What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 3:17? Now Abner Abner was Saul’s cousin and commander of Saul’s army (1 Samuel 14:50; 2 Samuel 2:8). After Saul’s death he propped up Ish-bosheth as a rival king to David, but that arrangement was fragile (2 Samuel 2:10). Here, the narrative pivots. The once-unyielding general recognizes God’s unfolding plan for David and begins to act on it. Psalm 33:10-11 reminds us that while human plans shift, “the counsel of the LORD stands forever.” Abner’s change of heart highlights that truth: • He moves from resisting David to facilitating David’s reign. • He illustrates how even powerful leaders are ultimately subject to God’s sovereign agenda (Proverbs 21:1). Conferred with the elders of Israel The elders were tribal leaders who represented their people (Exodus 3:16; 1 Samuel 8:4). Abner’s meeting signals a political and spiritual turning point: • By consulting the elders, Abner acknowledges their authority and seeks a united decision (Deuteronomy 1:13). • His initiative nudges the northern tribes toward embracing the king God had already chosen (1 Samuel 16:1, 13). • The gathering contrasts with earlier fragmentation under Saul’s house (2 Samuel 2:9). God is knitting the kingdom back together (Ezekiel 37:22 foreshadows this unity). And said Abner doesn’t merely put out feelers; he speaks decisively. His words carry weight because he had been the architect of Ish-bosheth’s regime. Proverbs 25:11 pictures a “word fitly spoken” as gold apples in silver settings—Abner’s statement is that kind of pivotal utterance: • It publicly affirms what many already sensed: David is God’s choice (2 Samuel 3:18). • It offers the elders a chance to align their loyalty with God’s will, avoiding further bloodshed (2 Samuel 2:26-27). In the past you sought David Abner appeals to their memory: • The tribes had celebrated David’s victories over Philistines (1 Samuel 18:6-7). • Saul himself admitted David would be king (1 Samuel 24:20; 26:25). • The seven-and-a-half-year delay (2 Samuel 2:11) reveals how long they had desired David yet hesitated. By invoking that earlier desire, Abner stirs dormant conviction, much like Paul reminding Timothy of earlier commitments (2 Timothy 1:5-6). As your king Here Abner voices the core issue—kingship. God had declared David’s kingship years before (1 Samuel 16:1, 13). Abner now invites the elders to act: • Recognize David not only as a capable leader but as God’s anointed (2 Samuel 5:1-3). • Receive the blessings tied to that obedience—peace, unity, and victory over enemies (2 Samuel 3:18; 8:1-14). • Step out of a divided past into God’s promised future, echoing Joshua 1:9’s call to courage. summary 2 Samuel 3:17 records a watershed moment: the former opponent of David now persuades Israel’s elders to embrace the king God had appointed all along. Abner’s shift underscores divine sovereignty; the elders’ consultation spotlights communal responsibility; the reminder of past longing presses the necessity of obedience. When leaders and people align with God’s revealed will, discord yields to unity and promise gives way to fulfillment. |
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