Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Twenty men - These were doubtless his official suite as Ish-bosheth‘s envoy to conduct Michal to David, but privy and consenting to his intrigue with David. It is remarkable that not a word should be said about the meeting of David and Michal.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

DAVID PREPARED A FEAST FOR ABNER AND HIS MEN

"When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace."

There was one big thing wrong with this arrangement, and that was the fact that, although David knew of Joab's murderous hatred of Abner, due to his having slain Asahel, he did not take Joab into his confidence here and brief him on what was afoot with Abner. In fact, some have supposed that, it is not unlikely that David had sent Joab on some kind of a foray in order to have him out of Hebron at the time of Abner's visit. As H. P. Smith stated it, "Not improbably David had so planned it."[21] This error on the part of David resulted in Abner's murder and the collapse of the prospective union of the two Israels.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him,.... Before he went privately to him, and conferred with him, but now, having gained so many of the Israelites in favour of David, he appeared more publicly and brought perhaps some of the principal of the nation with film, to join in the league and covenant to be made:

and David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast; not only in honour to them, as great personages, especially Abner, and as expressive of reconciliation; but as a token of the covenant they were entering into, and for the confirmation of it; it being usual to have feasts when covenants were made; see Genesis 26:28.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 3:20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that [were] with him a feast.

Ver. 20. And David made Abner … a feast] Which some think was not so well done, and the end of this transaction was tragic. (a)

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Which in those times was customary when persons entered into covenant. See Genesis 26:30 31:44,46.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

20.Twenty men with him — To guard his person and confirm his words. What was the basis of the league between them, and what it all comprehended and provided for, we are not told.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Feast, through joy at the reception of his wife, and of such good news. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

men. Hebrew. "enosh. App-14.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) Twenty men.—These were doubtless representative men, selected by Abner from Israel and Benjamin to accompany him and confirm his report. The feast which David made for them is not to be understood of mere conviviality, but of a solemn sacrificial feast, such as was customary in ancient times in connection with important negotiations. (See Genesis 26:30; Genesis 31:54; 1 Kings 3:15.)

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

David

Genesis 26:30; 31:54; Esther 1:3