2 Samuel 3:20 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 3:20 mean?

2 Samuel 3:20 describes how Abner arrived in Hebron with twenty men to meet David, and David welcomed them by hosting a feast for Abner and his companions. This verse shows a moment of hospitality and diplomacy as David receives Abner, who had previously been his rival.

In this scene, Abner, who was the commander of Saul’s army, comes to David as part of a political negotiation to unite the kingdom under David’s rule. The act of making a feast signals David’s willingness to reconcile and build trust with Abner and those who came with him. The verse highlights the importance of hospitality and formal gestures in ancient political relationships.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 3:20

• חָג (mishteh, transliterated "mishteh") means "feast" or "banquet." This word often refers to a significant meal shared for celebration or to mark an important event. Here, it emphasizes the seriousness and goodwill of David’s welcome to Abner.
• עָשָׂה (asah, transliterated "asah") means "made" or "prepared." The word shows that David took deliberate action to host Abner, not just a casual meal but a purposeful gesture of acceptance.
• אֲבִינֵר (Abner, transliterated "Aviner") is the name of Saul’s former general. His presence and the mention of his name underline the importance of this meeting in the story’s context.

Why 2 Samuel 3:20 matters

• The verse clarifies that David is not meeting Abner with suspicion or hostility but is instead extending hospitality, which would have been a powerful signal of peace and respect in that culture.
• This moment connects to the larger narrative of David’s rise to power, showing how former enemies could become allies through personal encounters and gestures of goodwill.
• The detail about the feast helps the reader understand the political and relational strategies at play, rather than seeing the meeting as a mere formality.