2 Samuel 3 · Verse 1

2 Samuel 3:1

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2 Samuel 3:1, King James Version

2 Samuel 3:1 in other translations

BSBNow the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
WEBNow there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.
ASVNow there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
YLTAnd the war is long between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is going on and is strong, and the house of Saul are going on and are weak.
DARBYAnd the war was long between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker.
BBENow there was a long war between Saul's people and David's people; and David became stronger and stronger, but those on Saul's side became more and more feeble.
WebsterNow there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

What does 2 Samuel 3:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2Sa 3:1-5. Six Sons Born to David. 1. there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David--The rival parties had varying success, but David's interest steadily increased; less, however, by the fortunes of war, than a growing adherence to him as the divinely designated king.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Account of the children born to David in Hebron, 2Sam 3:1-5. Abner being accused by Ish-bosheth of familiarities with Rizpah, Saul's concubine, he is enraged; offers his services to David; goes to Hebron, and makes a league with him, vv. 6-22. Joab, through enmity to Abner, pretends to David that he came as a spy, and should not be permitted to return, 2Sam 3:23-25. He follows Abner, and treacherously slays him, 2Sam 3:26, 2Sam 3:27. David hearing of it is greatly incensed against Joab, and pronounces a curse upon him and upon his family, 2Sam 3:28, 2Sam 3:29. He commands a general mourning for Abner, and himself follows the bier weeping, 2Sam 3:30-32. David's lamentation over Abner, 2Sam 3:33, 2Sam 3:34. The people solicit David to take meat; but he fasts the whole day, and complains to them of the insolence and intrigues of Joab and his brothers: the people are pleased with his conduct, 2Sam 3:35-39. Verse 1 There was long war - Frequent battles and skirmishes took place between the followers of David and the followers of Ish-bosheth, after the two years mentioned above, to the end of the fifth year, in which Ish-bosheth was slain by Rechab and Baanah.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:1-6
The length of this war tried the faith and patience of David, and made his settlement at last the more welcome. The contest between grace and corruption in the hearts of believers, may fitly be compared to this warfare. There is a long war between them, the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; but as the work of holiness is carried on, corruption, like the house of Saul, grows weaker and weaker; while grace, like the house of David, grows stronger and stronger.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 3:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתְּהִ֤יva.te.Hiand it wasH1961
הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ha.mil.cha.Mahthe warH4421
אֲרֻכָּ֔ה'a.ru.KahlongH752
בֵּ֚יןbeinbetweenH996
בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
וּבֵ֖יןu.Veinand betweenH996
בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
דָּוִ֑דda.VidDavidH1732
וְדָוִד֙ve.da.Vidand DavidH1732
הֹלֵ֣ךְho.Lekh[was] goingH1980
וְחָזֵ֔קve.cha.Zekand strongH2390
וּבֵ֥יתu.Veitand [the] house ofH1004
שָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
הֹלְכִ֥יםho.le.Khim[were] goingH1980
וְדַלִּֽים\׃\ \סve.da.Limand weakH1800

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 3:1

  • 1 Kings 14:30

    And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.

  • Job 8:7

    Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

  • Proverbs 4:18-19

    But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

  • 2 Samuel 2:17

    And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

  • Ephesians 6:12

    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  • Job 17:9

    The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

  • Psalms 84:7

    They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

  • Esther 6:13

    And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

  • 1 Kings 15:16

    And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

  • 1 Kings 15:32

    And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

  • Matthew 10:35-36

    For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

  • Galatians 5:17

    For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 During the war David still waxes stronger.
2 Six sons are born to him in Hebron.
6 Abner, displeased with Ish-bosheth,
7 revolts to David.
13 David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal.
17 Abner, having communed with the Israelites, is 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.

long war.
1Ki 14:30; 15:16,32
between.
Ge 3:15; Ps 45:3-5; Mt 10:35,36; Ga 5:17; Eph 6:12
David waxed.
2:17; Es 6:13; Job 8:7; 17:9; Ps 84:7; Pr 4:18,19; Da 2:34,35,44,45
Re 6:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 3:1

    Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

  • 2 Samuel 3:2

    And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

Read all of 2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y HUBO larga guerra entre la casa de Saúl y la casa de David; mas David se iba fortificando, y la casa de Saúl iba en disminución.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et la guerre fut longue entre la maison de Saül et la maison de David. Et David allait se fortifiant, et la maison de Saül allait s’affaiblissant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Streit war lang zwischen dem Hause Sauls und dem Hause Davids; David aber wurde immerfort stärker, während das Haus Sauls immerfort schwächer wurde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Facta est ergo longa concertatio inter domum Saul et inter domum David: David proficiscens, et semper seipso robustior, domus autem Saul decrescens quotidie.