2 Samuel 3:17-21 Meaning: Why Abner Turned to David
17Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.
18Now then do it! For Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”
19Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
21Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
18Now then do it: for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21And 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.
17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:
18now then do it; for Jehovah hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21And Abner 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 thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
17And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, `Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,
18and now, do it , for Jehovah hath spoken of David saying, By the hand of David my servant--to save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.'
19And Abner speaketh also in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner goeth also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that is good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin,
20and Abner cometh in unto David, to Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David maketh for Abner, and for the men who are with him, a banquet.
21And Abner saith unto David, `I arise, and go, and gather unto my lord the king the whole of Israel, and they make with thee a covenant, and thou hast reigned over all that thy soul desireth;' and David sendeth away Abner, and he goeth in peace.
17Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David aforetime to be king over you;
18and now do [it], for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a repast.
21And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
Meaning in one sentence
Abner, once David's enemy, now negotiates with Israel's elders to bring the kingdom to David. This passage shows God's plan advancing through imperfect people.
Context
This chapter is set during the long struggle between the house of Saul and the house of David. After Saul's death, his son Ish-bosheth ruled the northern tribes with Abner, his uncle and commander, as the real power. But a quarrel over a woman drove Abner to switch sides. He approached the elders of Israel, reminding them that they had once wanted David as king. He also spoke directly to the tribe of Benjamin, Saul's own tribe. Then Abner traveled to Hebron, David's capital, with twenty men. David welcomed them with a feast. Abner promised to gather all Israel to make a covenant with David, so he could rule over all he desired. David sent him away, and he went in peace. The scene is full of political calculation, yet God's promise to David moves forward.
Key Words
The word behind "sought" in verse 17 is the Hebrew baqash, meaning to search for earnestly. The elders had once looked for David as king, but their desire had cooled. Now Abner calls them back to that original longing. What God puts in our hearts may lie dormant, but it can be revived. The word for "save" in verse 18 is yasha, the same root behind Joshua and Jesus. God promises to save his people "by the hand of my servant David." Salvation comes through a chosen servant. Finally, the passage ends with Abner going "in peace," from shalom, a word meaning completeness, wholeness, right relationship. That peace is fragile here, but it is a taste of the shalom God intends for his people.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators notice that Abner's motives were mixed. The Geneva Bible notes he spoke to Benjamin to win them over. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown calls his part "base and hypocritical," since he used God's promise to cover personal revenge. Matthew Henry, however, sees God's providence at work, using even Abner's anger to advance David's kingdom. Some readers focus on David's response: he makes a feast and sends Abner away in peace, acting in good faith. Others note that Abner's overture is political, but God's word stands behind it. Christians across traditions agree that God's purposes are not thwarted by human failings. The passage invites trust in the Lord who works through messy loyalties.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Abner's speech proves he had a change of heart toward God. In fact, the surrounding story shows he acted out of personal revenge against Ish-bosheth. He used the promise of God as a tool to advance his own plan. God still used him to move history forward. The mistake is to assume someone must have pure motives to be used by God. This passage shows that God can work through complicated people.
Living This Out
Maybe you are watching someone shift their position on an issue that matters to you. You wonder whether to trust them. David did not let suspicion rule him. He feasted Abner and let him go in peace. This week, you might have an opportunity to respond to a former opponent with generosity. You do not have to know every hidden motive. You can extend goodwill and leave the outcome to God, who has been working toward his purposes long before any of us changed our minds.
Main takeaway: God advances his kingdom even through the shifting loyalties of imperfect people, and we can respond with trust and peace.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Abner had been against David, but then he decided to help him. He told everyone that God had chosen David to be king. David welcomed Abner and made a feast. It is good to make peace with people who used to be against us.
For ages 9, 12
Abner had a fight with King Ish-bosheth and decided to switch sides. He went to David and promised to bring all Israel to him. Even though Abner's reasons were not the best, God still used him to help David. This shows that God can work through all kinds of people, even those with mixed motives. David treated Abner with respect and sent him away in peace. You can learn to leave room for God to work in complicated situations.
Questions People Ask
Why did Abner switch from Ish-bosheth to David?
Abner had a personal quarrel with Ish-bosheth over Saul's concubine Rizpah. In anger, he decided to fulfill the promise God had made to David and bring the kingdom to him. His motives were mixed, part revenge, part political calculation, but God used the situation.
Did David trust Abner when he came to Hebron?
David made a feast for Abner and his men, a sign of hospitality and acceptance. He sent Abner away in peace, indicating he was willing to work with him. However, David's commander Joab later accused Abner of deception and killed him. David mourned Abner and disavowed Joab's act.
What does 'he went in peace' mean in verse 21?
It means David sent Abner away without hostility. The Hebrew word 'shalom' suggests completeness and well-being. David acted in good faith, and Abner left with no harm intended. Sadly, Joab later violated that peace by murdering Abner.
Where does God promise to save Israel through David?
Abner refers to a word from the Lord that is not recorded verbatim in the existing text of Samuel. Similar promises appear in passages like 1 Samuel 9:16 (about Saul) and Psalm 89:3. God had anointed David as king through Samuel and had declared that David would deliver Israel from their enemies.
Why did Abner speak to Benjamin separately?
Benjamin was Saul's tribe, and they had the most to lose by switching to David. They were loyal to Saul's house and a warlike people. Abner, himself a Benjamite, used his influence to persuade them, knowing their support was crucial to unify the nation.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study