2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:2 It is assumed that CHILEAB (called Daniel in 1 Chronicles 3:1) died young, since he is not mentioned as a possible successor in 1 Kings 1:1. GESHUR was north of the area controlled by Saul’s house, so David’s marriage with its king’s daughter strengthened him against Is... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:7 Saul’s concubine RIZPAH bore him two sons. Taking the previous king’s wives was considered acceptable only for the new king (see 2 Samuel 12:8; 2 Samuel 16:21). If Abner had sex with Rizpah, it could be considered an act of treason. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElem [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:12 David clearly does not mind taking the Israelite kingdom from Ish-bosheth, and he stresses his closeness to Saul as Saul’s son-in-law. David states that he has legally paid the bride-price for MICHAL (see 1 Samuel 18:25). Apparently David never divorced Michal, even th... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:22 Joab’s motive for killing Abner could have been concern for David’s position as king (v. 2 Samuel 3:25), concern for his own position (v. 2 Samuel 3:23), personal revenge (v. 2 Samuel 3:30), or a mixture of these motives (compare 2 Samuel 18:14; 2 Samuel 20:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:25 KNOW YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN mainly refers to military actions (as in 1 Samuel 18:13). In other words, Joab claims that Abner came as a spy. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:26 SIRAH is about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Hebron. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:27 INTO THE MIDST OF THE GATE. City gates were elaborate structures. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 3:28 Joab is apparently too important and useful for David to punish him for killing Abner. Instead David curses Joab and publicly mourns Abner, having a funeral for him and chanting a lament for him. This is the only funeral described in detail in the OT. Because of Abner’... [ Continue Reading ]