2 Samuel 3:13

11 And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”

14 Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
KJV
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
WEB
David said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
ASV
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee; but one thing I require of thee: that is, thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul`s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
DARBY
And he said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee; only I require one thing of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
BLB
And he said, “Good, I will cut with you a covenant. But one thing I am asking of you, saying, you shall not see my face, except if to my face you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see my face.”
ÅB
Han svarte: Godt, jeg vil gjøre en pakt med deg; bare én ting krever jeg av deg: Du skal ikke komme for mine øyne før du har med deg Mikal, Sauls datter, når du kommer for å trede fram for meg.
OTB
Så sa David, "Bra, jeg vil gjøre en pakt med deg. Men jeg krever én ting fra deg: du skal ikke se mitt ansikt med mindre du først bringer Mikal, Sauls datter, når du kommer for å se meg."
B1930
Han svarte: Godt, jeg vil gjøre en pakt med dig; bare én ting krever jeg av dig: Du skal ikke komme for mine øine før du har med dig Mikal, Sauls datter, når du kommer for å trede frem for mig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 43:3

    But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 15:29

    As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:23

    But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 19:11–17

    Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 18:20–28

    Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 3:20–23

    When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:26

    But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’

    Read in context