2 Samuel 2:9-26

9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David.
11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.
12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.
13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.
14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.” “All right, let them do it,” Joab said.
15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.
16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.[a]
17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.
18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.
19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.
20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” he answered.
21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”
23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.
25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.
26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

2 Samuel 2:9-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 2

This chapter relates that David, upon inquiring of the Lord, was directed to go up to Hebron, and did, where he was anointed king of Judah, 2Sa 2:1-4. And that being told of the kindness of the men of Jabeshgilead in burying Saul, he sent them thanks, and promised to remember it, and took the opportunity to let them know he was anointed king over Judah, 2Sa 2:5-7. It also relates that Abner set up Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, to be king over Israel, 2Sa 2:8-11; and that there was an encounter between twelve of Abner's men and twelve of David's, which brought on a sore battle between them, in which Abner was beaten, 2Sa 2:12-17; and Asahel, who was of David's party, was slain in the pursuit by Abner, 2Sa 2:18-25; when a retreat was sounded by Joab, at the influence of Abner, who, with his wen, betook themselves to Mahanaim, where he had left Ishbosheth, 2Sa 2:26-29. And the chapter closes with an account of the slain on both sides, the burial of Asahel, and the return of Joab with David's men to Hebron, 2Sa 2:30-32.

Cross References 18

  • 1. S Numbers 32:26
  • 2. S Joshua 19:24-31; Judges 1:32
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 12:29
  • 4. 2 Samuel 5:5
  • 5. S Joshua 9:3; Joshua 18:25
  • 6. 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 19:13; 1 Kings 1:7; 1 Chronicles 2:16; 1 Chronicles 11:6; 1 Chronicles 27:34
  • 7. S Judges 3:21
  • 8. 2 Samuel 3:1
  • 9. S 1 Samuel 17:8
  • 10. 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 16:10; 2 Samuel 19:22
  • 11. 2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 10:7; 2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 14:1; 2 Samuel 18:14; 2 Samuel 20:8; 2 Samuel 24:3; 1 Kings 1:7; 1 Kings 2:5,34
  • 12. S 1 Samuel 26:6
  • 13. 2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 2:16; 1 Chronicles 11:26; 1 Chronicles 27:7
  • 14. 1 Chronicles 12:8; Proverbs 6:5; Song of Songs 2:9
  • 15. 2 Samuel 3:27
  • 16. 2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 4:6
  • 17. 2 Samuel 20:12
  • 18. S Deuteronomy 32:42; Jeremiah 46:10,14; Nahum 2:13; Nahum 3:15

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. "Helkath Hazzurim" means "field of daggers" or "field of hostilities."
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