2 Samuel 3 38

2 Samuel 3:38 kjv

And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

2 Samuel 3:38 nkjv

Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

2 Samuel 3:38 niv

Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?

2 Samuel 3:38 esv

And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

2 Samuel 3:38 nlt

Then King David said to his officials, "Don't you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel?

2 Samuel 3 verses

2 Samuel 3 38 Meaning

King David's declaration regarding Abner is a profound public lament that acknowledges the immense loss to the nation of Israel. It serves as an emphatic recognition of Abner's significant standing not merely as a warrior but as a chieftain or "prince," and a figure of great importance and influence whose death was a major setback and tragedy for the entire kingdom, especially concerning the fragile unity of Israel.

2 Samuel 3 38 Context

Chapter 3 of 2 Samuel describes a pivotal moment in the civil war between the house of David and the house of Saul. Abner, Saul's commander and a formidable leader, had become disillusioned with Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, and initiated negotiations with David to bring all of Israel under David's kingship. These negotiations were progressing positively, and Abner had been sent away in peace after meeting David in Hebron. However, upon Abner's return, Joab, David's military commander, lured Abner aside and murdered him, avenging the death of his brother Asahel (whom Abner had killed in battle, 2 Sam 2:23) and removing a powerful political rival.

David's reaction to Abner's death is multifaceted. He publicly laments, tears his clothes, mourns, and declares his innocence, commanding all to do the same. This verse (3:38) is David's direct, impassioned declaration to his servants and, by extension, the entire kingdom, about the magnitude of Abner's loss. Culturally, public mourning by a king was a powerful gesture, solidifying political allegiance, projecting an image of justice, and distancing the king from an act he did not sanction, especially one committed by his own commander. It was crucial for David to show that he was not complicit in Abner's death, which could have derailed the unification process and undermined his authority and legitimacy in the eyes of the tribes who had sided with Saul.

2 Samuel 3 38 Word Analysis

• And the king lamented: The Hebrew verb is qōnaq (קוֹנֵן), meaning to chant a dirge, wail, or lament. This is a formal, public act of mourning, often expressed in poetic or musical form. David's act signifies deep personal sorrow, but also a public declaration and dissociation from Joab's act, establishing his innocence to the people and reinforcing his moral authority.
• over Abner: Abner son of Ner was Saul's cousin and the commander of Saul's army, a central figure in Israel's political and military landscape for many years. His power and influence were significant enough to sustain the house of Saul for years after his death, and his shift of allegiance was a turning point for David's kingdom.
• and said, Know ye not: A rhetorical question (hālō’ yāda‘tֶm, הֲלֹא יְדַעְתֶּם) expecting an affirmative answer, "Surely you know..." It highlights the perceived ignorance or blindness of those present to Abner's true stature, or a challenge to their apathy. David is asserting what should be evident.
• that there is a prince: The Hebrew word sar (שַׂר) means a chief, commander, official, prince, or leader. It indicates a high-ranking political, military, or administrative figure, not necessarily a king but one possessing significant authority and often, royal or noble connections. Abner was indeed a strategic commander and royal kinsman, making him a true "prince" of Israel's tribal structure.
• and a great man: The Hebrew adjective gāḏōl (גָּדוֹל) signifies "great, mighty, important, powerful, influential." This emphasizes Abner's exceptional stature and influence. He was not just a prince by title but "great" in ability, presence, and impact, someone irreplaceable and integral to the fabric of the nation.
• fallen: The Hebrew verb is nāphal (נָפַל), meaning to fall, fall down, perish, or drop. It is a common euphemism for dying, especially for those in battle or for leaders whose "fall" symbolizes a significant decline or loss to the nation. This verb conveys the sense of a mighty person being brought low unexpectedly.
• this day: Emphasizes the immediacy and shocking nature of the loss. It stresses that a great man of this stature has been suddenly removed from the nation on this very day, demanding immediate recognition and mourning.
• in Israel: The scope of the loss extends beyond David's personal grief or Judah's immediate concerns. Abner was a figure of national importance, and his death impacted the entire confederation of Israelite tribes. His role was crucial for the fragile peace and unity David sought to establish.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And the king lamented...and said, Know ye not": This pairing underscores the king's active and communicative role in the public processing of grief and significant events. It is a public relations act combined with genuine emotion, ensuring that his subjects understand his stance and the gravity of the situation. David uses rhetoric to educate and influence public opinion regarding a delicate political situation.
• "a prince and a great man": This phrase together highlights both Abner's formal authority (prince) and his personal eminence, power, and influence (great man). He was not merely someone of rank, but a person of substance and strategic value, vital for the transitioning kingdom. This double emphasis solidifies the idea of a catastrophic national loss.
• "fallen this day in Israel": This phrase succinctly captures the tragedy and its national scope. The immediacy ("this day") accentuates the shock, while "in Israel" expands the tragedy beyond a personal or localized event, emphasizing its detrimental effect on the nascent unified kingdom. It's a statement about a profound vacancy created in the leadership of the entire nation.

2 Samuel 3 38 Bonus Section

• David's Strategic Statesmanship: This verse encapsulates David's strategic genius and ability to navigate complex political and moral landscapes. He demonstrates a deep understanding of human psychology and public perception, turning a potential disaster into an opportunity to assert his righteousness and stabilize his reign. This is a common thread in David's early kingship, where his reliance on God often coincided with astute leadership.
• The Shadow of Joab: This lament also highlights the ongoing struggle David had with his own nephew and formidable general, Joab. Despite Joab's immense loyalty in battle, his independent, ruthless actions (like killing Abner and later Amasa, 2 Sam 20:8-10) repeatedly created moral and political dilemmas for David. This lament is an implicit rebuke and an open expression of David's frustration with his powerful, yet sometimes unruly, chief of staff. This struggle would continue throughout David's reign, eventually leading to David's deathbed instructions to Solomon regarding Joab (1 Kgs 2:5-6).
• The Weight of National Loss: The emphasis on "in Israel" highlights that Abner's fall was not merely a personal tragedy but a national one. Abner embodied a certain degree of power, tradition, and perhaps even hope for those who had aligned with Saul. His passing left a vacuum that had to be recognized and publicly accounted for by the incoming king to secure a smooth transition of power and true national unity.

2 Samuel 3 38 Commentary

David's lament for Abner is far more than a simple expression of sorrow; it is a profound and multi-layered political statement born from a volatile situation. Abner's murder by Joab, despite David's explicit desire for peace and reconciliation, presented a dire threat to David's burgeoning kingdom. If not handled skillfully, the northern tribes, previously loyal to Saul's house and now mourning their general, might have suspected David's complicity.

By publicly mourning Abner with such vigor and by stating, "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?", David masterfully distances himself from the heinous crime, portraying himself as a victim of his unmanageable general, Joab, rather than a co-conspirator. This act affirms his integrity and justice in the eyes of all Israel. He acknowledges Abner's profound worth to the nation, validating Abner's significance not just as a military leader but as a "prince"—a foundational figure. This move subtly but powerfully appeals to the grief and sense of loss felt throughout Israel, leveraging it to unify the divided kingdom under his rule rather than letting it devolve into further bloodshed. David recognizes that Abner was instrumental in bridging the division, and his death creates a monumental void and challenge to unity. The depth of David's public lament, coupled with his pronouncement of Abner's stature, was a shrewd political and compassionate move to reassure the hesitant tribes of Israel that his reign would be just and for the benefit of the entire nation.