2 Samuel 2:13

13 Joab son of Zeruiah, with David's soldiers, also set out. They met at the Pool of Gibeon, Abner's group on one side, Joab's on the other.

2 Samuel 2:13 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 2:13

And Joab the son of Zeruiah
A sister of David, and this her son was general of David's army:

and the servants of David, went out;
that is, his army went out from Hebron to Gibeon, which was twenty four miles F4 to meet that under Abner; for though he had but one tribe with him, and Ishbosheth had all the rest, yet Judah was a numerous, powerful, and warlike tribe; and besides many out of the other tribes had joined them, and, above all, God was on their side, and they had his promise to rely upon with respect to the establishment of the kingdom in the house of David, and his power and providence to trust in, and therefore went out boldly and cheerfully to meet the armies of Israel under Abner:

and met together by the pool of Gibeon;
the same perhaps with the great waters in Gibeon, ( Jeremiah 41:12 ) ;

and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other
on the other side of the pool;
facing one another, and watching each other's motions.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 Bunting's Travels, p. 146.

2 Samuel 2:13 In-Context

11 David ruled the people of Judah from Hebron for seven and a half years.
12 One day Abner son of Ner set out from Mahanaim with the soldiers of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, headed for Gibeon.
13 Joab son of Zeruiah, with David's soldiers, also set out. They met at the Pool of Gibeon, Abner's group on one side, Joab's on the other.
14 Abner challenged Joab, "Put up your best fighters. Let's see them do their stuff." Joab said, "Good! Let them go at it!"
15 So they lined up for the fight, twelve Benjaminites from the side of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve soldiers from David's side.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.