2 Samuel 3 in Hebrew, English & Transliteration

Show:

Tenakh Study · We are reading through the book of 2 Samuel together, every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link. Tap Commentary above to show our Messianic Jewish notes.

Text (469) 608-9944

Tenakh Study · 2 Samuel 3:1–39

2 Samuel, Chapter 3

שמואל ב ג

David grows stronger. Avner breaks with Ish-Boshet and brings Israel over to David, but Yo’av kills him in the gate of Chevron. David mourns Avner before all the people.

3:1Now there was long war between the house of Shaul (Saul) and the house of David; but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Shaul grew weaker and weaker.

Vatehi hamilḥamah arukah bein beit Sha'ul uvein beit David vaDavid holeḥ veḥazek uveit Sha'ul holeḥim vedalim.

אוַתְּהִ֚י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ אֲרֻכָּ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וַדָוִד֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ וְחָזֵ֔ק וּבֵ֥ית שָׁא֖וּל הֹלְכִ֥ים וְדַלִּֽים׃

3:2And unto David were sons born in Chevron (Hebron); and his firstborn was Amnon, of Achinoam (Ahinoam) of Yizre’el (Jezreel);

Vayivaldu leDavid banim beḤevron vayehi veḥoro Amnon la'Aḥino'am haYizre'elit.

בוַיִּוָּלְד֧וּ (כתיב וַיִָּלְד֧וּ) לְדָוִד֛ בָּנִ֖ים בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיְהִ֚י בְכוֹרוֹ֙ אַמְנ֔וֹן לַאֲחִינֹ֖עַם הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽית׃

3:3and his second, Kil’av (Chileab), of Avigayil (Abigail) the wife of Naval (Nabal) of Carmel; and the third, Avshalom (Absalom) the son of Ma’achah (Maacah) the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

Umishnehu Ḥil'av la'Avigayil eshet Naval haKarmeli vehashelishi Avshalom ben-Ma'aḥah bat-Talmai meleḥ Geshur.

גוּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ כִלְאָ֔ב לַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל (כתיב לַאֲבִיגִַ֕ל) אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֣ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֑י וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֔ה בַּת־תַּלְמַ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ גְּשֽׁוּר׃

3:4and the fourth, Adoniyah (Adonijah) the son of Chaggit (Haggith); and the fifth, Shefatyah (Shephatiah) the son of Avital (Abital);

Veharevi'i Adoniyah ben-Ḥagit vehaḥamishi Shefatyah ben-Avital.

דוְהָרְבִיעִ֖י אֲדֹנִיָּ֣ה בֶּן־חַגִּ֑ית וְהַחֲמִישִׁ֖י שְׁפַטְיָ֥ה בֶּן־אֲבִיטָֽל׃

3:5and the sixth, Yitre’am (Ithream), by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Chevron.

Vehashishi Yitre'am le'Eglah eshet David eleh yuledu leDavid beḤevron.

הוְהַשִּׁשִּׁ֣י יִתְרְעָ֔ם לְעֶגְלָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת דָּוִ֑ד אֵ֛לֶּה יֻלְּד֥וּ לְדָוִ֖ד בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃

Commentary · 3:2–5

Sons born in Chevron

The Torah commands that the king “shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away” (Deuteronomy 17:17). Three of the sons named here, Amnon, Avshalom and Adoniyah, later bring sorrow and rebellion to David’s house (2 Samuel 13; 15–18; 1 Kings 1).

Scripture tells the truth about its heroes. Even David, the man after Hashem’s own heart, needed mercy. This makes us long for the King who is fully obedient to the Father, who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

The Sages comment on several of these sons. Kil’av is called Daniel in Chronicles (1 Chronicles 3:1). Rashi brings Rabbi Yitzchak’s teaching that scoffers said Avigayil’s child was Naval’s, so the child’s face came to resemble David’s; the Talmud says he outshone Mefiboshet in Torah (Berakhot 4a). The Midrash links Ma’achah, a king’s daughter taken in war, to the Torah’s law of the captive woman, which is followed at once by the law of the rebellious son: from that marriage came Avshalom (Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tetze 1; Deuteronomy 21:10–21). Rav teaches that “Eglah, David’s wife” is Michal, called “calf” because she was so dear to David (Sanhedrin 21a).

