2 Samuel 3:17
New International Version
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king.

English Standard Version
And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.

Berean Standard Bible
Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.

King James Bible
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

New King James Version
Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

New American Standard Bible
Now Abner had a consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

NASB 1995
Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

NASB 1977
Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

Amplified Bible
Abner talked with the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

Christian Standard Bible
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: “In the past you wanted David to be king over you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: “In the past you wanted David to be king over you.

American Standard Version
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the word of Abnir was with the Elders of Israel, and he said to them: “Even from yesterday and also from the day before yesterday, you wanted to have David reign over you

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abenner spoke to the elders of Israel, saying, In former days ye sought David to reign over you;

Contemporary English Version
Abner talked with the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, "You've wanted to make David your king for a long time now.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought for David that he might reign over you.

English Revised Version
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Meanwhile, Abner sent the following message to the leaders of Israel: "For some time now you've wanted to make David your king.

Good News Translation
Abner went to the leaders of Israel and said to them, "For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.

International Standard Version
Later, Abner had a talk with the elders of Israel. He said, "In the past you were looking to see David made king over you.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying: 'In times past ye sought for David to be king over you;

Literal Standard Version
And the word of Abner was with [the] elderly of Israel, saying, “Thus far you have been seeking David for king over you,

Majority Standard Bible
Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.

New American Bible
Abner then had a word with the elders of Israel: “For some time you have been wanting David as your king.

NET Bible
Abner advised the elders of Israel, "Previously you were wanting David to be your king.

New Revised Standard Version
Abner sent word to the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.

New Heart English Bible
Abner advised the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time you have wanted David to be king over you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

World English Bible
Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.

Young's Literal Translation
And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, 'Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abner Joins David
16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. 17Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. 18Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’ ”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 8:4
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

2 Samuel 3:18
Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, 'Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.'"


Treasury of Scripture

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, You sought for David in times past to be king over you:

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Abner Aforetime Chief Communication Conferred Consultation David Desire Elders Heretofore Israel Past Seeking Sought Talk Time Times Wanted Word
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Abner Aforetime Chief Communication Conferred Consultation David Desire Elders Heretofore Israel Past Seeking Sought Talk Time Times Wanted Word
2 Samuel 3
1. During the war David becomes stronger
2. Six sons are born to him in Hebron
6. Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth
7. revolts to David
13. David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal
17. Abner confers with the Israelites, feasted by David, and dismissed
22. Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner
28. David curses Joab
31. and mourns for Abner














(17) Ye sought for David.--1Samuel 18:6-7; 1Samuel 18:16; 1Samuel 18:30; 1Chronicles 11:1-3 (comp. 2Samuel 3:36), sufficiently testify to the great popularity of David throughout the nation, and its confidence in his prowess and wisdom. It was the influence and activity of Abner that had hitherto prevented his general recognition as king.

Verse 17. - And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel. Most probably this had taken place before Abner escorted Michal to Hebron, and that he paid David but one visit - that recorded in ver. 20. He would probably not take so decided a step as the surrender of Michal without sounding the elders, that is, the local sheikhs, and finding out how far they were inclined to support David as king of all Israel. When everything was ready he would take Michal to Hebron, and so have the opportunity of arranging with David for future action; and though Ishbosheth would dislike the matter and suspect Abner of ulterior purposes, yet he could not refuse so specious a plea as the escorting of his sister. His previous failure, too, had taught him that Abner was master. We may further be sure that David had everywhere many adherents. All Israel knew that he was marked out by prophecy to be their king, and, moreover, "all Israel and Judah loved him" (1 Samuel 18:16). But when Abner says, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you, he makes it probable that, at some time after the defeat at Gilboa, the attempt had even been made to elect David king. But Abner had then opposed it, and his success in resisting the Philistines, and David's unfortunate entanglement with those inveterate enemies of Israel, had made the attempt fail. And now Abner's attempt was to be equally unsuccessful.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now Abner
אַבְנֵ֣ר (’aḇ·nêr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name

conferred
וּדְבַר־ (ū·ḏə·ḇar-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the elders
זִקְנֵ֥י (ziq·nê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and said,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“In the past
תְּמוֹל֙ (tə·mō·wl)
Adverb
Strong's 8543: Ago, a, time since, yesterday, day before yesterday

you sought
מְבַקְשִׁ֧ים (mə·ḇaq·šîm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

David
דָּוִ֛ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

as your king.
לְמֶ֖לֶךְ (lə·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king


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OT History: 2 Samuel 3:17 Abner had communication with the elders (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 3:16
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