2 Samuel 3:13

_AND HE SAID, WELL; I WILL MAKE A LEAGUE WITH THEE: BUT ONE THING I REQUIRE OF THEE, THAT IS, THOU SHALT NOT SEE MY FACE, EXCEPT THOU FIRST BRING MICHAL SAUL'S DAUGHTER, WHEN THOU COMEST TO SEE MY FACE._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

7-21 Many, like Abner, are not above committing base crimes, who are too proud to bear reproof, or even the suspicion of being guilty. While men go on in sin, and apparently without concern, they are often conscious that they are fighting against God. Many mean to serve their own purposes; and will betray those who trust them, when they can get any advantage. Yet the Lord serves his own designs, even by those who are thus actuated by revenge, ambition, or lust; but as they intend not to honour him, in the end they will be thrown aside with contempt. There was real generosity both to Michal and to the memory of Saul, in David's receiving the former, remembering probably how once he owed his life to her affection, and knowing that she was separated from him partly by her father's authority. Let no man set his heart on that which he is not entitled to. If any disagreement has separated hus...

Verse 2 Samuel 3:13. _EXCEPT THOU FIRST BRING MICHAL_] David had already _six_ _wives_ at Hebron; and none of them could have such pretensions to _legitimacy_ as Michal, who had been taken away from him and married to Phaltiel. However distressing it was to take her from a husband who loved her most tenderly, (see 2 Samuel 3:16), yet prudence and policy required that he should strengthen his own interest in the kingdom as much as possible; and that he should not leave a princess in the possession of a man who might, in her right, have made pretensions to the throne. Besides, she was his own lawful wife, and he had a right to demand her when he pleased....

David’s motive in requiring the restitution of Michal was partly his affection for her, and his memory of her love for him; partly the wish to wipe out the affront put upon him in taking away his wife, by obtaining her return; and partly, also, a politic consideration of the effect on Saul’s partisans of a daughter of Saul being David’s queen....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 3:1 THERE WAS LONG WAR. As Ishbosheth reigned only two years, and as "the house of Saul" is the phrase used, it seems probable that after Ishbosheth's murder, during the five years before David's election to the throne of all Israel, the house of Saul had some puppet representative at Mahanaim, and some commander in Abner's place. But after the death of this able man matters would go from bad to worse, and, though David probably remained on the defensive, yet the contrast between the peace and good government of Judah and the misery in Israel made all the tribes wish to put an end to a harassing civil war. It is plain, too, that the Philistines, repelled at first by Abner's skill, had again gained the ascendant, and regarded themselves so completely as the rulers of the country, that they resented immediately with summ

AND HE SAID, WELL, I WILL MAKE A LEAGUE WITH THEE,.... He accepted of the offer, he was ready and willing to enter into a covenant of friendship with him, and forgive all past offences: BUT ONE THING I REQUIRE OF THEE; as the condition of this covenant: THAT IS, THOU SHALL NOT SEE MY FACE; be admitted into my presence, or have any mark of my favour and respect: EXCEPT THOU FIRST BRING MICHAL, SAUL'S DAUGHTER, WHEN THOU COMEST TO SEE MY FACE; he insisted on it that Michal, Saul's daughter, and his wife, should be brought along with him, and presented to him; this was the preliminary to the league and covenant; if this was not complied with, the proposal would not be attended to. This shows the great affection David retained for his first wife, though he had had six since, see 2 Samuel 3:2, and though she had lived with another man,...

4. ABNER'S DEEDS AND END CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The long war and its results (2 Samuel 3:1)_ 2. David's family (2 Samuel 3:2) 3. Abner's defiant deed (2 Samuel 3:6) 4. Abner and Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 3:8) 5. Abner's defection to David (2 Samuel 3:12) 6. David's request (2 Samuel 3:13) 7. Abner with David (2 Samuel 3:17)...

Abner offers to bring all Israel under the authority of David. As a preliminary Michal is restored to David. Having sounded the elders of the various tribes, Abner visited David to arrange matters....

WELL. Good!...

Abner's negotiations with David 12. _on his behalf_ The Sept. rendering _immediately_is adopted by some commentators, but is unsupported by the use of the word elsewhere. _Whose is the land_ The meaning may be either (_a_) "Is not the land thine by virtue of God's promise?" or (_b_) "Is not the land in my power so that I can make whom I please king?" But the latter agrees best with the words which follow: "Make thy covenant _with me_," and with Abner's character and evident desire to lay stress on his own power, in order to secure favourable terms for himself. There is however some doubt about the text, which was corrupt in the copy from which the Sept. version was made, and possibly the words _Whose is the land? saying also_should be struck out. The Targum has a curious paraphrase, "I swear by Him Who made the earth....