Avner turns to David

3:6And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Shaul and the house of David, that Avner (Abner) made himself strong in the house of Shaul.

Vayehi bihyot hamilḥamah bein beit Sha'ul uvein beit David ve'Avner hayah mitḥazek beveit Sha'ul.

ווַיְהִ֗י בִּֽהְיוֹת֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְאַבְנֵ֛ר הָיָ֥ה מִתְחַזֵּ֖ק בְּבֵ֥ית שָׁאֽוּל׃

3:7And Shaul had a concubine, whose name was Ritzpah (Rizpah), the daughter of Ayah (Aiah); and Ish-Boshet (Ish-bosheth) said to Avner, “Why have you gone in unto my father’s concubine?”

UleSha'ul pilegesh ushemah Ritzpah vat-Ayah vayomer el-Avner madua batah el-pilegesh avi.

זוּלְשָׁא֣וּל פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ רִצְפָּ֣ה בַת־אַיָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אַבְנֵ֔ר מַדּ֥וּעַ בָּ֖אתָה אֶל־פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁ אָבִֽי׃

3:8Then Avner was very angry over the words of Ish-Boshet, and said, “Am I a dog’s head, that against Yehudah (Judah) I show kindness this day unto the house of Shaul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?

Vayiḥar le'Avner me'od al-divrei Ish-Boshet vayomer harosh kelev anoḥi asher liYhudah hayom e'eseh-ḥesed im-beit Sha'ul aviḥa el-eḥav ve'el-mere'ehu velo himtzitiḥa beyad-David vatifkod alay avon ha'ishah hayom.

חוַיִּחַר֩ לְאַבְנֵ֨ר מְאֹ֜ד עַל־דִּבְרֵ֣י אִֽישׁ־בּ֗שֶׁת וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הֲרֹ֨אשׁ כֶּ֥לֶב אָנֹכִי֘ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִֽיהוּדָה֒ הַיּ֨וֹם אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־חֶ֜סֶד עִם־בֵּ֣ית ׀ שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֗יךָ אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל־מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ וְלֹ֥א הִמְצִיתִ֖ךָ בְּיַד־דָּוִ֑ד וַתִּפְקֹ֥ד עָלַ֛י עֲוֹ֥ן הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם׃

3:9So may God do to Avner, and more also, if, as Hashem has sworn to David, I do not do so to him:

Koh-ya'aseh Elohim le'Avner veḥoh yosif lo ki ka'asher nishba Adonai leDavid ki-ḥen e'eseh-lo.

טכֹּֽה־יַעֲשֶֹ֚ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְאַבְנֵ֔ר וְכֹ֖ה יֹסִ֣יף ל֑וֹ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֚ע יְהֹוָה֙ לְדָוִ֔ד כִּֽי־כֵ֖ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לּֽוֹ׃

3:10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Shaul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Yehudah, from Dan even to Be’er Sheva (Beersheba).”

Leha'avir hamamlaḥah mibeit Sha'ul ulehakim et-kise David al-Yisra'el ve'al-Yehudah miDan ve'ad-Be'er Shava.

ילְהַֽעֲבִ֥יר הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה מִבֵּ֣ית שָׁא֑וּל וּלְהָקִ֞ים אֶת־כִּסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה מִדָּ֖ן וְעַד־בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃

3:11And he could not answer Avner a word again, because he feared him.

Velo-yaḥol od lehashiv et-Avner davar miyir'ato oto.

יאוְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֣ל ע֔וֹד לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־אַבְנֵ֖ר דָּבָ֑ר מִיִּרְאָת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ׃

3:12And Avner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel over unto you.”

Vayishlaḥ Avner mal'aḥim el-David taḥtav lemor lemi-aretz lemor karetah veriteḥa iti vehineh yadi imaḥ lehasev eleḥa et-kol-Yisra'el.

יבוַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אַבְנֵ֨ר מַלְאָכִ֧ים ׀ אֶל־דָּוִ֛ד תַּחְתָּ֥יו (כתיב תַּחְתָּ֥ו) לֵאמֹ֖ר לְמִי־אָ֑רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר כָּרְתָ֚ה בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ אִתִּ֔י וְהִנֵּה֙ יָדִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ לְהָסֵ֥ב אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

3:13And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you; but one thing I require of you, that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Shaul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

Vayomer tov ani eḥrot iteḥa berit aḥ davar eḥad anoḥi sho'el me'iteḥa lemor lo-tir'eh et-panay ki im-lifnei hevi'aḥa et Miḥal bat-Sha'ul bevo'aḥa lir'ot et-panay.

יגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר ט֔וֹב אֲנִ֕י אֶכְרֹ֥ת אִתְּךָ֖ בְּרִ֑ית אַ֣ךְ דָּבָ֣ר אֶחָ֡ד אָנֹכִי֩ שֹׁאֵ֨ל מֵאִתְּךָ֚ לֵאמֹר֙ לֹא־תִרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־פָּנַ֔י כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־לִפְנֵ֣י הֱבִיאֲךָ֗ אֵ֚ת מִיכַ֣ל בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל בְּבֹאֲךָ֖ לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־פָּנָֽי׃

3:14And David sent messengers to Ish-Boshet, Shaul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim (Philistines).”

Vayishlaḥ David mal'aḥim el-Ish-Boshet ben-Sha'ul lemor tenah et-ishti et-Miḥal asher erasti li beme'ah orlot Pelishtim.

ידוַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח דָּוִד֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־אִֽישׁ־בּ֥שֶׁת בֶּן־שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹ֑ר תְּנָ֚ה אֶת־אִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־מִיכַ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵרַ֣שְׂתִּי לִ֔י בְּמֵאָ֖ה עָרְל֥וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

3:15And Ish-Boshet sent, and took her from her husband, from Paltiel (Phaltiel) the son of Layish (Laish).

Vayishlaḥ Ish-Boshet vayikaḥeha me'im ish me'im Palti'el ben-Layish.

טווַיִּשְׁלַח֙ אִ֣ישׁ בּ֔שֶׁת וַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָ מֵ֣עִֽם אִ֑ישׁ מֵעִ֖ם פַּלְטִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־לָֽיִשׁ (כתיב לָֽוִשׁ)׃

3:16And her husband went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bachurim (Bahurim). Then Avner said unto him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

Vayeleḥ itah ishah haloḥ uvaḥoh aḥareha ad-Baḥurim vayomer elav Avner leḥ shuv vayashov.

טזוַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִתָּ֜הּ אִישָׁ֗הּ הָל֧וֹךְ וּבָכֹ֛ה אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ עַד־בַּֽחֻרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֥יו אַבְנֵ֛ר לֵ֥ךְ שׁ֖וּב וַיָּשֹֽׁב׃

Commentary · 3:12–16

Michal and Palti

David asks for Michal, the wife he had betrothed with a hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim (1 Samuel 18:25–27) and whom Shaul had given to another man (1 Samuel 25:44). Her second husband follows her, weeping, as far as Bachurim. The Sages praise Palti ben Layish for his self-restraint during the years Michal lived in his house (Sanhedrin 19b).

The kingdom is not restored without cost and tears. Even good steps toward unity can bring real loss to people along the way, and the passage asks us to notice them.

Avner’s message begins, “Whose is the land?” and only then “make your covenant with me.” Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says Avner was punished because he put his own name before David’s (Yerushalmi Peah 1:1).

The Talmud tells more of Palti’s story (Sanhedrin 19b). His name was Palti, and he is called Paltiel because “God saved him” (pilto El) from sin. Knowing Michal was still David’s wife, he placed a sword between himself and her. He wept as he walked behind her because he was losing the mitzvah he had kept, and the place-name Bachurim hints that both remained like young people (baḥurim) who had never been together. Rabbi Yochanan says Yosef’s restraint was great, Boaz’s greater, and Palti’s greatest of all.

3:17And Avner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “You sought for David in times past to be king over you;

Udevar-Avner hayah im-ziknei Yisra'el lemor gam-temol gam-shilshom heyitem mevakshim et-David lemeleḥ aleiḥem.

