Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, October 13th, 2024
the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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Bible Commentaries
Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible Dummelow on the Bible
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Dummelow, John. "Commentary on 2 Samuel 3". "Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dcb/2-samuel-3.html. 1909.
Dummelow, John. "Commentary on 2 Samuel 3". "Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible". https://www.studylight.org/
Whole Bible (42)Old Testament (1)Individual Books (2)
Verses 1-39
Abner is Treacherously Murdered by Joab
3. Chileab] We read nothing more of him and he probably died as a child. In 1 Chronicles 3:1 he is called Daniel. Geshur] a kingdom on the border of Bashan, where Absalom afterwards took refuge (2 Samuel 13:37) It must not be confused with the Geshur of 1 Samuel 27:8.
4. Adonijah] see 1 Kings 1.
7. Rizpah] see 2 Samuel 21:8-11. Gone in unto my father’s concubine] According to Eastern ideas this was equivalent to laying claim to the throne: see 2 Samuel 12:8; 2 Samuel 16:22; 1 Kings 2:22.
8. Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah?] RV ’Am I a dog’s head that belongeth to Judah?’ i.e. a despised enemy. Do shew kindness this day] RV ’This day’ (i.e. at the very time you bring this trivial charge) ’do I shew kindness’: see on 1 Kings 2:17. This woman] LXX ’a woman.’ It was the question of a mere woman.
9. Except.. even so I do to him] RV ’if. I do not even so to him,’ i.e. support David instead of Ish-bosheth.
12. On his behalf] RM ’where he was.’ Whose is the land? saying] LXX omits.
13. Except thou first bring Michal] see 1 Samuel 25:44.
16. Bahurim] in Benjamin, on the road from Jerusalem to the Jordan. It was probably the last town in the dominions of Ish-bosheth.
17. Ye sought for David] It would thus seem that even in northern Israel there was a strong party, who wished to make David king on the death of Saul. It was probably the personal influence of Abner that decided the day in favour of Ish-bosheth. The whole passage clearly shows how weak was the hereditary principle, and how completely the ’king’ was still regarded merely as a military leader and ’judge.’ The element of popular choice is more fully emphasised here than in Judges (except for the Abimelech episode).
19. Benjamin] as being Saul’s fellow-tribesmen they would be specially attached to the royal house and need additional persuasion.
21. Make a league with thee] as they did with Saul (1 Samuel 10:25) and as they tried to do with Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:4). Before making him king, they wished to see their rights safeguarded.
22. From pursuing a troop] RV ’from a foray.’ David had probably arranged a time when Joab was absent.
24. Why is it that thou hast sent him away?] As a kinsman of Asahel, Joab thought that David should have avenged his death.
27. For the blood of Asahel his brother] According to Eastern ideas Joab was bound to avenge his brother’s murder. Neither Judaism, Christianity, nor Mohammedanism has been able to eradicate this feeling. But the Law provided a remedy in the Cities of Refuge (see Numbers 35:11). In the case before us, Joab was probably influenced by the fear that Abner would interfere with his authority: see on
29. On all his father’s house] According to Jewish ideas the family was involved in the fate of the ancestor: cp. 2 Samuel 21:6; 2 Kings 5:27. Leaneth on a staff] rather, ’that holdeth the spindle’: cp. Proverbs 31:19. It was despicable work for a man.
31. Mourn before Abner] i.e. precede the bier. This was all the punishment David was strong enough to inflict.
33. Died Abner as a fool dieth?] i.e. as one who runs into needless danger, or meets his death when engaged in a shameful conspiracy: see on 1 Samuel 25:25.
35. Till the sun be down] The regular time for ending a fast, as it still is in Mohammedan countries. The Hebrew day was reckoned from sunset to sunset.