2 Samuel 3 35

2 Samuel 3:35 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 3:35 nkjv

And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!"

2 Samuel 3:35 niv

Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!"

2 Samuel 3:35 esv

Then all the people came to persuade 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 till the sun goes down!"

2 Samuel 3:35 nlt

David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, "May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown."

2 Samuel 3 verses

2 Samuel 3 35 Meaning

This verse captures King David's profound and public demonstration of grief and innocence concerning the assassination of Abner, commander of Saul's army. When the people urge David to eat a meal during the day, he responds with a solemn oath before God. By vowing not to consume any food or drink until sunset, David emphasizes the depth of his mourning and forcefully disavows any complicity in Abner's death. This act served to solidify his reputation for justice and integrity among the people of Israel.

2 Samuel 3 35 Context

Chapter 3 of 2 Samuel details the protracted war between the house of Saul, led by Abner, and the house of David. Abner eventually seeks to align himself with David and promises to unite all Israel under David's rule. However, Joab, David's commander, murders Abner in cold blood to avenge the death of his brother Asahel, whom Abner had killed in battle (though reluctantly). David is devastated by Abner's death, seeing it as a heinous act that would alienate the tribes still loyal to Saul and implicating David himself. This verse immediately follows David's lament and instructions for a public funeral procession for Abner. David's refusal to eat before evening serves as a clear, unequivocal, and deeply personal repudiation of the murder, demonstrating his authentic sorrow and absolute disassociation from Joab's violent act. This public demonstration was crucial to maintain trust and prevent accusations that David somehow orchestrated or approved Abner's death for political gain.

2 Samuel 3 35 Word analysis

• And when all the people came: Highlights the broad public concern for David and the significance of his actions for collective sentiment. The entire community was involved.
• to cause David to eat bread: lekha (eating), lechem (bread). This is an idiom meaning "to eat a meal." It represents the people's caring act of providing sustenance and attempting to break David's initial intense period of mourning. It reflects a social custom of comforting those who grieve by ensuring they sustain themselves.
• while it was yet day: Implies before the customary time for evening meals. Their concern was urgent, as David had been in profound mourning all day. It shows they wanted him to cease his grief-stricken fast sooner.
• David swore: nishba (נִשְׁבַּע֙). This term signifies making a solemn, binding oath, typically by invoking a deity. David's vow here is a formal declaration before God, imbuing it with supreme gravity and credibility in the eyes of the people.
• saying, "So may God do to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!": This entire phrase is a classic ancient Near Eastern oath formula: koh ya'aseh li Elohim v'koh yosiph (כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֔יף).
  • "So may God do to me, and more also": A conditional self-imprecation, meaning "May God inflict X punishment upon me (and even greater punishment)" if I break this oath. It underscores the severity of the oath and David's unshakeable commitment to it. Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a common Hebrew word for God. By invoking God, David not only bound himself but also called God as a witness and potential enforcer of his vow.
  • "if I taste bread or anything else": im eṭam leḥem o khol me'umah(אִם־אֶטְעַם לֶ֙חֶם֙ א֣וֹ כָל־מְא֔וּמָה). "Taste" (ṭa'am) emphasizes even the slightest consumption. "Anything else" (khol me'umah`) broadens the scope to include all food and drink, ensuring no ambiguity in his commitment to a complete fast until sundown.
  • "till the sun goes down!": ʻad bō' haš-šemeš! (עַד בֹּא הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙). This specifies the exact duration of his fast. Sunset (bo' hashshemesh, "the coming of the sun") marked the end of the day according to Hebrew custom. It was a common marker for the conclusion of daily fasts. This limited, yet solemn fast, demonstrated his genuine grief and respect for Abner's life.

2 Samuel 3 35 Bonus section

This incident highlights David's extraordinary capacity for demonstrating integrity and true character, even when facing significant political temptation. In an era where assassinations and political machinations were common, David consistently distinguished himself by his adherence to justice and the will of God, rather than expedience. His refusal to eat until sunset aligns with ancient customs of intense mourning, where abstaining from food signified profound grief and respect for the dead. This public act allowed the people to visibly discern David's heart and clear conscience, which was crucial for their trust in him as the prospective king of all Israel. It also indirectly polemicizes against the typical cunning and deceit found in contemporary leadership, presenting a model of leadership under divine scrutiny. This careful response laid further groundwork for Israel's transition to a united monarchy under David.

2 Samuel 3 35 Commentary

David's vow in 2 Samuel 3:35 is a masterstroke of genuine leadership and political acumen rooted in personal integrity. Faced with potential accusations of complicity in Abner's assassination—a move that could derail his ascendancy to the throne of all Israel—David responds not with denial or excuses, but with a deeply felt, public act of mourning and a solemn oath before God. By fasting and declaring an imprecatory oath, he demonstrates the genuineness of his sorrow and effectively clears his name. This act sets him apart from cunning politicians who would use such a death to their advantage. Instead, David publicly mourns his former foe, aligns himself with justice, and entrusts himself to divine scrutiny, winning the hearts of the people and cementing trust in his righteous reign. His actions speak louder than words, showcasing leadership marked by honesty, a sense of justice, and a fear of God.