2 Samuel 3:6

_AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHILE THERE WAS WAR BETWEEN THE HOUSE OF SAUL AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID, THAT ABNER MADE HIMSELF STRONG FOR THE HOUSE OF SAUL._ Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul, х_ MITCHAZEEQ_ (H2388) _ BªBEEYT_ (H1004) _ SHAA'UWL _ (H7586)] - was aiding, vigorously upholding, the interests of Saul's dynasty х_ CHAAZAQ_ (H2388), followed by bª- (the Hebrew preposition), signifies to help.] In the East the wives and concubines of a king are the property of his successor to this extent, that for a private person to aspire to marry one of them would be considered a virtual advance of pretensions to the crown (see the note at 1 Kings 2:17). It is not clear whether the

1-6 The length of this war tried the faith and patience of David, and made his settlement at last the more welcome. The contest between grace and corruption in the hearts of believers, may fitly be compared to this warfare. There is a long war between them, the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; but as the work of holiness is carried on, corruption, like the house of Saul, grows weaker and weaker; while grace, like the house of David, grows stronger and stronger....

Verse 2 Samuel 3:6. _ABNER MADE HIMSELF STRONG_] This strengthening of himself, and going in to the late king's concubine, were most evident proofs that he wished to seize upon the government. See 1 Kings 2:21-11; 1 Kings 12:8; 1 Kings 16:21....

Render, “And it came to pass, while the war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted, that Abner assisted the house of Saul.”...

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 IT CAME TO PASS, WHILE THERE WAS WAR BETWEEN THE HOUSE OF SAUL AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID,.... As long as that continued, as it did until the following quarrel happened between Ishbosheth and Abner: THAT ABNER MADE HIMSELF STRONG FOR THE HOUSE OF SAUL; or was strongly in the interest of that house, and used his utmost endeavours to support and confirm it....

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)...

2 SAMUEL 3:6 TO 2 SAMUEL 4:12. QUARREL BETWEEN ABNER AND ISHBAAL. TREACHERY OF ABNER. DEATH OF ABNER, AND OF ISHBAAL (J)._ Cf_. p. 286. 2 SAMUEL 3:6. Abner went in to Rizpah, Saul's concubine; an act of _lè se majesté,_ as the harem of a king was the property of his successor (2 Samuel 12:8; 2 Samuel 16:22). He met Ishbaal's remonstrances with contemptuous and indignant anger. Was he, to whom the house of Saul owed so much, to be treated like a dog, on account of a trifling matter about a woman? He would soon show the nominal

Quarrel between Abner and Ish-bosheth 6. _made himself strong_ Or, SHEWED HIMSELF STRONG. Ish-bosheth was evidently weak and incapable, a mere puppet in the hands of Abner, who had made himself the mainstay of Saul's house, partly from his family connexion, partly with a view to secure the greatest amount of influence, possibly with the hope of eventually becoming king himself. At length foreseeing the impossibility of continuing a successful opposition to David's growing power, he took the opportunity of a quarrel with Ish-bosheth to make such overtures to David as might secure him favourable terms and an influential position....

ABNER MADE HIMSELF STRONG FOR THE HOUSE OF SAUL— Immediately after the sacred historian has informed us that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul, we have an account of Ish-bosheth's accusing him of a criminal intimacy with his father's concubine. Both these circumstances put together, excite a just suspicion that Abner meant, when he was strong enough to throw off the mask, to set up for himself, and lay Ish-bosheth aside; it being clearly enough to be collected from the course of this history, that an attempt upon the king's concubine was then understood as an attempt upon the crown. However this might be, Abner was enraged at the charge, and broke out into bitter resentment. _Am I a dog's head,_ said he, _which,_ &c.? that is, according to Bochart, "Do you pretend to treat me, as if I was a leader or manager of a pack of dogs, rather than a general of the armies of Israel?...