2 Samuel 2:8-17

War Between the Houses of David and Saul

8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David.

11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.

13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.” “All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.^[a]

17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

2 Samuel 2:8-17 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. S 1 Samuel 14:50; S 2 Samuel 3:27
• 2. 2 Samuel 4:5; 1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:39
• 3. S Genesis 32:2
• 4. S Numbers 32:26
• 5. S Joshua 19:24-31; Judges 1:32
• 6. 1 Chronicles 12:29
• 7. 2 Samuel 5:5
• 8. S Joshua 9:3; Joshua 18:25
• 9. 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 19:13; 1 Kings 1:7; 1 Chronicles 2:16; 1 Chronicles 11:6; 1 Chronicles 27:34
• 10. S Judges 3:21
• 11. 2 Samuel 3:1
• 12. S 1 Samuel 17:8

Footnotes

• [a]. "Helkath Hazzurim" means "field of daggers" or "field of hostilities."