2 Samuel 3:20
New International Version
When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men.

New Living Translation
When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.

English Standard Version
When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

Berean Standard Bible
When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

King James Bible
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

New King James Version
So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

New American Standard Bible
Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

NASB 1995
Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

NASB 1977
Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

Amplified Bible
So Abner came to David at Hebron, and [brought] twenty men along with him. And David prepared a feast for Abner and the men with him.

Christian Standard Bible
When Abner and twenty men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Abner and 20 men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.

American Standard Version
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

Contemporary English Version
Abner took 20 soldiers with him, and when they got to Hebron, David gave a big feast for them.

English Revised Version
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Abner came with 20 men to David in Hebron, and David had a feast for Abner and his men.

Good News Translation
When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them.

International Standard Version
Afterwards, Abner brought 20 soldiers to David at Hebron, and David threw a party for Abner and the men who were with him.

Majority Standard Bible
When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

NET Bible
When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him.

New Heart English Bible
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.

Webster's Bible Translation
So Abner came to David in Hebron, and twenty men with him: and David made Abner and the men that were with him, a feast.

World English Bible
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Abner comes to David, to Hebron, and twenty men [are] with him, and David makes a banquet for Abner and for the men who [are] with him.

Young's Literal Translation
and Abner cometh in unto David, to Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David maketh for Abner, and for the men who are with him, a banquet.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abner will come to David to Hebron, and with him twenty men: and David will make to Abner and to the men with him a drinking.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he came to David in Hebron with twenty men: and David made a feast for Abner, and his men that came with him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he went to David in Hebron with twenty men. And David made a feast for Abner, and for his men who had arrived with him.

New American Bible
When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.

New Revised Standard Version
When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men who were with him a great feast.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abnir came to David at Khebruun, and twenty men with him, and David made Abnir and the twenty men who were with him a great feast
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abenner came to David to Chebron, and with him twenty men: and David made for Abenner and his men with him a banquet of wine.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abner Joins David
19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. 21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 12:38-40
All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king. / They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them. / And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

2 Samuel 5:1-3
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.” / “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ / Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.” ...

1 Kings 2:5-6
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. / So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Samuel 25:18-35
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys / and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. / As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them. ...

1 Samuel 30:26-31
When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” / He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; / to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa; ...

1 Kings 1:39-40
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!” / All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

1 Chronicles 11:1-3
Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

1 Samuel 18:3
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 20:12-17
and Jonathan said, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you? / But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father. / And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die, ...

Matthew 22:2-4
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. / He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. / Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

Luke 14:16-24
But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. / When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ / But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’ ...

Acts 10:24-27
The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. / As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. / But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” ...

Acts 15:3-4
Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. / On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.


Treasury of Scripture

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

David

Genesis 26:30
And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

Genesis 31:54
Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

Esther 1:3
In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

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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














When Abner came to David
The name "Abner" in Hebrew is "אַבְנֵר" (Avner), meaning "father of light" or "my father is a lamp." Abner was a significant military leader, the commander of Saul's army, and a key figure in the power dynamics of Israel. His coming to David signifies a pivotal moment of political alliance and reconciliation. Historically, this meeting represents a shift in the balance of power, as Abner's support was crucial for David's consolidation of the kingdom. Theologically, it reflects the providence of God in uniting the tribes of Israel under David's kingship, fulfilling the divine promise.

at Hebron
Hebron, known in Hebrew as "חֶבְרוֹן" (Chevron), is one of the oldest cities in the world and holds significant biblical history. It was the city where David was first anointed king over Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4) and served as his capital for seven and a half years. Hebron's historical and spiritual significance is profound, as it is also the burial place of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This setting underscores the legitimacy and divine sanction of David's rule, as Hebron was a city of refuge and a Levitical city, symbolizing God's protection and blessing.

with twenty men
The mention of "twenty men" indicates the importance of Abner's visit. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the number twenty could symbolize completeness or a significant delegation, suggesting that Abner's intentions were serious and official. This entourage would have been a sign of respect and honor, indicating that Abner was not acting in secret or with ill intent. It also reflects the gravity of the political negotiations taking place, as such a delegation would be necessary for discussions of national importance.

David held a feast
Feasting in the ancient Near East was a common practice for sealing covenants and agreements. The Hebrew word for feast, "מִשְׁתֶּה" (mishteh), implies a banquet or a drinking feast, often associated with celebration and fellowship. David's hosting of a feast for Abner and his men signifies a gesture of goodwill and acceptance. It reflects the biblical principle of hospitality and reconciliation, as sharing a meal was a powerful symbol of peace and alliance. This act of feasting also prefigures the unity and harmony that David's reign would bring to the divided tribes of Israel.

for him and his men
The inclusion of "his men" highlights the communal aspect of the agreement. It was not just a personal alliance between David and Abner but involved their respective followers. This communal dimension is crucial in understanding the broader implications of the political and social unity being forged. In a spiritual sense, it reflects the inclusive nature of God's kingdom, where peace and unity extend beyond individual leaders to encompass the entire community. This phrase underscores the importance of collective harmony and the role of leadership in fostering unity among God's people.

(20) Twenty men.--These were doubtless representative men, selected by Abner from Israel and Benjamin to accompany him and confirm his report. The feast which David made for them is not to be understood of mere conviviality, but of a solemn sacrificial feast, such as was customary in ancient times in connection with important negotiations. (See Genesis 26:30; Genesis 31:54; 1Kings 3:15.)

Verse 20. - Twenty men with him. These, we may feel sure, were not common soldiers, but chieftains selected from those elders who were on David's side; and, though the honourable escort of Michal was the pretext, yet Ishbosheth must have felt sure that more was intended. Most of them, however, would join Abner on the road, especially those who represented Benjamin and the western tribes. On arriving at Hebron they were honourably received, and, after a feast, they settled the conditions on which David was to be made king of all Israel; and Abner then departed in peace, after giving the assurance that all the tribes would now gladly assemble, and by solemn compact and covenant make David their king. The terms of the league, and the conditions agreed upon for Ishbosheth, are not mentioned, because upon Abner's death the whole plan fell to the ground, and David had to wait for many years before his hopes were fulfilled. But we gather from this covenant and 2 Samuel 5:3 (where see note) that the early kings of Israel were not absolute monarchs.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

and twenty
עֶשְׂרִ֣ים (‘eś·rîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth

of his men
אֲנָשִׁ֑ים (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

came
וַיָּבֹ֨א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

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

at Hebron,
חֶבְר֔וֹן (ḥeḇ·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2275: Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah

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

held
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

a feast
מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ (miš·teh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4960: Drink, drinking, a banquet, feast

for them.
לְאַבְנֵ֛ר (lə·’aḇ·nêr)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name


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OT History: 2 Samuel 3:20 So Abner came to David to Hebron (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 3:19
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