2 Samuel 3:18

_NOW THEN DO IT: FOR THE LORD HATH SPOKEN OF DAVID, SAYING, BY THE HAND OF MY SERVANT DAVID I WILL SAVE MY PEOPLE ISRAEL OUT OF THE HAND OF THE PHILISTINES, AND OUT OF THE HAND OF ALL THEIR ENEMIES._ 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 3:18. _THE LORD HATH SPOKEN OF DAVID_] Where is this spoken? Such a promise is not extant. Perhaps it means no more than, "Thus, it may be presumed, God hath determined....

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

NOW THEN DO [IT],.... Make him your king, and I shall no longer oppose it as I have done: FOR THE LORD HATH SPOKEN OF DAVID; concerning his being king, and the saviour of his people Israel: SAYING, BY THE HAND OF MY SERVANT DAVID I WILL SAVE MY PEOPLE ISRAEL OUT OF THE HAND OF THE PHILISTINES, AND OUT OF THE HAND OF ALL THEIR ENEMIES; and which, though where recorded in so many words, yet was the sense of the promise of making him king, and the design of his unction; and besides they might have been spoken to Samuel, though not written; and which he might report, and so might pass from one to another to be generally known....

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....

DO IT. act....

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....

_Abner Contacts David._ 2 Samuel 3:12-21 12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose _is_ the land? saying _also,_ Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand _shall be_ with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. 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. 14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver _me_ my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from _her_ husband, _even_ from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17 And