II Samuel 3:35 · Bible study
2 Samuel 3:35 Commentary: David’s Oath of Mourning for Abner
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
When urged to eat, David swore a self-imprecatory oath to fast until sunset, showing deep grief for Abner and clearing himself of guilt.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David’s refusal to eat, secured by an oath, is a sincere mourning act that publicly separates him from Abner’s murder.
- Key words: “swore” (H7650, shava, take an oath); “taste” (H2938, ta’am, to perceive, eat); “bread” (H3899, lechem, food in general).
- Main debate: None, commentators agree on the genuineness of David’s grief and the cultural context.
- Theological theme: Grief and integrity in leadership; using solemn vows to reinforce godly resolve.
- Best use: Teaching on mourning customs, the place of oaths in a believer’s life, and David’s character as king.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
WEB World English Bible 2000
All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, until the sun goes down.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David sweareth, saying, `Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add, for--before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else till the sun be down!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And when all the people came to take meat with David, while it was yet broad day, David swore, saying: So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or any thing else before sunset.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y como todo el pueblo viniese á dar de comer pan á David siendo aún de día, David juró, diciendo: Así me haga Dios y así me añada, si antes que se ponga el sol gustare yo pan, ú otra cualquier cosa.
E quando todo aquele povo veio a dar de comer pão a Davi sendo ainda de dia, Davi jurou, dizendo: Assim me faça Deus e assim me acrescente, se antes que se ponha o sol provar eu pão, ou outra qualquer coisa.
Et tout le peuple pleura de nouveau sur Abner. Tout le peuple s’approcha de David pour lui faire prendre quelque nourriture, pendant qu’ il était encore jour; mais David jura, en disant: Que Dieu me traite dans toute sa rigueur, si je goûte du pain ou quoi que ce soit avant le coucher du soleil!
Da nun alles Volk hineinkam, mit David zu essen, da es noch hoch am Tage war, schwur David und sprach: Gott tue mir dies und das, wo ich Brot esse oder etwas koste, ehe die Sonne untergeht.
Daarna kwam al het volk, om David brood te doen eten, als het nog dag was; maar David zwoer, zeggende: God doe mij zo, en doe er zo toe, indien ik voor het ondergaan der zon brood of iets smake!
E tutto il popolo ricominciò a piangere Abner; poi s’accostò a Davide per fargli prender qualche cibo mentr’era ancora giorno; ma Davide giurò dicendo: “Mi tratti Iddio con tutto il suo rigore se assaggerò pane o alcun’altra cosa prima che tramonti il sole!”
Potem przyszedł wszystek lud prosić Dawida, aby jadł chleb, gdy jeszcze był jasny dzień: ale przysiągł Dawid, mówiąc: To mi niech uczyni Bóg, i to niech przyczyni, jeźli przed zajściem słońca skosztuję chleba, albo czego innego.
И пришел весь народ предложить Давиду хлеба, когда еще продолжался день; но Давид поклялся, говоря: то и то пусть сделает со мною Бог и еще больше сделает, если я до захождения солнца вкушу хлеба или чего-нибудь.
日頭 未落的時候，眾 民 來 勸 大衛 吃飯，但大衛 起誓 說：「我若 在日頭 未落 以前 吃 飯，或 吃別物，願 神 重重地 降 罰 與我！」
And the people came to make David take food, while it was still day, but David with an oath said, May God's punishment be on me if I take a taste of bread or any other thing till the sun has gone down!
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Samuel 3:35
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that David’s refusal to eat was a recognized sign of the deepest mourning. Barnes notes that fasting was a standard accompaniment of grief, and the fast lasted until sunset, the regular time for ending a day of fasting. Gill adds that it was customary to send food to the relatives of the deceased and to come and eat with them; David deliberately declined this comfort. Cambridge Bible observes that the phrase “God do so to me, and more also” is a conventional self-imprecation oath, used elsewhere in the Old Testament (Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 3:17; 2 Samuel 3:9) to solemnly reinforce a resolve. Together, the commentators see David’s action as a genuine, public display of sorrow and personal integrity, one that immediately made clear to the people that he had no part in Abner’s murder (verse 37).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: David’s fast was a sincere expression of grief and a public assertion of his innocence regarding Abner’s death, reinforced by a solemn oath.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| David's fast as a sign of mourning | All commentators see the fast as a customary expression of deep grief, lasting until sunset. | No significant debate; this is universally accepted. |
| Sincerity of David's grief | Commentators treat David's sorrow as genuine, given the surrounding narrative (weeping, lament, public display). | No significant debate; the text presents his actions as heartfelt. |
| The self-imprecatory oath | The formula 'God do so to me, and more also' is a conventional oath used elsewhere in the OT to underscore a resolve. | No significant debate; it functions as a solemn vow of abstinence. |
| Political implications of the fast | David's action cleared him of suspicion regarding Abner's death (verse 37). | Some readers may wonder if political calculation played a part, but the supplied commentaries emphasize David's genuine grief. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, fasting while mourning was an expected practice. When Saul and Jonathan fell, David and his men “mourned, wept, and fasted until evening” (2 Samuel 1:12). The pattern was to abstain from food from morning until sundown (Judges 20:26). The burial of the dead usually occurred during daylight, and afterward it was common for friends and neighbors to bring a meal of consolation to the family (Jeremiah 16:7; Ezekiel 24:17). Gill draws on Jewish sources to describe this custom: after a funeral, people would provide food for the mourners and eat with them, and even kings would participate. David’s refusal to take part in this meal was therefore a pointed departure from expectation.
