2 Samuel 2:4-14

4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David as king of Judah. ¹ When David heard that the people of Jabesh in Gilead had buried Saul,

5 he sent some men there with the message: "May the Lord bless you for showing your loyalty to your king by burying him.

6 And now may the Lord be kind and faithful to you. I too will treat you well because of what you have done.

7 Be strong and brave! Saul your king is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me as their king."

8 The commander of Saul's army, Abner son of Ner, had fled with Saul's son Ishbosheth across the Jordan to Mahanaim.

9 There Abner made Ishbosheth king of the territories of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, and indeed over all Israel.

10 He was forty years old when he was made king of Israel, and he ruled for two years. But the tribe of Judah was loyal to David,

11 and he ruled in Hebron over Judah for seven and a half years.

12 Abner and the officials of Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to the city of Gibeon.

13 Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, and David's other officials met them at the pool, where they all sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the opposite side.

14 Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men from each side fight an armed contest." "All right," Joab answered.

2 Samuel 2:4-14 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

• 1. 2.4 1 Samuel 31.11-13.

Footnotes

• [a]. [One ancient translation] Asher; [Hebrew] Assyria.