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2 Samuel 2:17-27

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17 That day the battle was very severe, and 1Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
18 Now 2the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was 3as swift-footed * as one of the gazelles which is in the field.
19 Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.
20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" And he answered, "It is I."
21 So Abner said to him, "Turn to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil." But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.
22 Abner repeated * again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? 4How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?"
23 However, he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it came about that all who came to the place where * 5Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.
24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25 The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill.
26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long * will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?"
27 Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother."
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2 Samuel 2:17-27 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 5

  • 1. 2 Samuel 3:1
  • 2. 1 Chronicles 2:16
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 12:8; Habakkuk 3:19
  • 4. 2 Samuel 3:27
  • 5. 2 Samuel 20:12

Footnotes 5

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.