New International Version Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” New Living Translation David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.” English Standard Version Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” Berean Standard Bible Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” Berean Literal Bible And all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still the day, and David took an oath, saying, “So do to me God, and thus may he continue for, if before the face of the sun goes down, I taste bread or any other thing.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” New American Standard Bible Then all the people came to provide food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.” NASB 1995 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.” NASB 1977 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.” Legacy Standard Bible Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David swore an oath, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.” Amplified Bible All the people came to urge David to eat food while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.” Berean Annotated Bible Then all the people came and urged David (beloved) to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God {Elohim} punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets! Christian Standard Bible Then they came to urge David to eat food while it was still day, but David took an oath: “May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset! ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then they came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David took an oath: “May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!” American Standard Version And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down. Contemporary English Version Then they brought some food to David and told him he would feel better if he had something to eat. It was still daytime, and David said, "I swear to God that I won't take a bite of bread or anything else until sunset!" English Revised Version And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down. GOD'S WORD® Translation That entire day all the people tried to get David to eat some food. But David had taken an oath: "May God strike me dead if I taste any food or anything else before the sun goes down." Good News Translation All day long the people tried to get David to eat something, but he made a solemn promise, "May God strike me dead if I eat anything before the day is over!" International Standard Version Everyone tried to persuade David to have a meal while there was still daylight, but David took an oath by saying, "May God to do like this to me and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!" NET Bible Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, "God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!" New Heart English Bible Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down." Webster's Bible Translation And when all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, If I taste bread or aught else, till the sun is down. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” World English Bible All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, until the sun goes down.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David swears, saying, “Thus God does to me, and thus He adds, for—before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.” Berean Literal Bible And all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still the day, and David took an oath, saying, “So do to me God, and thus may he continue for, if before the face of the sun goes down, I taste bread or any other thing.” Young's Literal Translation And all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David sweareth, saying, 'Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add, for -- before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.' Smith's Literal Translation And all the people will come to cause David to eat bread, while yet day. And David will swear, saying, Thus will God do to me, and thus will he add, if before the going down of the sun I shall taste bread or anything. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when all the people came to take meat with David, while it was yet broad day, David swore, saying: So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or any thing else before sunset. Catholic Public Domain Version And when the entire multitude had arrived to take food with David, while it was still broad daylight, David swore, saying, “May God do these things to me, and may he add these other things, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.” New American Bible Then they went to console David with food while it was still day. But David swore, “May God do thus to me, and more, if before the sun goes down I eat bread or anything else.” New Revised Standard Version Then all the people came to persuade David to eat something while it was still day; but David swore, saying, “So may God do to me, and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd all the people tried to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And all the people said to feed David bread while the day remained, and David swore and said: “Thus God will do to me and thus he will add to me if I will taste bread or anything before the sun will set!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying: 'God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And all the people assembled to weep for him. And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day: and David swore, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I eat bread or any thing else before the sun goes down. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context David Mourns for Abner…34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more. 35Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” 36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.… Cross References Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, 2 Samuel 12:17 The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. 1 Samuel 28:23 Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. but David took an oath, saying, 1 Samuel 20:3 But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.” 1 Kings 1:29 And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, 1 Samuel 14:44 And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!” 1 Kings 2:23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life. if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” 1 Samuel 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. Judges 20:26 Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. 2 Samuel 1:12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Ecclesiastes 3:4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, John 11:35 Jesus wept. Psalm 35:13-14 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. / I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. Job 2:11-13 Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him. / When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head. / Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was. Treasury of Scripture And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. cause 1 Samuel 12:17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. Jeremiah 16:7 Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother. Ezekiel 24:17,22 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men… So do 2 Samuel 3:9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. till the 2 Samuel 1:12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. Jump to Previous Aught Bread Cause David Eat Food Meat Ought Sun Sware Swore TasteJump to Next Aught Bread Cause David Eat Food Meat Ought Sun Sware Swore Taste2 Samuel 3 1. During the war David becomes stronger2. 