יזוּדְבַר־אַבְנֵ֣ר הָיָ֔ה עִם־זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר גַּם־תְּמוֹל֙ גַּם־שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם הֱיִיתֶ֞ם מְבַקְשִׁ֧ים אֶת־דָּוִ֛ד לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

3:18now then do it; for Hashem has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel out of the hand of the Pelishtim, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”

Ve'atah asu ki Adonai amar el-David lemor beyad David avdi hoshia et-ami Yisra'el miyad Pelishtim umiyad kol-oyeveihem.

יחוְעַתָּ֖ה עֲשֹ֑וּ כִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אָמַ֚ר אֶל־דָּוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּיַ֣ד ׀ דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֗י הוֹשִׁ֜יעַ אֶת־עַמִּ֚י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּ֣ד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמִיַּ֖ד כָּל־אֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃

Commentary · 3:17–18

“By the hand of My servant David”

Avner reminds the elders of Hashem’s promise: “By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel.” The prophets later use the same words, “My servant David,” for the King who is still to come: “I will set up one shepherd over them … even My servant David” (Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24), and “they shall serve Hashem their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them” (Jeremiah 30:9; see Hosea 3:5).

When Zechariah the kohen praised Hashem at the birth of his son, he spoke of this promise: Hashem “has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David” (Luke 1:69).

A few verses later Avner promises, “I will gather all Israel unto my lord the king” (3:21), and David sends him away “in peace,” a word that comes three times in 3:21–23. This is the beginning of Yaakov’s blessing over Yehudah: “unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10).

3:19And Avner also spoke in the ears of Binyamin (Benjamin); and Avner went also to speak in the ears of David in Chevron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Binyamin.

Vayedaber gam Avner be'oznei Vinyamin vayeleḥ gam-Avner ledaber be'oznei David beḤevron et kol-asher-tov be'einei Yisra'el uve'einei kol-beit Binyamin.

יטוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר גַּם אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גַּם־אַבְנֵ֗ר לְדַבֵּ֞ר בְּאָזְנֵ֚י דָוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן אֵ֚ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־טוֹב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־בֵּ֥ית בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

3:20So Avner came to David to Chevron, and twenty men with him. And David made Avner and the men that were with him a feast.

Vayavo Avner el-David Ḥevron ve'ito esrim anashim vaya'as David le'Avner vela'anashim asher-ito mishteh.

כוַיָּבֹ֨א אַבְנֵ֚ר אֶל־דָּוִד֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וְאִתּ֖וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּ֨עַשׂ דָּוִ֧ד לְאַבְנֵ֛ר וְלַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֖וֹ מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

3:21And Avner said unto David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” And David sent Avner away; and he went in peace.

Vayomer Avner el-David akumah ve'eleḥah ve'ekbetzah el-adoni hameleḥ et-kol-Yisra'el veyiḥretu iteḥa berit umalaḥta beḥol asher-te'aveh nafsheḥa vayeshalaḥ David et-Avner vayeleḥ beshalom.

כאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְנֵ֣ר אֶל־דָּוִ֡ד אָק֣וּמָה ׀ וְֽאֵלֵ֡כָה וְאֶקְבְּצָה֩ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִכְרְת֚וּ אִתְּךָ֙ בְּרִ֔ית וּמָ֣לַכְתָּ֔ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תְּאַוֶּ֖ה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיְּשַׁלַּ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

Yo’av kills Avner

3:22And, behold, the servants of David and Yo’av (Joab) came from a raid, and brought in a great spoil with them; but Avner was not with David in Chevron; for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

Vehineh avdei David veYo'av ba mehagedud veshalal rav imam hevi'u ve'Avner einenu im-David beḤevron ki shileḥo vayeleḥ beshalom.

כבוְהִנֵּה֩ עַבְדֵ֨י דָוִ֚ד וְיוֹאָב֙ בָּ֣א מֵֽהַגְּד֔וּד וְשָׁלָ֥ל רָ֖ב עִמָּ֣ם הֵבִ֑יאוּ וְאַבְנֵ֗ר אֵינֶ֚נּוּ עִם־דָּוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן כִּ֥י שִׁלְּח֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

3:23When Yo’av and all the army that was with him had come, they told Yo’av, saying, “Avner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

VeYo'av veḥol-hatzava asher-ito ba'u vayagidu leYo'av lemor ba-Avner ben-Ner el-hameleḥ vayeshaleḥehu vayeleḥ beshalom.

