שמואל ב, פרק ג׳, פסוק כ״ה

A severe warning is delivered to David regarding the hidden intentions of Abner son of Ner. Although Abner presents a face of peace, he is a known enemy. His sudden arrival is viewed with deep suspicion, seen merely as a ploy to deceive David and lure him into a dangerous trap [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The visit is perceived as a calculated, three-tiered threat [מלבי״ם]. The primary goal of Abner's arrival is outright deception, aiming to seduce and ensnare David. If this initial trap fails, the secondary objective is to study David's daily movements and secrets [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. By observing how David conducts himself both in warfare and within his private household, Abner hopes to gain a tactical advantage that would allow him to eventually attack the camp [מצודת דוד].

Should both of these plans fail, Abner has a third, fallback objective. He seeks to observe everything David is doing, acting as a general spy for the royal house of Saul [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This final layer of the plan is pure espionage, designed to gather intelligence and expose vulnerabilities, exactly as an enemy would naturally do [מלבי״ם].