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2 Samuel 3:1

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— 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.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Now 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.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Now 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.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Now 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.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— And 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.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— And the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was prolonged,—and, David, waxed stronger and stronger, and, the house of Saul, became weaker and weaker.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— And 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.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying daily.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— There was then long warre betweene the house of Saul and the house of Dauid: but Dauid waxed stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Now there was long war betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: but Dauid waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— NOW there was a 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 impoverished.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— And there was war for a long time between the house of Saul and the house of David; and the house of David grew continually stronger; but the house of Saul grew continually weaker.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Now there was long war between the house of Shaul and the house of Dawid: but Dawid waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Shaul waxed weaker and weaker.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Now there was x1961
(1961) Complement
הָיָה
hayah
{haw-yaw'}
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).
long 752
{0752} Prime
אָרֹךְ
'arok
{aw-roke'}
From H0748; long.
war 4421
{4421} Prime
מִלְחָמָה
milchamah
{mil-khaw-maw'}
From H3898 (in the sense of fighting); a battle (that is, the engagement); generally war (that is, warfare).
between x996
(0996) Complement
בַּיִן
beyn
{bane}
(Sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly the constructively contracted form of an otherwise unused noun from H0995; a distinction; but used only as a preposition, between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjugation, either... or.
the house 1004
{1004} Prime
בַּיִת
bayith
{bah'-yith}
Probably from H1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.).
of Šä´ûl שָׁאוּל 7586
{7586} Prime
שָׁאוּל
Sha'uwl
{shaw-ool'}
Passive participle of H7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites.
and the house 1004
{1004} Prime
בַּיִת
bayith
{bah'-yith}
Probably from H1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.).
of Däwiđ דָּוִד: 1732
{1732} Prime
דָּוִד
David
{daw-veed'}
From the same as H1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.
but Däwiđ דָּוִד 1732
{1732} Prime
דָּוִד
David
{daw-veed'}
From the same as H1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.
waxed y1980
[1980] Standard
הָלַךְ
halak
{haw-lak'}
Akin to H3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively).
z8802
<8802> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Participle Active (See H8814)
Count - 5386
stronger y2390
[2390] Standard
חָזֵק
chazeq
{khaw-zake'}
From H2388; powerful.
and stronger, 2390
{2390} Prime
חָזֵק
chazeq
{khaw-zake'}
From H2388; powerful.
x1980
(1980) Complement
הָלַךְ
halak
{haw-lak'}
Akin to H3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively).
and the house 1004
{1004} Prime
בַּיִת
bayith
{bah'-yith}
Probably from H1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.).
of Šä´ûl שָׁאוּל 7586
{7586} Prime
שָׁאוּל
Sha'uwl
{shaw-ool'}
Passive participle of H7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites.
waxed 1980
{1980} Prime
הָלַךְ
halak
{haw-lak'}
Akin to H3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively).
z8802
<8802> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Participle Active (See H8814)
Count - 5386
weaker y1800
[1800] Standard
דַּל
dal
{dal}
From H1809; properly dangling, that is, (by implication) weak or thin.
and weaker. 1800
{1800} Prime
דַּל
dal
{dal}
From H1809; properly dangling, that is, (by implication) weak or thin.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

2 Samuel 3:1

_ _ 2 Samuel 3:1-5. Six sons born to David.

_ _ 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.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

2 Samuel 3:1-6

_ _ Here is, I. The struggle that David had with the house of Saul before his settlement in the throne was completed, 2 Samuel 3:1. 1. Both sides contested. Saul's house, though beheaded and diminished, would not fall tamely. It is not strange between them, but one would wonder it should be a long war, when David's house had right on its side, and therefore God on its side; but, though truth and equity will triumph at last, God made for wise and holy ends prolonged the conflict. The length of this war tried the faith and patience of David, and made his establishment at last the more welcome to him. 2. David's side got ground. The house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker, lost places, lost men, sunk in its reputation, grew less considerable, and was foiled in every engagement. But the house of David grew stronger and stronger. Many deserted the declining cause of Saul's house, and prudently came into David's interest, being convinced that he would certainly win the day. The contest between grace and corruption in the hearts of believers, who are sanctified but in part, may fitly be compared to this recorded here. There is a long war between them, the flesh lusted against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; but, as the work of sanctification is carried on, corruption, like the house of Saul, grows weaker and weaker; while grace, like the house of David, grows stronger and stronger, till it come to a perfect man, and judgment be brought forth unto victory.

_ _ II. The increase of his own house. Here is an account of six sons he had by six several wives, in the seven years he reigned in Hebron. Perhaps this is here mentioned as that which strengthened David's interest. Every child, whose welfare was embarked in the common safety, was a fresh security given to the commonwealth for his care of it. He that has his quiver filled with these arrows shall speak with his enemy in the gate, Psalms 127:5. As the death of Saul's sons weakened his interest, so the birth of David's strengthened his. 1. It was David's fault thus to multiply wives, contrary to the law (Deuteronomy 17:17), and it was a bad example to his successors. 2. It does not appear that in these seven years he had above one son by each of these wives; some have had as numerous a progeny, and with much more honour and comfort, by one wife. 3. We read not that any of these sons came to be famous (three of them were infamous, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah); we have therefore reason to rejoice with trembling in the building up of our families. 4. His son by Abigail is called Chileab (2 Samuel 3:3), whereas (1 Chronicles 3:1) he is called Daniel. Bishop Patrick mentions the reason which the Hebrew doctors give for these names, that his first name was DanielGod has judged me (namely, against Nabal), but David's enemies reproached him, and said, “It is Nabal's son, and not David's,” to confute which calumny Providence so ordered it that, as he grew up, he became, in his countenance and features, extremely like David, and resembled him more than any of his children, upon which he gave him the name of Chileab, which signifies, like his father, or the father's picture. 5. Absalom's mother is said to be the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, a heathen prince. Perhaps David thereby hoped to strengthen his interest, but the issue of the marriage was one that proved his grief and shame. 6. The last is called David's wife, which therefore, some think, was Michal, his first and most rightful wife, called here by another name; and, though she had no child after she mocked David, she might have had before.

_ _ Thus was David's house strengthened; but it was Abner that made himself strong for the house of Saul, which is mentioned (2 Samuel 3:6) to show that, if he failed them, they would fall of course.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

2 Samuel 3:1

Long war — For five years longer: for it is probable, Isbosheth was made king presently upon Saul's death; and the other tribes did not submit to David before seven years were expired.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

2 Samuel 3:1

Now there was (a) 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.

(a) That is, without intermission enduring two years, which was the whole reign of Ishbosheth.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
long war:

1 Kings 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all [their] days.
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.

between:

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Psalms 45:3-5 Gird thy sword upon [thy] thigh, O [most] mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. ... Thine arrows [are] sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; [whereby] the people fall under thee.
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.
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].

David waxed:

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.
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.
Job 8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
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.
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.
Daniel 2:34-35 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. ... Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Daniel 2:44-45 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. ... Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream [is] certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Revelation 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Gn 3:15. 2S 2:17. 1K 14:30; 15:16, 32. Es 6:13. Jb 8:7; 17:9. Ps 45:3; 84:7. Pv 4:18. Dn 2:34, 44. Mt 10:35. Ga 5:17. Ep 6:12. Rv 6:2.

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