כגוְיוֹאָ֛ב וְכָל־הַצָּבָ֥א אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֖וֹ בָּ֑אוּ וַיַּגִּ֚דוּ לְיוֹאָב֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּֽא־אַבְנֵ֚ר בֶּן־נֵר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֖הוּ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

3:24Then Yo’av came to the king, and said, “What have you done? Behold, Avner came unto you; why is it that you have sent him away, and he is completely gone?

Vayavo Yo'av el-hameleḥ vayomer meh asitah hineh-va Avner eleḥa lamah-zeh shilaḥto vayeleḥ haloḥ.

כדוַיָּבֹ֚א יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִֹ֑יתָה הִנֵּה־בָ֚א אַבְנֵר֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ לָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה שִׁלַּחְתּ֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָלֽוֹךְ׃

3:25You know Avner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”

Yada'ta et-Avner ben-Ner ki lefatoteḥa ba velada'at et-motza'aḥa ve'et-mova'eḥa velada'at et kol-asher atah oseh.

כהיָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֶת־אַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן־נֵ֔ר כִּ֥י לְפַתֹּתְךָ֖ בָּ֑א וְלָדַ֜עַת אֶת־מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֙ וְאֶת־מ֣וֹבָאֶ֔ךָ (כתיב מֹ֣בָואֶ֔ךָ) וְלָדַ֕עַת אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֹֽה׃

3:26And when Yo’av had come out from David, he sent messengers after Avner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

Vayetze Yo'av me'im David vayishlaḥ mal'aḥim aḥarei Avner vayashivu oto mibor haSirah veDavid lo yada.

כווַיֵּצֵ֚א יוֹאָב֙ מֵעִ֣ם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח מַלְאָכִים֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ מִבּ֣וֹר הַסִּרָ֑ה וְדָוִ֖ד לֹ֥א יָדָֽע׃

3:27And when Avner had returned to Chevron, Yo’av took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there under the fifth rib, so that he died, for the blood of Asah’el (Asahel) his brother.

Vayashov Avner Ḥevron vayatehu Yo'av el-toḥ hasha'ar ledaber ito basheli vayakehu sham haḥomesh vayamat bedam Asah'el aḥiv.

כזוַיָּ֚שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵ֚הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַּבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֚הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂהאֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃

3:28And afterward when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Hashem forever from the blood of Avner the son of Ner.

Vayishma David me'aḥarei ḥen vayomer naki anoḥi umamlaḥti me'im Adonai ad-olam midemei Avner ben-Ner.

כחוַיִּשְׁמַ֚ע דָּוִד֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקִ֨י אָנֹכִ֧י וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י מֵעִ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם מִדְּמֵ֖י אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־נֵֽר׃

3:29Let it rest on the head of Yo’av, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Yo’av one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

Yaḥulu al-rosh Yo'av ve'el kol-beit aviv ve'al-yikaret mibeit Yo'av zav umetzora umaḥazik bapeleḥ venofel baḥerev vaḥasar-laḥem.

כטיָחֻ֙לוּ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו וְֽאַל־יִכָּרֵ֣ת מִבֵּ֣ית יוֹאָ֡ב זָ֠ב וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַחֲסַר־לָֽחֶם׃

3:30So Yo’av and Avishai (Abishai) his brother slew Avner, because he had killed their brother Asah’el at Givon (Gibeon) in the battle.

VeYo'av va'Avishai aḥiv haregu le'Avner al asher hemit et-Asah'el aḥihem beGiv'on bamilḥamah.

לוְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו הָרְג֖וּ לְאַבְנֵ֑ר עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵמִ֜ית אֶת־עֲשָׂהאֵ֧ל אֲחִיהֶ֛ם בְּגִבְע֖וֹן בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

Commentary · 3:22–30

Blood in the gate of Chevron

Avner killed Asah’el in battle, after warning him twice (2:21–22). Yo’av repays this with murder, taking Avner aside in the gate as if for a private word. Chevron was one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 21:13), where the Torah protects a person until his case is judged (Numbers 35). Yo’av’s private revenge also endangers the peace that David has just made.

