2 Samuel 3:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing."

NIV: You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing."

NASB: You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.'

CSB: You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your military activities and everything you’re doing."

NLT: You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!'

KJV: Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

NKJV: Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

Second Samuel 3:20–25 reveals the fickleness of war and politics. Abner, general of the armies of Israel, has been at war with David for two years. But when he arrives with an entourage, David throws him a feast. Abner has grown weary of the puppet-king he installed as David's rival. Abner offers to add the northern and eastern tribes to David's kingdom (2 Samuel 3:6–19). David agrees, and Abner meets with the elders, but David's vengeful general kills Abner before the deal can be completed (2 Samuel 3:26–30).

In 2 Samuel 3, God arranges for all of Israel to accept David as king. Abner, the former commander of Saul's army, turns against David's rival, Ish-bosheth, after an argument about a woman. Abner persuades the elders of Israel to take David as their king and arrives in Hebron to deliver the news. Joab, the commander of David's army, is furious because Abner killed his brother Asahel. When Abner leaves, Joab murders him. David declares a curse on Joab and his descendants and publicly mourns for Abner, demonstrating to all that he had nothing to do with Abner's death.

In 2 Samuel 3, the civil war winds down. Abner, Saul's cousin, made Saul's son Ish-bosheth king. Abner commands the army of Israel. Joab, David's nephew, commands Judah's army. They have been locked in a civil war for two years, not least because Abner killed Joab's brother in self-defense (2 Samuel 2). When Abner realizes he can't take the throne from Ish-bosheth, he arranges for Israel to follow David before he's killed by Joab. Not long after, Ish-bosheth is murdered, and David is made king of all Israel (2 Samuel 4:1—5:4).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 11/18/2025 9:08:20 AM