2 Samuel 3:6 kjv
And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
2 Samuel 3:6 nkjv
Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.
2 Samuel 3:6 niv
During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul.
2 Samuel 3:6 esv
While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.
2 Samuel 3:6 nlt
As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.
2 Samuel 3 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 3:1 | Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David... | Directly states the civil war's duration. |
| 1 Sam 15:28 | The LORD has torn the kingdom... and has given it to a neighbor of yours, better than you. | God's transfer of kingdom from Saul to David. |
| 1 Sam 16:1 | And the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul...? Fill your horn with oil and go..." | God's anointing of David as future king. |
| 2 Sam 2:8-9 | Abner... brought Ish-bosheth... and made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel... | Abner's initial move to establish Saul's successor. |
| 2 Sam 5:5 | In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. | The eventual culmination of David's reign over united Israel. |
| 1 Chr 12:23 | These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed men, who came to David in Hebron... | Growing support for David during the conflict. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. | Divine sovereignty over kingship and leadership. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings... | God's ultimate authority in appointing rulers. |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | Abner's ambition is subject to divine will. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. | God's ability to direct leaders' decisions. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. | God's comprehensive control, even over conflict. |
| Ex 14:4 | And I will harden Pharaoh's heart... and I will gain glory over Pharaoh and all his host... | God using human stubbornness/actions for His glory. |
| Rom 9:17 | For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up..." | God raises up and uses individuals for His plans. |
| Acts 4:27-28 | ...to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. | Human actions, even against God, fulfill His plan. |
| Jdg 3:1-2 | These are the nations that the LORD left to test Israel... that they might be taught war. | God's purposes in allowing extended conflicts. |
| 1 Kgs 15:16 | And there was war between Asa and Baasha all their days. | Another example of a prolonged conflict between two powers. |
| Jer 1:10 | See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down... to build and to plant. | God's power to establish or overthrow kingdoms. |
| Phil 2:13 | For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God's influence on human will and action. |
| Ps 18:32 | The God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. | Source of true strength (divine, not human self-made). |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Contrast between human efforts and divine empowerment. |
| Heb 1:3 | He upholds the universe by the word of his power. | God's sustained control over all affairs. |
| Eph 1:11 | ...who works all things according to the counsel of his will... | God's sovereign control over all events and outcomes. |
2 Samuel 3 verses
2 Samuel 3 6 Meaning
This verse describes the prolonged civil conflict for dominance between the remnants of Saul's dynasty and the rising kingdom of David. It particularly highlights Abner, Saul's cousin and commander of his army, who was actively consolidating his own power and influence within the faltering house of Saul, acting as the true driving force behind Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, who was largely a puppet king. Abner's "self-strengthening" positioned him as a central figure, capable of both maintaining and, ultimately, dramatically shifting the balance of power.
2 Samuel 3 6 Context
Following the death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, Israel was plunged into a period of division and civil war. David was anointed king by Judah in Hebron, while Abner, Saul’s former commander, championed Ish-Bosheth (Saul’s son) as king over the rest of Israel. This established two rival kingdoms. 2 Samuel chapter 3 opens by explicitly stating the duration and intensity of this "long war" (2 Sam 3:1) and the gradual shift in power as David's house grew stronger and Saul's house weakened. Verse 6 focuses on the pivotal figure of Abner within this decaying house, revealing his dominant position and personal aggrandizement which ultimately leads to a decisive turn in the narrative of national unification under David.
2 Samuel 3 6 Word analysis
- Now (ויהי, va-ye-hi): This Hebrew conjunction commonly introduces a new phase or development in the narrative, signaling a significant transition or an emphasis on what follows. It ties this statement directly to the ongoing narrative of the civil war described earlier.
- there was long war (והמלחמה ארוכה, və-ham-mil-khā-māh 'ă-rû-khāh):
- War (מלחמה, milchamah): Refers to sustained armed conflict, not merely skirmishes. It denotes a state of active hostility between two opposing forces.
- long (ארוכה, 'arukah): Signifies a prolonged duration, extended over time. This emphasizes the exhaustive nature of the conflict and its draining impact on the nation, creating a desire for peace and unity. This period of civil war lasted about 7.5 years.
- between the house of Saul and the house of David:
- House (בית, bayit): In this context, "house" signifies a dynasty, a royal family, or a political/territorial entity loyal to a particular ruler. It represents the claim to the throne and the collective followers and territory.
- of Saul: Refers to the remaining power and influence of Saul’s dynasty, primarily under his son Ish-Bosheth, whose claim to the throne was heavily dependent on Abner.
- of David: Refers to David's established kingship over Judah and his growing aspirations to rule all Israel, based on God's prior anointing.
- but Abner (ואבנר, wə-ʼav-ner):
- but: This conjunction introduces a crucial shift in focus, contrasting the general state of war with Abner's specific actions within that context.
- Abner: Saul’s first cousin and commander-in-chief of Saul’s army. He was a seasoned military and political strategist. His actions are key to the unraveling of Saul’s house. He possessed significant authority and leadership among Saul's loyalists.
- made himself strong (מתחזק, miṯ-ḥăz-zêq): This is a Hithpael form of the root חזק (chazaq), meaning "to be strong." The reflexive Hithpael form strongly implies that Abner actively strengthened himself, consolidated his own power, and exerted personal authority. This was not just a natural consequence of his position but a deliberate effort to accrue more influence and control. It implies ambition and personal agenda within the nominal loyalty to Saul's house.
- for the house of Saul: This phrase indicates that Abner's "self-strengthening" was outwardly presented as being in loyal service to and for the benefit of Saul's struggling dynasty. However, the internal dynamic suggests his personal power grew to the point of potentially overshadowing the weak king Ish-Bosheth, making Abner the de facto leader.
2 Samuel 3 6 Bonus section
The concept of Abner "making himself strong" is a powerful foreshadowing of his pivotal role. It highlights that while he acted under the guise of loyalty to Saul's house, he was simultaneously building his own independent influence. This human ambition and strategic maneuver, seemingly contradictory, ultimately served as an instrument in God's plan for unifying Israel under David. It demonstrates that even within the struggles and political machinations of humanity, God’s providential hand guides events towards His intended outcome. The weak kingship of Ish-Bosheth provided the perfect vacuum for Abner’s strength to emerge and ultimately direct the flow of power.
2 Samuel 3 6 Commentary
This concise verse functions as a narrative hinge, deepening the context of the civil war. It emphasizes not only the duration of the conflict but also the internal power dynamics within the house of Saul, specifically the ascendance of Abner. While seemingly acting in loyalty to Ish-Bosheth, Abner’s deliberate "self-strengthening" points to his ambition and strategic prowess. This consolidation of power by Abner made him indispensable to Saul's cause, yet paradoxically also gave him the leverage and agency to later betray Ish-Bosheth and negotiate allegiance with David, thereby facilitating the eventual unification of all Israel under David’s rule. It illustrates how human actions and strategic positioning, even in conflict, often align with God’s overarching sovereign plan to establish His chosen king.