What does 2 Samuel 3:35 mean?
"And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down." - 2 Samuel 3:35
2 Samuel 3:35 (KJV) reads, "And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down."
This verse comes at a significant moment in the life of King David, as he mourns the death of his former enemy, Abner. Abner had been the commander of Saul's army, and had been instrumental in the reign of Saul's son, Ishbosheth. However, following Ishbosheth's death, Abner offered his support to David, the rightful king of Israel. Despite their past conflicts, David welcomed Abner and treated him with kindness and respect. Tragically, Abner was killed by Joab, David's commander, in an act of revenge for the death of his brother.
In the aftermath of Abner's death, David is deeply grieved. As a sign of mourning, the people gather to bring him food, as was customary in ancient times. However, David refuses to eat, making a solemn vow to God that he will not partake of any food until the sun has set. This act of fasting and mourning demonstrates David's deep sorrow over the loss of Abner, and his commitment to honoring his memory.
On a symbolic level, this verse illustrates the complex and often conflicting emotions that arise in the aftermath of loss and tragedy. David's refusal to eat symbolizes his inner turmoil and grief, as he grapples with the death of a man who had been both friend and foe. It also reflects the weight of the responsibility that David feels as the leader of his people. In this moment, David sets aside his own needs and desires in order to properly honor and mourn the passing of Abner.
Furthermore, David's vow before God carries deep significance. By invoking God as his witness, David is making a solemn and binding commitment. His words carry the weight of a sacred oath, indicating the depth of his mourning and the sincerity of his intentions. This act of self-denial and devotion to the memory of Abner also serves to demonstrate David's integrity as a leader, as he puts the needs of his people and the demands of justice above his own personal comfort.
In a broader context, this verse speaks to the themes of honor, loyalty, and the complexities of human relationships. It reflects the challenges of navigating the often tenuous and fraught dynamics of power and leadership, as well as the enduring impact of past conflicts and the potential for reconciliation and forgiveness. It also highlights the profound significance of mourning and remembrance, and the lengths to which one may go to properly honor the memory of the departed.
Ultimately, 2 Samuel 3:35 captures the depth of David's grief and the honor and respect he feels for Abner, despite their complicated history. It serves as a powerful example of the complexities of human emotions and relationships, and the ways in which individuals navigate loss and mourning with integrity and grace. It also underscores the enduring significance of making solemn vows before God, and the deep symbolic weight that such commitments carry.
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2 Samuel 3:35 - "And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down."
"And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down." - 2 Samuel 3:35
2 Samuel 3:5 - "And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron."
"And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron." - 2 Samuel 3:5
2 Samuel 23:35 - "Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,"
2 Samuel 22:35 - "He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms."
"Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite," - 2 Samuel 23:35
2 Samuel 13:35 - "And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is."
1 Samuel 17:34-35
2 Samuel 15:35 - "And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests."
1 Samuel 15:35 - "And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel."
2 Samuel 3:2 - "¶ And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;"
2 Samuel 4:3 - "And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)"
2 Samuel 3:4 - "And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;"
2 Samuel 3:3 - "And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;"
1 Samuel 2:35 - "And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever."
2 Chronicles 35:18 - "And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem."
"He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms." - 2 Samuel 22:35
2 Samuel 3:11 - "And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him."
2 Samuel 3:33 - "And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?"
1 Samuel 3:5 - "And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down."
2 Samuel 2:3 - "And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron."
2 Samuel 7:3 - "And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee."
"And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is." - 2 Samuel 13:35
1 Samuel 14:35 - "And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD."
2 Samuel 3:37 - "For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner."
2 Samuel 3:15 - "And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish."
2 Samuel 14:3 - "And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth."
2 Samuel 3:36 - "And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people."
2 Samuel 3:6 - "¶ 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."