, but those on Saul's side became more and more feeble.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
There was then long warre betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: But Dauid waxed stroger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
King James Version (1611)
Now there was long war betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: but Dauid waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And there was war for a long time between the house of Saul and the house of David; and the house of David grew continually stronger; but the house of Saul grew continually weaker.
English Revised Version
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
Berean Standard Bible
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor long strijf was maad bitwixe the hows of Dauid and `bitwixe the hows of Saul; and Dauid profitide and euere was strongere than hym silf, forsothe the hows of Saul decreesside ech dai.
Young's Literal Translation
And the war is long between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is going on and [is] strong, and the house of Saul are going on and [are] weak.
Update Bible Version
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
World English Bible
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
New King James Version
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
New Living Translation
That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul's dynasty became weaker and weaker.
New Life Bible
There was a long war between the family of Saul and the family of David. David became stronger and stronger. But the family of Saul became weaker and weaker.
New Revised Standard
There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was prolonged, - and, David, waxed stronger and stronger, and, the house of Saul, became weaker and weaker.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying daily.
Revised Standard Version
There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
THE MESSAGE
The war between the house of Saul and the house of David dragged on and on. The longer it went on the stronger David became, with the house of Saul getting weaker.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

Contextual Overview

1 There was war for a long time between Saul's family and David's family. David became stronger and stronger, but Saul's family became weaker and weaker. 2 These are David's sons who were born at Hebron: The first son was Amnon. Amnon's mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. 3 The second son was Kileab. His mother was Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal from Carmel. The third son was Absalom. Absalom's mother was Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. 4 The fourth son was Adonijah. Adonijah's mother was Haggith. The fifth son was Shephatiah. Shephatiah's mother was Abital. 5 The sixth son was Ithream. Ithream's mother was David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born at Hebron. 6 As the families of Saul and David fought each other, Abner became more and more powerful in Saul's army.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

long war: 1 Kings 14:30, 1 Kings 15:16, 1 Kings 15:32

between: Genesis 3:15, Psalms 45:3-5, Matthew 10:35, Matthew 10:36, Galatians 5:17, Ephesians 6:12

David waxed: 2 Samuel 2:17, Esther 6:13, Job 8:7, Job 17:9, Psalms 84:7, Proverbs 4:18, Proverbs 4:19, Daniel 2:34, Daniel 2:35, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 2:45, Revelation 6:2

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:7 - let his hands Joshua 17:13 - waxen strong 2 Samuel 2:31 - three hundred 2 Samuel 5:10 - General 2 Samuel 22:44 - delivered 1 Chronicles 11:9 - waxed greater and greater 1 Chronicles 12:22 - day by day Esther 9:4 - waxed Psalms 18:43 - from Psalms 71:21 - increase Psalms 89:23 - I will

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" She said, "The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit."
Genesis 3:15
I will make you and the woman enemies to each other. Your children and her children will be enemies. You will bite her child's foot, but he will crush your head."
Ecclesiastes 4:10
If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them.
Isaiah 27:1
At that time the Lord will judge Leviathan, the crooked snake. He will use his great sword, his hard and powerful sword, to punish Leviathan, that twisting, turning snake. He will kill the monster of the sea.
Matthew 4:3
The devil came to tempt him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread."
Matthew 4:6
He said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, jump off, because the Scriptures say, ‘God will command his angels to help you, and their hands will catch you, so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.'"
Matthew 4:9
The devil said, "If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these things."
Matthew 10:16
"Listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. So be smart like snakes. But also be like doves and don't hurt anyone.
2 Corinthians 11:14
That does not surprise us, because even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.
1 Peter 3:7
In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. You should show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace of true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers from being heard.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David,.... The recent battle, though so much in favour of David, did not, put an end to the war between him and Ishbosheth, which lasted five years longer; for it was when Ishbosheth had reigned two years that that battle was fought, and he reigned five years longer; for not till his death, and when David had reigned above seven years in Hebron, was he made king over all Israel; and during this time peace was not made, but the war carried on; though perhaps not in pitched battles, of which we no more read, but in skirmishes:

but David waxed stronger and stronger; he having the advantage in all such skirmishes, and persons continually coming over to his side from the several tribes:

and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker: being always worsted whenever they skirmished with David's men, and by continual revolts from them. This is reckoned an emblem of the kingdoms of Christ and antichrist, the one increasing more and more, as it has and will do, and the other decreasing, and before long will be consumed; and of the two parties in a regenerate man, grace and indwelling sin, the one as to its exercise growing stronger and stronger, and the other as to its influence on the outward conversation weaker and weaker.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER III

Account of the children born to David in Hebron, 1-5.

Abner being accused by Ish-bosheth of familiarities with

Rizpah, Saul's concubine, he is enraged; offers his services

to David; goes to Hebron, and makes a league with him, 6-22.

Joab, through enmity to Abner, pretends to David that he came

as a spy, and should not be permitted to return, 23-25.

He follows Abner, and treacherously slays him, 26, 27.

David hearing of it is greatly incensed against Joab, and

pronounces a curse upon him and upon his family, 28, 29.

He commands a general mourning for Abner, and himself follows

the bier weeping, 30-32.

David's lamentation over Abner, 33, 34.

The people solicit David to take meat; but he fasts the whole

day, and complains to them of the insolence and intrigues of

Joab and his brothers: the people are pleased with his

conduct, 35-39.

NOTES ON CHAP. III

Verse 2 Samuel 3:1. There was long war — Frequent battles and skirmishes took place between the followers of David and the followers of Ish-bosheth, after the two years mentioned above, to the end of the fifth year, in which Ish-bosheth was slain by Rechab and Baanah.


 
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