The Torah teaches, “To Me belongs vengeance, and recompense” (Deuteronomy 32:35), and the Brit Hadashah repeats it: “Avenge not yourselves … for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says Hashem” (Romans 12:19).

The Sages read every detail (Sanhedrin 49a). Avner killed Asah’el “under the fifth rib,” and he dies the same way. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana reads the name of the well of Sirah (Bor haSirah), where Avner was called back from, as “pitcher” and “thorn,” the two signs of David’s mercy to Shaul that Avner had brushed aside (the water jug and the corner of the robe, 1 Samuel 24; 26). The Jerusalem Talmud gives four reasons for Avner’s death: he made sport of the young men’s blood (2:14), he put his name before David’s (3:12), he kept Shaul from making peace with David, and he did not protest the killing of the kohanim of Nov (Yerushalmi Peah 1:1).

Avner was famous for his strength; the Midrash says it was easier to move a wall six cubits thick than one of his legs (Kohelet Rabbah 9:11). Ariel Cohen Alloro reads his name as av ner, “father of the lamp,” and David himself is later called “the lamp of Israel” (2 Samuel 21:17). A midrash on Kohelet says that when Yo’av struck him, the word came, “he has put out my lamp” (Yalkut Shimoni). The man who could have brought the lamp of Israel to all the tribes was put out at the gate of Chevron.

David’s curse on Yo’av’s house (3:29) carries a hard lesson. Rav Yehudah says in Rav’s name that every one of these curses came upon David’s own descendants: an issue on Rechavam, leprosy on Uziyahu, leaning on a staff on Asa, falling by the sword on Yoshiyahu, and lacking bread on Yechonyah (Sanhedrin 48b). Words spoken in anger, even righteous anger, do not always land where we aim them. Yeshua taught, “Bless them that curse you” (Luke 6:28).

David mourns Avner

3:31And David said to Yo’av, and to all the people that were with him, “Tear your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Avner.” And King David himself followed the bier.

Vayomer David el-Yo'av ve'el-kol-ha'am asher-ito kir'u vigdeiḥem veḥigru sakim vesifdu lifnei Avner vehameleḥ David holeḥ aḥarei hamitah.

לאוַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־יוֹאָ֜ב וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ קִרְע֚וּ בִגְדֵיכֶם֙ וְחִגְר֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים וְסִפְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֑ר וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד הֹלֵ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמִּטָּֽה׃

3:32And they buried Avner in Chevron; and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Avner; and all the people wept.

Vayikberu et-Avner beḤevron vayisa hameleḥ et-kolo vayevk el-kever Avner vayivku kol-ha'am.

לבוַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ אֶת־אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִשָּׂ֧א הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֶת־קוֹל֗וֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ֙ אֶל־קֶ֣בֶר אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ כָּל־הָעָֽם׃

3:33And the king lamented over Avner, and said, “Should Avner die as a fool dies?

Vayekonen hameleḥ el-Avner vayomar hakemot naval yamut Avner.

לגוַיְקֹנֵ֥ן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַכְּמ֥וֹת נָבָ֖ל יָמ֥וּת אַבְנֵֽר׃

3:34Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters; as a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.” And all the people wept again over him.

Yadeḥa lo-asurot veragleḥa lo-linḥushtayim hugashu kinfol lifnei venei-avlah nafaleta vayosifu ḥol-ha'am livkot alav.

לדיָדֶ֣ךָ לֹֽא־אֲסֻר֗וֹת וְרַגְלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֹא־לִנְחֻשְׁתַּ֣יִם הֻגָּ֔שׁוּ כִּנְפ֛וֹל לִפְנֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־עַוְלָ֖ה נָפָ֑לְתָּ וַיֹּסִ֥פוּ כָל־הָעָ֖ם לִבְכּ֥וֹת עָלָֽיו׃

3:35And when all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day, David swore, saying, “So may God do to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down.”

Vayavo ḥol-ha'am lehavrot et-David leḥem be'od hayom vayishava David lemor koh ya'aseh-li Elohim veḥoh yosif ki im-lifnei vo-hashemesh et'am-leḥem o ḥol-me'umah.

