2 Samuel 2:5-15

5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead *, and said to them, "¹May you be blessed of the LORD because you have ^[a]shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him.

6 "Now ²may the LORD ^[b]show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will ^[c]show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.

7 "Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be ^[d]valiant *; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel

8 But ³Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to ⁴Mahanaim.

9 He made him king over ⁵Gilead, over the ⁶Ashurites, over ⁷Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel.

10 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

11 ⁸The 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 ⁹Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

13 And ¹⁰Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and ¹¹hold 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.

2 Samuel 2:5-15 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. 1 Samuel 23:21; Psalms 115:15
• 2. Exodus 34:6; 2 Timothy 1:16
• 3. 1 Samuel 14:50
• 4. Genesis 32:2; 2 Samuel 17:24
• 5. Joshua 22:9
• 6. Judges 1:32
• 7. 1 Samuel 29:1
• 8. 2 Samuel 5:5
• 9. Joshua 10:12; Joshua 18:25
• 10. 2 Samuel 8:16; 1 Chronicles 2:16; 1 Chronicles 11:6
• 11. 2 Samuel 2:16, 17

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "done"
• [b] Lit "do"
• [c] Lit "do"
• [d] Lit "sons of valor"
• [e] I.e. man of shame; cf 1 Chr 8:33, "Eshbaal"
• [f] Lit "number of days"
• [g] Lit "them together"
• [h] Lit "these"
• [i] Lit "these"
• [j] Lit "make sport"