2 Samuel 3:21

2Sa 3:21 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.

Ver. 21. I will arise and go, and will gather.] He doubted not but to do all this, as if the whole matter had lain in his hand. God is not in all his thoughts.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 3:21-22. Abner said, I will gather all Israel unto my lord the king — How empty and ill founded are the purposes of vain man! Abner, who here promises kingdoms, soon found that he could not ensure to himself one hour of life. David had sent him away, and he departed in peace; but, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop — In those times of distraction between Judah and Israel, we may well think their neighbours, who were enemies to both, namely, the Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, and others, made many inroads upon the country to get spoil. Joab, however, and the valiant men about David, watched to prevent this, and at this time had overtaken a company of them, in their return home, and recovered a great booty from them.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

3:21 The narrator emphasized that David sent Abner safely on his way as a friend and an ally (restated in 3:22-23). David was at peace with Abner and was not involved in the renowned military leader’s murder (cp. 3:28-29). • Despite the murder of Abner (3:27), the northern tribes eventually did make a covenant with David to make him their king, just as Abner had promised (5:1-3).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, without harm.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 21. He went in peace.] David dismissed him in good faith, having no sinister design in reference to him.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21. and will gather all Israel] A meeting of the national assembly or “congregation of Israel” was requisite to accept David as king. Cp. ch. 2Sa_5:1, and see note on 1Sa_10:17.

Abner] Observe the emphatic way in which Abner’s name is repeated in 2Sa_3:17-21, and not merely represented by pronouns. It concentrates attention on the personality of this man who treats as the agent for the transfer of a kingdom which his own energy has consolidated.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Abner said to David, I will arise and go,.... Into the several parts of the land of Israel:

and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king; the princes of the several tribes, and the elders of the people, their heads and principal men:

that they may make a league with thee; come into the league and covenant now made with Abner, and those with him:

and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth: which he supposed reached to all the people of the house of Israel and of Judah, though David had not expressed any eager and impatient desire of government, but waited the Lord's time to be put into the possession of the whole kingdom of Israel:

and David sent Abner away, and he went in peace; with inward satisfaction of mind, pleased that things were so well settled and adjusted to the content of all parties, and with outward satiety of body, no insults or attempts being made upon him by any of David's men; which perhaps would not have been the case if Joab had been at court, as may be concluded from what follows.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Abner repeats the offer 2Sa 3:12; and the condition of Michal’s return 2Sa 3:13 being now fulfilled, David accepts it, and the league between them was solemnly ratified at David’s board, amidst the rites of hospitality.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And may. Some Latin copies read with the Hebrew, "and it (Israel) may enter," ineat.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

All Israel, i.e. the elders and chieftains of all Israel, representing and ruling all the rest.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

all Israel

This phrase means "all of the nation of Israel." (See: Metonymy)

So David sent Abner away

They parted as friends. David was not angry with Abner.

translationWords

raise

lord

covenant

reign

peace

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.