2 Samuel 3 10

2 Samuel 3:10 kjv

To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

2 Samuel 3:10 nkjv

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."

2 Samuel 3:10 niv

and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba."

2 Samuel 3:10 esv

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."

2 Samuel 3:10 nlt

I'm going to take Saul's kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south."

2 Samuel 3 verses

2 Samuel 3 10 Meaning

The verse encapsulates Abner's declaration of intent and purpose: to carry out God's ordained will by removing the kingship from Saul's royal line and establishing David's throne and dominion over the entire nation of Israel, encompassing both Judah in the south and Israel in the north, stretching from Dan to Beersheba, symbolizing complete territorial unity and authority.

2 Samuel 3 10 Context

This verse occurs during a time of protracted civil war following the deaths of King Saul and his sons. While David had been anointed king over the tribe of Judah in Hebron (2 Sam 2:4), Saul's son Ish-Bosheth was proclaimed king over the northern tribes of Israel by Abner, Saul's army commander (2 Sam 2:8-9). This division led to a bitter and often violent conflict between the "house of Saul" and the "house of David" (2 Sam 3:1). Abner, having been publicly shamed by Ish-Bosheth over a minor matter (2 Sam 3:7-8), resolves to shift his allegiance and bring all of Israel under David's rule. In this verse, he explains his motivations to David's envoys, framing his actions not merely as political pragmatism, but as an active step to fulfill God's stated intention—an oath which Abner himself references in the preceding verse (2 Sam 3:9)—to make David king over all Israel.

2 Samuel 3 10 Word analysis

• "to transfer" (לְהַעֲבִיר - leha'avir): This verb, in its Hiphil infinitive form, means "to cause to pass over" or "to remove." It implies a deliberate, active, and decisive action of transition. In this context, it speaks to God's active involvement in the shifting of royal authority, indicating divine agency in bringing about this change.
• "the kingdom" (הַמַּמְלָכָה - hammamlakah): Refers to the physical dominion, royal authority, and established reign. It signifies the formal power structure and national sovereignty that is being divinely relocated.
• "from the house of Saul" (מִבֵּית שָׁאוּל - mibbeit Sha'ul): "House" signifies not just Saul's immediate family, but his entire dynastic claim and the succession of his rule. The phrase denotes a complete termination of Saul's lineage's right to the throne, stemming from God's earlier rejection of Saul as king (1 Sam 15).
• "and to establish" (וּלְהָקִים - ul'hakim): Also a Hiphil infinitive, meaning "to cause to arise," "to confirm," or "to set up firmly and permanently." Similar to "transfer," it emphasizes a deliberate, foundational, and enduring act. It suggests a strong and lasting installation, in contrast to the transient nature of Saul's rule.
• "the throne of David" (כִּסֵּא דָוִד - kisseh David): "Throne" is the powerful symbol of royal authority, a dynasty, and the continuity of legitimate rule. This refers to David's personal reign, but more significantly, to the permanent dynasty God promised to establish through him, which would eventually lead to the Messiah.
• "over Israel and over Judah": This specific dual mention recognizes the current political reality of the divided kingdom. David reigned over Judah, while Ish-Bosheth held sway over Israel. The phrase articulates the goal of bringing both entities together, signifying complete political and national unity under one sovereign king.
• "from Dan even to Beersheba": This is a common Hebrew merism, a literary figure representing a whole by mentioning its extreme parts. Dan, in the far north, and Beersheba, in the far south, traditionally defined the entire geographic extent of the land of Israel. It signifies David's kingship extending over the complete, unified territory, representing undisputed dominion and national wholeness.

• "to transfer... from the house of Saul and to establish... the throne of David": This powerful antithetical structure highlights a definitive, divinely orchestrated shift in power. It portrays the ending of God's rejection of Saul's flawed dynasty and the inauguration of His chosen, legitimate, and ultimately eternal dynasty through David. Both "transfer" and "establish" convey divine initiative and sovereignty.
• "over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba": This comprehensive set of phrases defines the full scope and ambition of David's future kingdom. It addresses the immediate political division (Israel vs. Judah) while simultaneously proclaiming the ultimate national unity and expansive geographical reach God intended for David's reign. This reflects God's larger plan for a unified and complete kingdom for His people.

2 Samuel 3 10 Bonus section

• Abner's motivation: While there were undoubtedly pragmatic and personal reasons for Abner to switch loyalties, his appeal to a divine "oath" (mentioned in 2 Sam 3:9, preceding this verse) regarding David's kingship demonstrates his awareness that David's destiny was ordained by God. This implies widespread knowledge of a prophetic word from Samuel or others regarding David.
• The phrase "house of Saul" failing to establish a lasting dynasty is contrasted with the "throne of David" being established. The "throne" implies continuity, stability, and enduring power, foreshadowing the Davidic Covenant's promise of an eternal house and kingdom for David (2 Sam 7).
• This verse highlights the human element (Abner's political maneuvers) intertwined with God's divine will, showcasing how God uses various individuals and circumstances, even complex and challenging ones, to bring about His sovereign plans.
• The concept of a united kingdom stretching "from Dan even to Beersheba" represents a foundational ideal of unity for God's people, one that found its greatest realization under David and Solomon, and spiritually points to the unified spiritual kingdom under Jesus Christ, the ultimate heir to David's throne.

2 Samuel 3 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 3:10 articulates a foundational theological truth woven throughout the books of Samuel: the sovereignty of God in establishing and removing kings. Abner, a pragmatic military leader, states that his action is not merely a political calculation but a necessary step to fulfill God's direct and publicly known decree regarding David. This verse reveals Abner's acknowledgment that the transition of power from Saul's fragmented dynasty to David's comprehensive rule was part of a divine blueprint. The "transferring" from the "house of Saul" to the "establishing" of the "throne of David" signifies God's complete rejection of one lineage and His firm confirmation of another, thereby lending ultimate legitimacy to David's future reign. The phrase "over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba" prophetically outlines the unified dominion and geographic reach of the Davidic kingdom, bringing together all of God's people under their rightful, divinely chosen king, a precursor to the greater Messianic reign.