2 Samuel 3:9

_SO DO GOD TO ABNER, AND MORE ALSO, EXCEPT, AS THE LORD HATH SWORN TO DAVID, EVEN SO I DO TO HIM;_ 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 3:9. _EXCEPT, AS THE LORD HATH SWORN TO DAVID_] And why did he not do this before, when he knew that God had given the kingdom to David? Was he not now, according to his own concession, fighting against God?...

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

SO DO GOD TO ABNER, AND MORE ALSO,.... He wishes the worst of evils to himself, such as he cared not to name; but left them to be supposed what he meant as utter ruin and destruction of himself, soul and body: EXCEPT AS THE LORD HATH SWORN TO DAVID, EVEN SO I DO TO HIM; meaning if he did not do that David, which God had sworn should be done, namely, what follows, the translation of the kingdom to him; by which it appears that Abner knew of the promise and oath of God respecting this matter; and therefore acted against his conscience, in setting up Ishbosheth on the throne; which he knew would not prosper, and that he was fighting against God; which shows what a hardened wicked creature he was, and how far ambition, and being thought to be of consequence, will carry a 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)...

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

GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim_. App-4. AS. according as. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah_. App-4....

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....

SO DO GOD TO ABNER, AND MORE ALSO— We have here a clear discovery of the character of Abner. Instigated by revenge, he not only threatens to abandon his master, but acknowledges the injustice of the cause in which he had engaged, and the divine appointment of David to the throne. "Such," says Pellican, "is the character of many courtiers. Irritated upon slight occasions to the greatest contradictions, they are less the _subjects_ of kings than their _masters."_...