2 Samuel 2:5-15

5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, 1"May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him.
6 Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing.
7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord 2is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

8 But 3Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to 4Mahanaim,
9 and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel.
10 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11 5And the time that David was king in Hebron over 6the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

The Battle of Gibeon

12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at 7the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
14 And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
15 Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

2 Samuel 2:5-15 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 7

  • 1. See Ruth 2:20
  • 2. [See ver. 4 above]
  • 3. 1 Samuel 14:50
  • 4. See Joshua 13:26
  • 5. 2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Kings 2:11
  • 6. [See ver. 4 above]
  • 7. [Jeremiah 41:12]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.