The timing is precise: “while it was yet day.” The crowd urged David to eat before sunset, the deadline for ending a mourning fast. But David went further. He swore an oath, calling down divine punishment on himself if he tasted anything before the sun went down. The formula “God do so to me, and more also” is an intensified self-curse (compare Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 3:17; 2 Samuel 3:9). By adding the oath, David made his grief legally binding in his own eyes, a vow he could not break without dishonor.
Politically, this public act was crucial. Abner had been a key figure in Saul’s kingdom, and his defection to David had been a strategic coup. Joab’s murder of Abner could have stained David’s fledgling reign with suspicion. But David’s genuine grief, walking behind the bier, weeping at the grave, reciting a lament, and fasting until sunset, gave unmistakable testimony to his innocence. Verse 37 says that “all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner.” David’s mourning fast thus served both personal sorrow and political necessity, without compromising the sincerity of either.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for II Samuel 3:35. The verse is stable across Hebrew manuscripts and major translations. The key terms, particularly the oath formula, appear consistently in the Masoretic Text and ancient versions.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this verse has been used to illustrate David’s exemplary character in mourning. Early interpreters (e.g., in the tradition of the Fathers) pointed to David’s refusal to eat as a mark of his humility and innocence, contrasting him with Joab’s violence. In Reformation-era commentaries, Matthew Henry and others highlighted how David’s public fast simultaneously honoured Abner and vindicated his own rule. Jewish exegesis traditionally notes the custom of mourner’s food (se’udat havra’ah) and David’s departure from it as a sign of extreme grief. The verse is also cited in Christian teaching on the role of oaths and vow-making in times of sorrow.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Mourning has its customs. David observed the expected fast of a grieving man, demonstrating solidarity with his people and honour for the dead.
- Grief can be solemnized by an oath. David did not just refuse food; he swore, making his sorrow a matter of sacred promise before God.
- Integrity is seen in actions. The public responded not to David’s words but to his choices, and they concluded he was innocent of Abner’s blood.
Five-point outline
- David joins the funeral procession and weeps (vv.31, 34).
- The people urge him to eat, the normal consolation for mourners.
- David refuses with an oath, vowing to taste nothing until sunset.
- The fast ends at sundown, fulfilling the common ritual period.
- The observers take note and are pleased, understanding David's innocence.
Illustration hooks
- A leader at a funeral who quietly refuses the reception meal, letting his presence and silence speak louder than any speech.
- The experience of making a promise to yourself during a time of loss, and how keeping that promise shapes your memory of the person.
- How a public figure’s small, consistent actions (like fasting or not) can rebuild trust more effectively than press releases.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did David take an oath about something as ordinary as food?
- Was David’s fast genuine or just a political move to distance himself from Joab?
- What does this passage teach us about appropriate ways to honour someone who has died?
Leading a Discussion
This verse captures a moment when private grief becomes public testimony. David is under pressure to do what is expected, rejoin the community meal, but he chooses a more demanding path. His oath both expresses his sorrow and clears his name. As you read, notice the interplay between custom, vow, and character.
Discussion questions
- What does the crowd expect David to do, and why? (Verse 35a)
- How does David’s response differ from the expected custom? What does the oath add?
- Read the surrounding verses (2 Samuel 3:31, 34, 36, 39). What emotions does David show? How does he explain his actions?
- The phrase “God do so to me, and more also” is a self-curse. Why do you think David uses such strong language over a meal?
- How does this public fast affect the people’s perception of David? (Verse 36, 37)
- In what situations might a Christian today choose a symbolic act of grief or protest rather than follow normal routines?
- What does this passage reveal about David’s character, his strengths and his vulnerabilities?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Judges 20:26 | Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. |
| Ruth 1:17 | Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” |
| I Samuel 3:17 | He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.” |
| II Samuel 1:12 | They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. |
| II Samuel 3:9 | God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him: |
| II Samuel 12:17 | The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them. |
| Jeremiah 16:7 | Men won’t break bread for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead. Men won’t give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother. |
| Ezekiel 24:17 | Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that fasting in the biblical world was not a general religious practice but a specific sign of the deepest mourning. Such a fast lasted only until sunset, marking a day of intense grief rather than an extended deprivation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains that David's refusal to eat until sunset was a customary sign of mourning and respect for Abner, since fasting accompanied grief and ended at sunset. They also note that "meat" in this context means bread or food in general, not flesh.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights David's resolute refusal to eat until sunset, emphasizing the solemn oath he swore. Despite the people's urging to take food while it was still day, David bound himself by a curse, vowing he would taste nothing before evening.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that David’s refusal to eat until sunset was a striking display of grief because Jewish funerals usually took place in the morning. David reinforced his resolve with a solemn oath, showing how deeply he felt the loss and would not be comforted by the customary meal provided for mourners.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads Abner’s defection as driven by wounded pride and ambition, not pure theocratic obedience. His angry response to Ishbosheth’s reproach reveals a man who invokes God’s promise to David as a convenient cover for his own autocratic will, not as a genuine change of heart.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that David's elaborate curse on Joab's household shows how deeply he abhorred the murder, and that David's public mourning proved his innocence. David could not punish Joab legally but called on God to avenge the bloodshed, making clear his own hands were clean.