Abner Changes Sides
1 Now there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker. 2 Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 While there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner made himself strong in Saul’s house. 7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to your father Saul’s house, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman! 9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him: 10 to transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.” 11 He could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him. 12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel around to you.” 13 David said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned. 17 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you. 18 Now 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.’” 19 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 to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 21 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 you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
A quarrel over a concubine sends the north's kingmaker to Hebron — and David's price for the treaty is a wife taken back from a weeping husband.
Now there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.
The summary covers years, and the list that follows it covers the reign's future trouble: six sons born at Hebron to six different mothers 2 Samuel 3:2–5. Amnon is first and Absalom third, by a foreign princess of Geshur — half-brothers with rival mothers and rival claims, which is precisely the arrangement the law had warned a king against Deuteronomy 17:17. Chapter thirteen is already in the household.
Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
Ishbosheth's charge is a political accusation, not a domestic one — a dead king's harem belonged to his successor, so taking Rizpah was a move on the throne, as Absalom will later demonstrate in public 2 Samuel 16:21–22. Abner's fury is the fury of a man who has heard the truth: am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? 2 Samuel 3:8, followed by a list of everything he has done for the house of Saul and an oath to end it.
9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him: 10 to transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”
Here is the chapter's most revealing sentence. Abner has known all along what God swore about David — and has spent years fighting it, at the cost of a civil war and a nephew's life. He changes sides not by repentance but in a rage over an insult, and quotes the divine oath as the instrument of his revenge. Men can concede God's purposes and still time their obedience by their own grievances.
David said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
David's one condition is his first wife, and the demand is both. She was his by a bride price he had paid twice over 1 Samuel 18:27, taken from him by her father 1 Samuel 25:44; and she is Saul's daughter, so her return makes the new king son-in-law to the old dynasty in front of the whole north. Legitimacy and affection in one requirement, and the text will not tell us the proportions.
15 Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.
And the account pauses on the only person in the transaction with nothing to gain. Paltiel walks behind his wife, crying, until a general tells him to go home — and he goes. Michal is not asked anything; she has now been given, taken, and given again by three men. Whatever passes between her and David at the ark 2 Samuel 6:20–23 should be read with this road in view.
The negotiation itself is deftly done: Abner works the elders, works Benjamin — Saul's own tribe — and comes to Hebron with twenty men to a feast, leaving in peace 2 Samuel 3:21. The union of the kingdom is three sentences away.
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