And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
Parallel translations
- WEB He could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.
- KJV And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
- NKJV And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
- NASB And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
- NLT Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Ishbosheth is too afraid of Abner to respond. His silence exposes the powerlessness of Saul's house.
Overview
Unable to answer Abner, Ishbosheth's fear lays bare how hollow his kingship truly is, propped up entirely by his general. The collapse of Saul's house proceeds as its rival king cannot even rebuke his commander. This weakness clears the way for David's eventual rule over all Israel, fulfilling the Lord's promise and pointing to the secure, unshakable reign of Christ, the true King.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 3:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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