2 Samuel 3:6-21 | The Way of Scripture

2 Samuel 3:6-21

Why does Abner offer to bring Israel over to David?

Berean Standard Bible

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” 8 Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 9 May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13 “Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” 14 Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 15 So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.
17 Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. 18 Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

What is the context?

Abner’s influence grows within Saul’s house. When Ish-bosheth accuses him of sleeping with Saul’s concubine Rizpah, Abner responds furiously. He points to his loyalty to Saul’s family and declares that he will now help establish David over Israel and Judah. Ish-bosheth is too afraid of him to answer.

Abner approaches David with an offer to bring Israel to his side. David agrees to a covenant but requires the return of Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s wife. Ish-bosheth takes her from Paltiel, who follows her in tears until Abner orders him home. The account records Paltiel’s grief but does not tell us how Michal feels about the transfer.

Abner then speaks with Israel’s elders and with Benjamin. He reminds them that they previously wanted David as king and appeals to the LORD’s promise to deliver Israel through him. David welcomes Abner and his twenty companions with a feast. Abner leaves in peace, intending to gather Israel to make a covenant with David.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Gill treats Ish-bosheth’s accusation as something whose truth the account does not establish. Abner’s angry response and change of allegiance are clear; whether he actually slept with Rizpah is not. His acknowledgment of God’s promise also sits beside an immediate personal grievance.

Wesley understands David’s demand for Michal as the recovery of his rightful wife, with both affection and political advantage in view. Henry also treats her return as restoration. Earlier, 1 Samuel 25:44 says Saul gave David’s wife to another man; it does not record David divorcing her.

Deuteronomy 24:1–4 addresses a first husband who divorces his wife and later seeks to remarry her after another marriage. Because the story of Michal does not describe that same sequence, we should not assume that citing the law alone settles every question about this transfer. The political settlement also carries a visible human cost: Paltiel walks behind her weeping.

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