2 Samuel 3 16

2 Samuel 3:16 kjv

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

2 Samuel 3:16 nkjv

Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, "Go, return!" And he returned.

2 Samuel 3:16 niv

Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back.

2 Samuel 3:16 esv

But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." And he returned.

2 Samuel 3:16 nlt

Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, "Go back home!" So Palti returned.

2 Samuel 3 verses

2 Samuel 3 16 Meaning

2 Samuel 3:16 depicts Paltiel, Michal's husband, sorrowfully accompanying her as she is returned to King David. His weeping departure signifies his profound grief at this enforced separation, a personal sorrow overshadowed by Abner's politically motivated command for him to return, highlighting the dominance of political objectives in ancient Israelite society.

2 Samuel 3 16 Context

This verse is situated at a crucial juncture in David's ascent to kingship over all Israel. Following Saul's death, David has been ruling over Judah from Hebron, while Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, ruled over Israel from Mahanaim with Abner, Saul's former general. Internal conflict between these two houses had been ongoing. Abner, disillusioned with Ish-bosheth, decides to switch his allegiance to David. As a condition for unification and acceptance, David demands the return of Michal, Saul's daughter and David's first wife. This demand is deeply symbolic, legally asserting David's connection to the former royal house of Saul, thereby legitimizing his claim to the throne of all Israel. Paltiel's sorrowful escort of Michal to David's presence highlights the human cost of these political maneuvers, showcasing a poignant personal tragedy within a larger narrative of national power shifts. The destination, Bahurim, a Benjaminite town, further underscores the significance of the exchange taking place near the ancestral land of Saul's tribe.

2 Samuel 3 16 Word analysis

• But Michal's husband: This immediately frames the focus on Paltiel and his established relationship with Michal. Michal, Saul's daughter, had been given to Paltiel by Saul after David fled (1 Sam 25:44). The phrase highlights a recognized marital bond now forcibly broken.
• Paltiel son of Laish: Paltiel (פַּלְטִיאֵל, Palṭiʾel), meaning "God is my deliverance" or "God has delivered." This personal name, contrasting with the forced separation, adds a layer of irony or tragic hope. His identification by paternity further solidifies his standing and relationship to Michal.
• went with her: Denotes his accompanying Michal, implying his reluctant cooperation or desperate devotion. He did not simply send her but personally walked alongside her.
• weeping: Hebrew: וַיֵּלֶךְ בָּכֹה (wayyeleḵ bāḵōh). The phrase "went weeping" signifies continuous and profound grief. It's a public display of raw emotion, suggesting genuine sorrow at the loss of his wife rather than a mere perfunctory escort. It might also be a silent protest against the political act.
• as he went: Reinforces the continuous nature of his weeping, extending throughout their journey. This wasn't a momentary display but an ongoing outpouring of distress.
• and followed her as far as Bahurim: Bahurim (בַּחוּרִים, Bāḥûrîm) was a town in the tribe of Benjamin, near Jerusalem. It was strategically located and associated with Saul's tribal territory. This geographic point likely marked a symbolic border where Michal was formally handed over from the house of Ish-bosheth/Abner to David. The distance (a few miles) underscores the depth of Paltiel's anguish and his persistent accompanying her to the point of no return.
• Then Abner said to him: Abner, a powerful general and the architect of David's transition to rule all Israel, steps in to formalize the separation. His voice represents the practical, political reality overriding personal sentiment.
• "Go back!": A direct and imperative command, signifying the end of Paltiel's role and his presence. It's a clear demarcation of power and political priority.
• "Why should you go on?": A rhetorical question designed to firmly dismiss Paltiel. It underscores the futility and inappropriateness of his continued presence in a highly political moment where personal grief is deemed irrelevant.
• So he went back: A terse, factual statement of compliance. Paltiel’s personal grief, while deeply felt and expressed, is ultimately powerless against the dictates of statecraft and the powerful figures of the day.

2 Samuel 3 16 Bonus section

• Michal's feelings about being returned to David are conspicuously absent from the narrative, a common feature in biblical accounts where the agency and emotions of women in such political transfers are often not directly recorded. The focus remains on the men's roles and ambitions.
• Paltiel's emotional journey ends abruptly, serving as a foil to the larger story of unification under David. His story is brief but impactful, giving a brief glimpse into the collateral damage of royal politics.
• Bahurim, where Paltiel is sent back, later gains notoriety as the place where Shimei, a Benjaminite from Saul's clan, cursed David (2 Sam 16:5-14) and later sought forgiveness (2 Sam 19:16-18), reinforcing its connection to the house of Saul and the lingering resentments against David.

2 Samuel 3 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 3:16 serves as a stark commentary on the transactional nature of relationships in the ancient Near Eastern political landscape. Paltiel's public and protracted display of grief—weeping all the way to Bahurim—underscores the deep personal attachment he felt for Michal, contrasting sharply with the cold, calculated political maneuvers being orchestrated by David and Abner. His genuine sorrow highlights Michal's status as a valuable commodity and symbol rather than merely an individual woman; her return to David was a non-negotiable step in legitimizing David's reign over all Israel by establishing his link to the prior dynasty of Saul. Abner's terse "Go back!" is not merely a dismissal but a pronouncement that political expediency overrides any personal attachments. The verse humanizes the consequences of David's ambition, reminding the reader of the profound impact of power dynamics on individual lives, where personal relationships can be shattered for reasons of statecraft and divine appointment.