2 Samuel 2:14

14 dixitque Abner ad Ioab surgant pueri et ludant coram nobis et respondit Ioab surgant

2 Samuel 2:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 2:14

And Abner said to Joab
Perceiving he made no motion towards an engagement with him, his orders from David being only to act on the defensive, and avoid as much as possible the effusion of blood:

let the young men now arise, and play before us;
with their swords after the manner of gladiators or duellers; that it might appear who were best skilled in the use of the sword, and who were the bravest, stoutest, and most courageous; and this he proposed in a way of bravado, and in order to bring on a battle, or to decide the quarrel between them; and this bloody barbarous exercise Abner calls play, as if it was a diversion and pastime to see men wounding and killing one another:

and Joab said, let them arise;
he accepted the challenge, not caring to be hectored and bullied by Abner.

2 Samuel 2:14 In-Context

12 egressusque Abner filius Ner et pueri Hisboseth filii Saul de Castris in Gabaon

13 porro Ioab filius Sarviae et pueri David egressi sunt et occurrerunt eis iuxta piscinam Gabaon et cum in unum convenissent e regione sederunt hii ex una parte piscinae et illi ex altera

14 dixitque Abner ad Ioab surgant pueri et ludant coram nobis et respondit Ioab surgant

15 surrexerunt ergo et transierunt numero duodecim de Beniamin ex parte Hisboseth filii Saul et duodecim de pueris David

16 adprehensoque unusquisque capite conparis sui defixit gladium in latus contrarii et ceciderunt simul vocatumque est nomen loci illius ager Robustorum in Gabaon