2 Samuel 3:12-21

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 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

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.

19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
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.

21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

9.

Why did Abner negotiate so long with David? 2 Samuel 3:12

It was Abner who first sent an ambassage to David. David replied by sending messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. Ish-bosheth met David's demands. Abner then counselled with the elders of Israel. Abner further contacted the Benjamites. Thereafter he went to David himself. The elders of Israel had already expressed a desire to anoint David king of all Israel, as well as over all Judah. They had been saying, Jehovah 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-' (2 Samuel 3:18). This prophecy dates back to the time of the anointing of David by Samuel (See 1 Samuel 16).

10.

Why does the author give such a full account of Abner's negotiations? 2 Samuel 3:12

Some critics view this section as being filled with interpolations as if a little had been added here and there. The account is historically accurate, and it appears to be homogenous but the story may seem to some to be overfull. For this reason, it is suggested that there were various accounts worked into one. There are not two or more separate accounts, however, but a very careful series of negotiations on the part of David. David received Abner's first message; David then went directly to Ishbosheth. He was not willing that something be done behind the king's back. After the negotiations proceeded, then he received Abner in person. Abner's ill-fated journey climaxed the negotiations.

11.

Why did David want Michal back? 2 Samuel 3:13

David was shamed by Saul's giving his wife, Michal, to another man (1 Samuel 25:44). The prohibition of a man marrying a woman who had once before been married to him and later given to another man does not prevail in this instance because the marriage was not terminated by mutual consent (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). Saul had simply taken David's wife and had given her to another man. The second man did not have any right to her, and she was still legitimately and rightfully David's wife. The fact that he informed both Abner and Ish-bosheth of this, does not indicate that there were two separate traditions of the account but that he informed both parties of the necessary provision.

12.

Who was the man with whom Michal had been living? 2 Samuel 3:15

The man to whom Saul had given Michal was named Phaltiel. He is given as the son of Leish. When Michal was given to him, he was introduced as being of Gallim (1 Samuel 25:44). The only Gallim mentioned elsewhere is Isaiah 10:30, where a reference is evidently to a place in Benjamin.

13.

How far did Phaltiel follow Michal? 2 Samuel 3:16

This picture of a pitiable man reveals that he went along weeping behind the woman with whom he had been living until he got as far as Bahurim. This is a spot north of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:5; cf. 2 Samuel 17:18). This was probably the last Benjamite village on the road they were traveling in Judah. He must have felt that it was unsafe for him to enter into David's territory and therefore turned back at that point. Abner commanded him to return thence; the man complied, although undoubtedly still weeping as he went.

14.

What was the wish of the elders of Israel? 2 Samuel 3:17

The elders of the land had already expressed their desire for David to be their king, This is intimated in the statement of Abner who said, You sought for David in times past to be king over you. Abner again makes reference to the promise of the Lord indicating that the anointing of David by Samuel was rather well-known.

15.

How did David receive Abner? 2 Samuel 3:20

When Abner and the twenty men who accompanied him arrived in Hebron, David made a feast for them. He was glad that negotiations had proceeded to this point, and wanted to expedite the matter as much as possible. Later events revealed that David had high regard for Abner, probably the outgrowth of their many pleasant associations together when both were in Saul's service.

16.

What was Abner's final decision? 2 Samuel 3:21

Abner declared that he would arise and go and gather all Israel to make David king over them. This was the same thing that he had said to Ish-bosheth when he broke away from him (2 Samuel 3:10). At that time, Abner said he would make David king over Israel and Judah. He intended for him to rule from Dan, the farthest point on the north border, to Beer-sheba, the farthest point on the south of Judah. This was the entire promised land, and Abner said that David would then rule over all that his heart desired.