Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Young's Literal Translation

2 Samuel 3:17

And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, `Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,

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.
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 hath a concubine, and her name [is] Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and [Ish-Bosheth] saith unto Abner, `Wherefore hast thou gone in unto the concubine of my father?' 8 And it is displeasing to Abner exceedingly, because of the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he saith, `The head of a dog [am] I -- that in reference to Judah to-day I do kindness with the house of Saul thy father, unto his brethren, and unto his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David -- that thou chargest against me iniquity concerning the woman to-day? 9 thus doth God to Abner, and thus He doth add to him, surely as Jehovah hath sworn to David -- surely so I do to him: 10 to cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba.' 11 And he is not able any more to turn back Abner a word, because of his fearing him. 12 And Abner sendeth messengers unto David for himself, saying, `Whose [is] the land?' saying, `Make thy covenant with me, and lo, my hand [is] with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.' 13 And he saith, `Good -- I make with thee a covenant; only, one thing I am asking of thee, that is, Thou dost not see my face, except thou dost first bring in Michal, daughter of Saul in thy coming into see my face.' 14 And David sendeth messengers unto Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, `Give up my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.' 15 And Ish-Bosheth sendeth, and taketh her from a man, from Phaltiel son of Laish, 16 and her husband goeth with her, going on and weeping behind her, unto Bahurim, and Abner saith unto him, `Go, turn back;' and he turneth back.

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 saith unto the serpent, `Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we do eat,
Genesis 3:3
and of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden God hath said, Ye do not eat of it, nor touch it, lest ye die.'
Genesis 3:5
for God doth know that in the day of your eating of it -- your eyes have been opened, and ye have been as God, knowing good and evil.'
Genesis 3:6
And the woman seeth that the tree [is] good for food, and that it [is] pleasant to the eyes, and the tree is desirable to make [one] wise, and she taketh of its fruit and eateth, and giveth also to her husband with her, and he doth eat;
Genesis 3:7
and the eyes of them both are opened, and they know that they [are] naked, and they sew fig-leaves, and make to themselves girdles.
Genesis 3:9
And Jehovah God calleth unto the man, and saith to him, `Where [art] thou?'
Genesis 3:11
And He saith, `Who hath declared to thee that thou [art] naked? of the tree of which I have commanded thee not to eat, hast thou eaten?'
Genesis 3:13
And Jehovah God saith to the woman, `What [is] this thou hast done?' and the woman saith, `The serpent hath caused me to forget -- and I do eat.'
Genesis 3:14
And Jehovah God saith unto the serpent, `Because thou hast done this, cursed [art] thou above all the cattle, and above every beast of the field: on thy belly dost thou go, and dust thou dost eat, all days of thy life;
Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman He said, `Multiplying I multiply thy sorrow and thy conception, in sorrow dost thou bear children, and toward thy husband [is] thy desire, and he doth rule over 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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