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Saturday, September 6th, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

2 Samuel 3:17

Now Abner spoke with the leaders of Israel, saying, "In times past you wanted David to 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:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying: Ye sought for Dauid in times past, that he might be your king:
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 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 Now Saul had a woman acting as his wife whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to the woman who acted as my father's wife?" 8 Abner was very angry because of Ish-bosheth's words, and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers and to his friends. I have not given you into David's hands. Yet today you say I am guilty because of this woman. 9 May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David what the Lord has promised him. 10 He has promised to build the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba." 11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner, because he was afraid of him. 12 Then Abner sent men with news to David at Hebron, saying, "Whose land is this? Make your agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you." 13 David said, "Good! I will make an agreement with you. But you must do one thing that I say. You will not see my face unless you first bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to see me." 14 Then David sent men to Saul's son Ish-bosheth, saying, "Give me my wife Michal. I was married to her by giving a hundred pieces of skin from the sex parts of the Philistines." 15 So Ish-bosheth sent men to take her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, crying as he went. He followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." So 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
Then the woman said to the snake, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:3
But from the tree which is in the center of the garden, God has said, ‘Do not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"
Genesis 3:5
For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad."
Genesis 3:6
The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasing to the eyes, and could fill the desire of making one wise. So she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were without clothes. So they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves clothing.
Genesis 3:9
But the Lord God called to the man. He said to him, "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:11
The Lord God said, "Who told you that you were without clothes? Have you eaten from the tree of which I told you not to eat?"
Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The snake fooled me, and I ate."
Genesis 3:14
Then the Lord God said to the snake, "Because you have done this, you will be hated and will suffer more than all cattle, and more than every animal of the field. You will go on your stomach and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said, "I will make your pain much worse in giving birth. You will give birth to children in pain. Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

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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