31 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David ; and David grew steadily stronger , but the house of Saul grew weaker continually .
2 Sons were born to David at Hebron : his firstborn was Amnon , by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess ; 3 and his second , Chileab , by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite ; and the third , Absalom the son of Maacah , the daughter of Talmai , king of Geshur ; 4 and the fourth , Adonijah the son of Haggith ; and the fifth , Shephatiah the son of Abital ; 5 and the sixth , Ithream , by David's wife Eglah . These were born to David at Hebron .
6 It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:1-6
Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:1-6
(Read 2 Samuel 3:1-6)
The length of this war tried the faith and patience of David, and made his settlement at last the more welcome. The contest between grace and corruption in the hearts of believers, may fitly be compared to this warfare. There is a long war between them, the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; but as the work of holiness is carried on, corruption, like the house of Saul, grows weaker and weaker; while grace, like the house of David, grows stronger and stronger.