2 Samuel 3

3. Chileab. Named “Daniel” in 1 Chron. iii. 1.

Geshur. Geshur was in the north-west of Bashan, and on the borders of the tribe of Manasseh: see Deut. iii. 14; Josh. xiii. 11.

7 a concubine. According to the usages of the East, the wives and concubines of a deceased sovereign became the property of his successor.

8. Am I a dog’s head, etc.? R.V., “Am I a dog’s head that belongeth to Judah? This day do I show kindness,” etc.

13. Michal, Saul’s daughter. Michal had not been legally divorced, but forcibly separated from her husband, as Phaltel might have known.

16. Bahurim. See xvi. 5; xvii. 18. Bahurim was a few miles from Jerusalem, on the road to the Jordan, and probably the last town in Ish-bosheth’s dominions.

19. Benjamin. Saul having been of this tribe, the Benjamites were specially devoted to his family, and required, therefore, more persuasion than the rest.

22 from [pursuing] a troop. R.V., “from a foray.”

27 smote him. Joab took advantage of the custom of blood-revenge to cover his jealousy and treachery. His sin was long afterwards remembered and punished (see 1 Kings ii. 5, 28-34). At the same time the justice of God appears in the death of Abner, who had, from personal and ambitious motives, knowingly opposed His declared will (see ver. 9), and had at last deserted Ish-bosheth only through pique or revenge.

33 as a fool dieth. “As an ungodly man.” Cp. Psa. xiv. 1. “So ignoble an end to befall so brave a man!”

34. Thy hands were not bound. The hands and feet of malefactors were bound. By these expressions David meant that Abner had not been condemned in the regular course of justice, but treacherously murdered.

39. Zeruiah. See note on ii. 13, 18.