להוַיָּבֹ֣א כָל־הָעָ֗ם לְהַבְר֧וֹת אֶת־דָּוִ֛ד לֶ֖חֶם בְּע֣וֹד הַיּ֑וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע דָּוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֚י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י אִם־לִפְנֵ֧י בֽוֹא־הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ אֶטְעַם־לֶ֖חֶם א֥וֹ כָל־מְאֽוּמָה׃

3:36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

Veḥol-ha'am hikiru vayitav be'eineihem keḥol asher asah hameleḥ be'einei ḥol-ha'am tov.

לווְכָל־הָעָ֣ם הִכִּ֔ירוּ וַיִּיטַ֖ב בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֹ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּעֵינֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם טֽוֹב׃

3:37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Avner the son of Ner.

Vayede'u ḥol-ha'am veḥol-Yisra'el bayom hahu ki lo hayetah mehameleḥ lehamit et-Avner ben-Ner.

לזוַיֵּדְע֧וּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֚א הָיְתָה֙ מֵֽהַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהָמִ֖ית אֶת־אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־נֵֽר׃

3:38And the king said unto his servants, “Do you not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

Vayomer hameleḥ el-avadav halo tede'u ki-sar vegadol nafal hayom hazeh beYisra'el.

לחוַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הֲל֣וֹא תֵדְע֔וּ כִּי־שַֹ֣ר וְגָד֗וֹל נָפַ֛ל הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

3:39And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Tzeruyah (Zeruiah), are too hard for me. Hashem shall repay the doer of evil according to his wickedness.”

Ve'anoḥi hayom raḥ umashuaḥ meleḥ veha'anashim ha'eleh benei Tzeruyah kashim mimeni yeshalem Adonai le'oseh hara'ah kera'ato.

לטוְאָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֥וֹם רַךְ֙ וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ מֶ֔לֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י צְרוּיָ֖ה קָשִׁ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נִּי יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם יְהֹוָ֛ה לְעֹשֵֹ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה כְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃

Commentary · 3:28–39

Weak, though anointed king

David declares before all the people that he is innocent of Avner’s blood, much like the elders who say over the unsolved killing, “Our hands have not shed this blood” (Deuteronomy 21:7). He walks behind the bier, fasts until evening and laments Avner, and all Israel understands that the king had no part in it (3:37). Judgment on Yo’av is left to Hashem; it comes years later through Shlomo (1 Kings 2:5–6, 31–33).

David calls himself “this day weak, though anointed king.” In our Messianic Jewish reading, this is a picture of Mashiach coming first in weakness and suffering, in the pattern of Mashiach ben Yosef, and later in royal power as Mashiach ben David. Yeshua “was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God” (2 Corinthians 13:4), and the Father “has committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22).

The Mishnah rules that a king does not follow a bier. Rabbi Yehudah says he may, as David followed Avner’s; the Sages answer that David did it only to calm the people (Mishnah Sanhedrin 2:3). The Talmud adds that he walked back and forth between the men and the women so all could see he had not ordered the killing (Sanhedrin 20a).

The Targum, quoted by Rashi, renders 3:39, “I this day am a commoner, though raised to kingship.” David has the oil but not yet the power, and he will not take it by the sword of the sons of Tzeruyah. Later he says to them, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Tzeruyah?” (2 Samuel 16:10). When two disciples wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village, the Son of David “turned, and rebuked them” (Luke 9:55), and before Pilate he said, “If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight” (John 18:36). “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says Hashem of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), as published on Chabad.org. Every verse was checked character by character against Chabad’s Tenakh. Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the familiar English name in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Shaul (Saul)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible.
Transliteration: Produced from the Hebrew with the open-source hebrew-transliteration library, adapted to Sephardic/Israeli pronunciation and reviewed by hand: ḥ for Chet and Chaf, tz for Tzadi, k for Kuf, and the Divine Name read “Adonai.” Names are capitalized.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Metzudat David, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. It is shown by default; tap Commentary to hide it.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

All chapters ↑ Back to top

2 Samuel 3 (Shmuel Bet) in Hebrew, Transliteration and English

2 Samuel, Chapter 3

Sources & method