2 Samuel 2

Listen to 2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King of Judah

1 After this David 1inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." David said, "To which shall I go up?" And he said, "To 2Hebron."
2 So David went up there, and 3his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
3 And David brought up 4his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron.
4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David 5king over the house of Judah. When they told David, 6"It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,"
5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, 7"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 8is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

8 But 9Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to 10Mahanaim,
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 11And the time that David was king in Hebron over 12the 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 13the 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.
16 And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim,[a] which is at Gibeon.
17 And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
18 And the 14three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was 15as swift of foot as a wild gazelle.
19 And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Is it you, Asahel?" And he answered, "It is I."
21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
22 And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?"
23 But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him 16in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.
24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
25 And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill.
26 Then Abner called to Joab, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?"
27 And Joab said, "As God lives, if 17you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning."
28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.
29 And Abner and his men went all that night through 18the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to 19Mahanaim.
30 Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David's servants nineteen men besides Asahel.
31 But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner's men.
32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.

2 Samuel 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

David made king in Hebron. (1-7) Abner makes Ishbosheth king Battle between Abner's men and those of Joab. (8-17) Asahel slain by Abner: 25-32. Both parties retreat. (18-24)

1-7. After the death of Saul, many went to David at Ziklag, ( 1 Chronicles. 12:22 ) to give it in his own time and manner. Yet assurance of hope in God's promise, will quicken pious endeavours. If I be chosen to the crown of life, it does not follow, Then I will do nothing; but, Then I will do all that God directs me. This good use David made of his election, and so will all whom God has chosen. In all our journeys and removes, it is comfortable to see God going before us; and we may do so, if by faith and prayer we set Him before us. God, according to the promise, directed David's path. David rose gradually: thus the kingdom of the Messiah, the Son of David, is set up by degrees; he is Lord of all, but we see not yet all things put under him.

8-17. The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honour and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behaviour while passing through various difficulties. David was herein a type of Christ, whom Israel would not submit to, though anointed of the Father to be a Prince and a Saviour to them. Abner meant, Let the young men fight before us, when he said, Let them play before us: fools thus make a mock at sin. But he is unworthy the name of a man, that can thus trifle with human blood.

Verses 18-24 Death often comes by ways we least suspect. We are often betrayed by the accomplishments we are proud of! Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed so much upon, did him no service, but hastened his end.

Verses 25-32 Abner appeals to Joab concerning the miserable consequences of a civil war. Those who make light of such unnatural contests, will find that they are bitterness to all concerned. How easy it is for men to use reason, when it makes for them, who would not use it, if it made against them! See how the issue of things alter men's minds! The same thing which looked pleasant in the morning, at night looked dismal. Those who are most forward to enter into contention, will repent before they have done with it, and had better leave it off before it be meddled with, as Solomon advises. This is true of every sin, oh that men would consider it in time, that it will be bitterness in the latter end! Asahel's funeral is here mentioned. Distinctions are made between the dust of some and that of others; but in the resurrection no difference will be made, but between the godly and ungodly, which will remain for ever.

Cross References 19

  • 1. See 1 Samuel 22:10
  • 2. See Joshua 14:13
  • 3. See 1 Samuel 25:42, 43
  • 4. 1 Samuel 27:2, 3; 1 Samuel 30:1; See 1 Chronicles 12:1-22
  • 5. 2 Samuel 5:5
  • 6. 1 Samuel 31:11-13
  • 7. See Ruth 2:20
  • 8. [See ver. 4 above]
  • 9. 1 Samuel 14:50
  • 10. See Joshua 13:26
  • 11. 2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Kings 2:11
  • 12. [See ver. 4 above]
  • 13. [Jeremiah 41:12]
  • 14. 1 Chronicles 2:16; [1 Samuel 26:6]
  • 15. [2 Samuel 22:34; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Psalms 18:33; Song of Songs 2:17; Song of Songs 8:14; Habakkuk 3:19]
  • 16. 2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 4:6; 2 Samuel 20:10
  • 17. ver. 14; [Proverbs 17:14]
  • 18. See Deuteronomy 1:1
  • 19. ver. 8; See Joshua 13:26

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Helkath-hazzurim means the field of sword-edges

Chapter Summary

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.

2 Samuel 2 Commentaries

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.