2 Samuel 2:11-21

11 ¹The ^[a]time * that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Civil War

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to ²Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

13 And ³Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met ^[b]them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, ^[c]one on the one side of the pool and ^[d]the other on the other side of the pool.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and ^[e]4hold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."

15 So they arose and went over by count, twelve * for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve * of the servants of David.

16 Each one of them seized 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, which is in Gibeon.

17 That day the battle was very severe, and ⁵Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 Now ⁶the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was ⁷as 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.

2 Samuel 2:11-21 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 Samuel 5:5
• 2. Joshua 10:12; Joshua 18:25
• 3. 2 Samuel 8:16; 1 Chronicles 2:16; 1 Chronicles 11:6
• 4. 2 Samuel 2:16, 17
• 5. 2 Samuel 3:1
• 6. 1 Chronicles 2:16
• 7. 1 Chronicles 12:8; Habakkuk 3:19

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "number of days"
• [b] Lit "them together"
• [c] Lit "these"
• [d] Lit "these"
• [e] Lit "make sport"
• [f] Lit "fellow"
• [g] Lit "fellow's"
• [h] I.e. the field of sword-edges
• [i] Lit "light in his feet"
• [j] Lit "turn to go to"
• [k] Lit "Turn for yourself"