Abner Defects to David

The following is a stained glass window from the Three choir windows in the Marienkirche, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, of the 14th century, depicting Abner’s defection to David:

Source: Der gläserne Schatz: Die Bilderbibel der St. Marienkirche in Frankfurt (Oder), Neuer Berlin Verlag, 2005, copyright for this image: Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Landesmuseum

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

See also other stained glass windows from the Marienkirche in Frankfurt.

complete verse (2 Samuel 3:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 3:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “Abner talked also to/with the elders of the clan of Benjamin. Then, he went there to Hebron where David was. He went and told (him) that the people of Israel and those of the clan of Benjamin had come to an agreement.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Abner also talk with the Benjaminites. Then he went to David’s place in Hebron to tell what the Israelites and the Benjaminites had agreed to.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Abner also spoke to the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that the people of Israel and Benjamin agreed that he will-become their king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Abner also spoke to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron, to tell David what all the people of Israel and the people of the tribe of Benjamin had agreed to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 3:19

As already discussed in verse 17, the beginning of this verse may be part of a flashback. If so, it may be translated “Abner had also spoken to the people of the tribe of Benjamin.”

Also spoke: the word also goes with the verb spoke and not with the noun Abner as if he, in addition to someone else, spoke to the people of Benjamin.

To Benjamin: literally “in the ears of Benjamin,” as in An American Translation. However, this does not refer to the individual named Benjamin, but rather to his descendants, that is, to the whole tribe of Benjamin. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh seeks to communicate this idea by using the form “Benjaminites.” Some translations take the words “in the ears of” to be an emphasis on the personal nature of the communication. New International Version says “spoke to the Benjamites in person,” while New American Bible has “spoke personally….”

To tell David: as above, this is literally “to tell in the ears of David,” perhaps again emphasizing the personal nature of the communication.

The last part of this verse reads literally “all that is good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.” New American Bible “all that would be agreeable to….” The rendering of Revised Standard Version, thought good to do, may be misleading. This was not merely a matter of internal thinking. It was rather a decision to act that had been agreed upon. For this reason it may be better to translate “had decided to do.”

The two expressions Israel and the whole house of Benjamin are not meant to describe two completely separate groups. The family, or tribe, of Benjamin was a part of Israel. Perhaps the idea is “the people of Israel and especially the tribe of Benjamin.” Compare 2.25, 28, 31.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .