2 Samuel 3:9
◄  2 Samuel 3:9  ►
New International Version (©2011)
May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath

New Living Translation (©2007)
May God strike me and even kill me if I don't do everything I can to help David get what the LORD has promised him!

English Standard Version (©2001)
God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
May God punish Abner and do so severely if I dont do for David what the LORD swore to him:

International Standard Version (©2012)
Therefore may God do to me —and more also!—just as the LORD has promised to David, since I'm doing this for him:

NET Bible (©2006)
God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised him,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
May God strike me dead unless I do for David what the LORD had promised him with an oath:

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD has sworn to David, even so I do to him;

American King James Version
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD has sworn to David, even so I do to him;

American Standard Version
God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;

Douay-Rheims Bible
So do God to Abner, and more also, unless as the Lord hath sworn to David, so I do to him,

Darby Bible Translation
So do God to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah has sworn to David, I do not so to him;

English Revised Version
God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;

Webster's Bible Translation
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

World English Bible
God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don't do even so to him;

Young's Literal Translation
thus doth God to Abner, and thus He doth add to him, surely as Jehovah hath sworn to David -- surely so I do to him:

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:7-21 Many, like Abner, are not above committing base crimes, who are too proud to bear reproof, or even the suspicion of being guilty. While men go on in sin, and apparently without concern, they are often conscious that they are fighting against God. Many mean to serve their own purposes; and will betray those who trust them, when they can get any advantage. Yet the Lord serves his own designs, even by those who are thus actuated by revenge, ambition, or lust; but as they intend not to honour him, in the end they will be thrown aside with contempt. There was real generosity both to Michal and to the memory of Saul, in David's receiving the former, remembering probably how once he owed his life to her affection, and knowing that she was separated from him partly by her father's authority. Let no man set his heart on that which he is not entitled to. If any disagreement has separated husband and wife, as they expect the blessing of God, let them be reconciled, and live together in love.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - As the Lord hath sworn to David. This not only shows that the prophetic promise of the kingdom to David was generally known (see note on 2 Samuel 1:2), but that Abner regarded it as solemnly ratified. There is no express mention of any such oath, but Abner was a man of strong words, and possibly only meant that Jehovah's purpose was becoming evident by the course of events.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So do God to Abner, and more also,.... He wishes the worst of evils to himself, such as he cared not to name; but left them to be supposed what he meant as utter ruin and destruction of himself, soul and body:

except as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; meaning if he did not do that David, which God had sworn should be done, namely, what follows, the translation of the kingdom to him; by which it appears that Abner knew of the promise and oath of God respecting this matter; and therefore acted against his conscience, in setting up Ishbosheth on the throne; which he knew would not prosper, and that he was fighting against God; which shows what a hardened wicked creature he was, and how far ambition, and being thought to be of consequence, will carry a man.

2 Samuel 3:9 Parallel Commentaries

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Abner Joins David
…8Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 9So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD has sworn to David, even so I do to him; 10To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. …

1 Samuel 15:28 Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors--to one better than you.
1 Kings 19:2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."