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 Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, As David mourned Abner’s murder, the people sought to comfort him in the customary way by providing food. Their concern reflected both sympathy for David’s grief and recognition of Abner’s importance in Israel. 2Sa 12:17 The elders of his household stood beside him… but David took an oath, saying, David publicly bound himself to continue mourning, showing that Abner’s death was not a matter of political convenience to him. His actions helped make clear that he had not approved of Joab’s killing of Abner. 1Sa 20:3 But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well… “May God punish me, and ever so severely, David called upon God as witness to the seriousness of his vow, placing himself under judgment if he failed to keep it. 1Sa 14:44 May God punish me, and ever so severely,… if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” David fasted through the remainder of the day as an expression of grief and honor for Abner. His public mourning reassured the people that he regarded Abner’s death as a great loss to Israel. 1Sa 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day… Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe anointed king of Israel, known for his deep relationship with God and his leadership qualities. In this passage, he is mourning the death of Abner. 2. Abner The commander of Saul's army who had defected to David's side. His death was a significant event, causing political and personal turmoil. 3. The People The Israelites who were present with David, urging him to eat. Their concern reflects the communal nature of mourning and support. 4. Hebron The city where this event takes place, significant as a city of refuge and David's initial capital. 5. Mourning The cultural and religious practice of expressing grief, which in this context, includes fasting as a sign of respect and sorrow. Teaching Points The Significance of MourningMourning is a profound expression of loss and respect. David's refusal to eat demonstrates the depth of his grief and respect for Abner, showing us the importance of honoring those who have passed. The Power of Oaths David's oath before God underscores the seriousness with which we should approach our promises. It reminds us to be mindful of our words and commitments, especially those made before God. Community Support in Grief The people's urging for David to eat highlights the role of community in times of sorrow. It teaches us the importance of supporting one another through difficult times. Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline David's fast is an act of devotion and humility. This teaches us about the spiritual discipline of fasting as a way to draw closer to God and express earnestness in prayer and mourning. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 3:35?2. How does David's fasting in 2 Samuel 3:35 demonstrate his leadership qualities? 3. What can we learn from David's response to Abner's death in this passage? 4. How does David's behavior in 2 Samuel 3:35 connect to Matthew 5:4? 5. How can we apply David's example of mourning to our own grief experiences? 6. What does David's refusal to eat reveal about his relationship with God? 7. Why did David refuse to eat until sunset in 2 Samuel 3:35? 8. What does David's fasting in 2 Samuel 3:35 signify about mourning practices? 9. How does 2 Samuel 3:35 reflect David's leadership qualities? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 3? (35) To eat meat.--The fasting of David in his grief had already attracted attention, so that the people came to urge him to take food; but he utterly refused "till the sun be down," the usual time of ending a fast. David's conduct had a good effect upon the people, and, indeed, they were generally disposed to look favourably upon whatever the king did.Verse 35. - The people came to cause David to eat meat. The Jewish commentators, Philippson, Cahen, etc., consider that the occasion for this was given by the custom of taking food after a funeral (Jeremiah 16:7; Ezekiel 24:17), which in time degenerated into the giving of a costly banquet (Josephus, 'Bell. Jud.,' 2:01). To this day, at a Jewish funeral in Germany, the bearers are regaled with eggs, broad, and wine. While, then, others were partaking of the food that had been provided, David remained apart, and when urged by the assembled multitude to join them in their meal, he protested that he would continue fasting until sunset. He thus proved that his sorrow was genuine, and the people were convinced of his innocence, and pleased at the honour which he thus did to the fallen soldier. David refuses food until evening, swearing an oath that invites God’s judgment if he breaks it. His fast proves heartfelt grief for Abner, clears him of any complicity in the murder, and demonstrates to the watching nation that righteousness and justice outweigh personal comfort. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then allכָל־ (ḵāl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the people הָעָ֗ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock came וַיָּבֹ֣א (way·yā·ḇō) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go and urged David דָּוִ֛ד (dā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse to eat לְהַבְר֧וֹת (lə·haḇ·rō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 1262: To select, to feed, to render clear something לֶ֖חֶם (le·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain while it was still בְּע֣וֹד (bə·‘ō·wḏ) Preposition-b | Adverb Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more day, הַיּ֑וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day but David דָּוִ֜ד (dā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse took an oath, וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע (way·yiš·šā·ḇa‘) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear saying, לֵאמֹ֗ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say “May God אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative punish כֹּ֣ה (kōh) Adverb Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now me, לִּ֤י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew and ever so וְכֹ֣ה (wə·ḵōh) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now severely, יֹסִ֔יף (yō·sîp̄) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3254: To add, augment if אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not I taste אֶטְעַם־ (’eṭ·‘am-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 2938: To taste, to perceive bread לֶ֖חֶם (le·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain or א֥וֹ (’ōw) Conjunction Strong's 176: Desire, if anything כָל־ (ḵāl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every else before לִפְנֵ֧י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the sun הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ (haš·še·meš) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement sets!” בֽוֹא־ (ḇō·w-) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go Additonal Resources 2 Samuel 3:35 Blue Letter Bible2 Samuel 3:35 Bible Gateway 2 Samuel 3:35 Bible.com 2 Samuel 3:35 NIV |
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