31 And the war is long between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is going on and 'is' strong, and the house of Saul are going on and 'are' weak.
2 And there are born to David sons in Hebron, and his first-born is Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, 3 and his second 'is' Chileab, of Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third 'is' Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, 4 and the fourth 'is' Adonijah son of Haggith, and the fifth 'is' Shephatiah son of Abital, 5 and the sixth 'is' Ithream, of Eglah wife of David; these have been born to David in Hebron.
6 And it cometh to pass, in the war being between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner hath been strengthening himself 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.