2 Samuel 2
Overview
2:1 David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron, where he is made king of Judah;
2:5 He commends them of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul;
2:8 Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel;
2:12 A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men;
2:18 Asahel is slain;
2:25 At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat;
2:32 Asahel's burial. Verse 1 inquired 2 Samuel 5:19, 5:23; Numbers 27:21; Judges 1:1; 1 Samuel 23:2, 23:4, 23:9-12, 30:7, 30:8; Psalm 25:4, 25:5; 27:4, 143:8; Proverbs 3:5, 3:6; Ezekiel 36:37 Hebron 2 Samuel 2:11, 5:1-3, 15:7; Genesis 32:2; Numbers 13:22; Joshua 14:14, 14:15; 1 Samuel 30:31; 1 Kings 2:11; 1 Chronicles 29:7 Reciprocal Genesis 35:27 - Mamre; Joshua 9:14 - asked not; 21:11 - is Hebron; 2 Samuel 15:10 - Hebron; 1 Chronicles 11:1 - Hebron; 14:10 - inquired; 2 Chronicles 18:4 - Inquire Verse 2 1 Samuel 25:42, 25:43, 30:5; Luke 22:28, 22:29 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 3:3 - Abigail; 1 Chronicles 12:22 - day by day Verse 3 his men 1 Samuel 22:2, 27:2, 27:3, 30:1, 30:9, 30:10; 1 Chronicles 12:1-7 the cities Joshua 21:11, 21:12 Reciprocal Genesis 35:27 - Mamre; 1 Chronicles 12:23 - the numbers Verse 4 the men of Judah 2 Samuel 2:11, 19:11, 19:42; Genesis 49:8-10 anointed 2 Samuel 2:7, 5:3, 5:5, 5:17; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Chronicles 11:3 the men of Jabeshgilead 1 Samuel 31:11-13 Reciprocal 31:13 - their bones; 2 Samuel 12:8 - gave thee; 21:11 - told David; 1 Kings 1:34 - Zadok; 2 Kings 11:12 - anointed him; 1 Chronicles 10:11 - when; 12:23 - the numbers; Psalm 21:3 - preventest; 55:20 - broken; 75:2 - When; 141:6 - they shall hear; Acts 13:22 - he raised Verse 5 DavidThis was a generous and noble act, highly indicative of the grandeur of David's mind. He respected Saul, though he had been greatly injured by him, as the anointed king of Israel, and once his legitimate sovereign; and he loved Jonathan as his most intimate friend.Blessed Ruth 1:8, 2:20, 3:10; 1 Samuel 23:21, 24:19, 25:32, 25:33; Psalm 115:15 Reciprocal Genesis 14:18 - the most; 14:19 - Blessed be; Judges 21:8 - Jabeshgilead; 1 Samuel 31:13 - their bones; 2 Samuel 21:12 - the bones of Saul; Psalm 141:6 - for they Verse 6 the Lord 2 Samuel 15:20; Psalm 57:3; Proverbs 14:22; Matthew 5:7; 2 Timothy 1:16-18 I also 2 Samuel 9:3, 9:7, 10:2; Matthew 5:44, 10:16; Philemon 1:18, 1:19 Reciprocal Judges 21:8 - Jabeshgilead; Psalm 141:6 - for they Verse 7 let your 2 Samuel 10:12; Genesis 15:1; 1 Samuel 4:9, 31:7, 31:12; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:10 valiantHeb. the sons of valourReciprocal 2 Samuel 2:4 - anointed; 16:21 - the hands; 2 Kings 11:12 - anointed him; 1 Chronicles 5:18 - valiant men; 26:6 - mighty men of valour; 2 Chronicles 18:16 - master; Nehemiah 2:18 - So they strengthened Verse 8 Abner 1 Samuel 14:50, 17:55, 26:14 Saul's hostHeb. the host which was Saul'sIshbosheth 2 Samuel 3:7, 3:8, 4:5, 4:6; 1 Chronicles 8:33, 9:39, Esh-baalMahanaim 2 Samuel 17:26, 17:27; Genesis 32:2 Reciprocal Joshua 13:26 - Mahanaim; 1 Samuel 26:5 - Abner; 2 Samuel 3:6 - Abner; 3:38 - a prince; 17:24 - Mahanaim; 1 Kings 4:14 - Mahanaim; 2 Kings 10:3 - Look even; 1 Chronicles 12:29 - the greatest part of them; Psalm 60:2 - broken; 60:6 - divide; 108:8 - Gilead Verse 9 Gilead Numbers 32:1-42; Joshua 13:8-11; Psalm 108:8 AshuritesThe LXX read τον Θασιρι, Thasiri; and the Vulgate Gessuri, "Geshurites;" but it is probable that for ashuri, "Ashurites," we should read ashairi, "Asherites," or those of the tribe of Asher. Genesis 30:13; Numbers 1:40 over Jezreel Joshua 19:18 Reciprocal Genesis 25:3 - Asshurim; Judges 20:1 - with the; 2 Samuel 3:6 - Abner; 3:21 - will gather; 1 Kings 18:45 - Ahab; 2 Kings 10:3 - Look even; 1 Chronicles 12:29 - the greatest part of them; Psalm 18:43 - from; 60:6 - divide Verse 10 two yearsHoubigant proposes to read shesh shanah, "six years" instead of shetayim shanim, "two years," of the text, which he contends is a solecism; for, in pure Hebrew, the words should be shetayim shanah; and this is the reading of twenty manuscripts; but two is acknowledged by all the versions and manuscripts yet collated. 2 Samuel 2:10 Reciprocal 3:14 - Ishbosheth; Psalm 18:43 - from Verse 11 timeHeb. number of days, 2 Samuel 5:4, 5:5; 1 Kings 2:11; 1 Chronicles 3:4, 29:27 Reciprocal Genesis 23:2 - Kirjatharba; 35:27 - Mamre; Numbers 13:22 - Hebron; Joshua 10:3 - Hebron; 2 Samuel 2:1 - Hebron; 2:4 - the men of Judah; 15:10 - Hebron; 2 Chronicles 11:10 - Hebron Verse 12 am Mahanaim 2 Samuel 17:14; Genesis 32:2 Gibeon Joshua 9:3, 10:2, 10:4, 10:12, 18:25 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 2:29 - Mahanaim; 2 Kings 10:3 - fight for Verse 13 Joab 2 Samuel 2:18, 8:16, 20:23; 1 Kings 1:7, 2:28-35; 1 Chronicles 2:16 togetherHeb. them togetherpool Jeremiah 41:12 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 20:8 - in Gibeon; 24:2 - Joab Verse 14 play before 2 Samuel 2:17, 2:26, 2:27; Proverbs 10:23, 17:14, 20:18, 25:8, 26:18, 26:19 Reciprocal Judges 9:29 - Increase thine army; 1 Samuel 14:12 - Come up to us; 2 Kings 14:8 - Come; 2 Chronicles 25:17 - let us see Verse 16 by the headProbably by the beard or hair of the head. Plutarch, in his Apophthegms, informs us, that all things being ready for a battle, Alexander's captains asked him whether he had anything else to command them. "Nothing," said he, "but that the Macedonians shave their beards." Parmenio wondering what he meant, "Dost thou not know," said he, "that in fight, there is no better hold than the beard?"Helkathhazzurimthat is, the field of strong men, 2 Samuel 2:16 Reciprocal Joshua 19:25 - Helkath; 2 Samuel 2:26 - it will be; 1 Kings 20:20 - they slew; Acts 1:19 - Aceldama Verse 17 Abner 2 Samuel 3:1 Reciprocal 2:14 - play before; 18:7 - the people Verse 18 three 1 Chronicles 2:15, 2:16, 11:26 was as light 2 Samuel 1:23; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Psalm 147:10, 147:11; Ecclesiastes 9:11; Amos 2:14 footHeb. his feeta wild roeHeb. one of the roes that is in the field, Psalm 18:33; Song of Songs 2:17, 8:14; Habakkuk 3:19, The word tzevee, rather denotes the gazelle or antelope - see note on Deuteronomy 15:22.Reciprocal 1 Samuel 26:6 - to Abishai; 2 Samuel 2:13 - Joab; 14:1 - Joab; 20:6 - Abishai; 22:34 - like hinds'; 23:18 - Abishai; 23:24 - Asahel; 1 Chronicles 11:6 - Joab; 11:20 - Abishai; 27:7 - Asahel; Joel 2:7 - They shall run Verse 19 turned 2 Samuel 2:21; Joshua 1:7, 23:6; 2 Kings 22:2; Proverbs 4:27 following AbnerHeb. after AbnerReciprocal 2 Samuel 3:27 - for the blood; 3:30 - because; Joel 2:7 - They shall run Verse 21 and take theeIt seems that Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy.armouror, spoil, Judges 14:19 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 2:19 - turned Verse 22 wherefore 2 Kings 14:10-12; Proverbs 29:1; Ecclesiastes 6:10 how then 2 Samuel 3:27 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 19:17 - why should; Psalm 143:3 - smitten Verse 23 the fifth rib 2 Samuel 3:27, 4:6, 5:6, 20:10 stood still 20:12, 20:13
Verse 24 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 8:1 - Methegammah Verse 26 Shall 2 Samuel 2:14; Acts 7:26 sword 2 Samuel 11:25; Isaiah 1:20; Jeremiah 2:30, 12:12, 46:10, 46:14; Hosea 11:6 it will be 2 Samuel 2:16; Proverbs 17:14 how long Job 18:2, 19:2; Psalm 4:2; Jeremiah 4:21 Reciprocal Genesis 34:26 - edge; Judges 9:38 - General; 21:6 - repented them; 2 Samuel 18:7 - twenty thousand men; 2 Chronicles 11:4 - against; Psalm 133:1 - how good; Proverbs 20:18 - and; 25:8 - hastily; Jeremiah 47:6 - how long; Galatians 5:15 - General Verse 27 As GodThis was spoken in allusion to the proposal of Abner - 2 Samuel 2:14
which led to the slaughter of twelve young men of each party, and thus provoked the battle. It is probable, that Joab had orders simply to act on the defensive, and would not have attacked the Israelites that day unless compelled; therefore the blame lay upon Abner and Israel. 1 Samuel 25:26; Job 27:2 unless 2 Samuel 2:14; Proverbs 15:1, 17:14, 20:18, 25:8; Isaiah 47:7; Luke 14:31, 14:32 in the morningHeb. from the morninggone upor, gone awayReciprocal Judges 9:38 - General; Psalm 133:1 - how good; Galatians 5:15 - General Verse 28 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 13:3 - blew; 2 Samuel 18:16 - blew the trumpet; 20:22 - he blew Verse 29 BithronBithron or Bether is probably the same as Betarus, which is placed in the Antonine Itinerary between Caesarea of Palestine and Diospolis or Lydda, 18 miles from the former, and 22 from the latter. The Jerusalem Itinerary mentions a place called Bethar, 16 miles from Caesarea, and 20 from Diospolis, which is probably the same. The Talmudists say that it was four miles distant from the sea. Song of Songs 2:17, BetherMahanaim 2 Samuel 2:12
Verse 31 three hundredThe slain of Israel, though greatly exceeding those of Judah, were not great. This might be owing to the directions given by David, to be as lenient as possible; but the death of Asahel seems to have stopped the pursuers, and greatly favoured the escape of the vanquished. 2 Samuel 3:1; 1 Kings 20:11 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 18:7 - twenty thousand men Verse 32 buried 1 Samuel 17:58; 1 Chronicles 2:13-16; 2 Chronicles 16:14, 21:1 went 2 Samuel 5:1; Proverbs 22:29