Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 2

Introduction

Overview

2 Samuel 2:1, David, by God’s direction, with his company goes up to Hebron, where he is made king of Judah; 2 Samuel 2:5, He commends them of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul; 2 Samuel 2:8, Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel; 2 Samuel 2:12, A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner’s and twelve of Joab’s men; 2 Samuel 2:18, Asahel is slain; 2 Samuel 2:25, At Abner’s motion, Joab sounds a retreat; 2 Samuel 2:32, Asahel’s burial.

Verse 1

inquired: 2 Samuel 5:19, 2 Samuel 5:23, Numbers 27:21, Judges 1:1, 1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 23:4, 1 Samuel 23:9-12, 1 Samuel 30:7, 1 Samuel 30:8, Psalms 25:4, Psalms 25:5, Psalms 27:4, Psalms 143:8, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 3:6, Ezekiel 36:37

Hebron: 2 Samuel 2:11, 2 Samuel 5:1-3, 2 Samuel 15:7, Genesis 32:2, Numbers 13:22, Joshua 14:14, Joshua 14:15, 1 Samuel 30:31, 1 Kings 2:11, 1 Chronicles 29:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:27 - Mamre Joshua 9:14 - asked not Joshua 21:11 - is Hebron 2 Samuel 15:10 - Hebron 1 Chronicles 11:1 - Hebron 1 Chronicles 14:10 - inquired 2 Chronicles 18:4 - Inquire

Verse 2

1 Samuel 25:42, 1 Samuel 25:43, 1 Samuel 30:5, Luke 22:28, Luke 22:29

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:3 - Abigail 1 Chronicles 12:22 - day by day

Verse 3

his men: 1 Samuel 22:2, 1 Samuel 27:2, 1 Samuel 27:3, 1 Samuel 30:1, 1 Samuel 30:9, 1 Samuel 30:10, 1 Chronicles 12:1-7

the cities: Joshua 21:11, Joshua 21:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:27 - Mamre 1 Chronicles 12:23 - the numbers

Verse 4

the men of Judah: 2 Samuel 2:11, 2 Samuel 19:11, 2 Samuel 19:42, Genesis 49:8-10

anointed: 2 Samuel 2:7, 2 Samuel 5:3, 2 Samuel 5:5, 2 Samuel 5:17, 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Chronicles 11:3

the men of Jabeshgilead: 1 Samuel 31:11-13

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 31:13 - their bones 2 Samuel 12:8 - gave thee 2 Samuel 21:11 - told David 1 Kings 1:34 - Zadok 2 Kings 11:12 - anointed him 1 Chronicles 10:11 - when 1 Chronicles 12:23 - the numbers Psalms 21:3 - preventest Psalms 55:20 - broken Psalms 75:2 - When Psalms 141:6 - they shall hear Acts 13:22 - he raised

Verse 5

David: This 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, Ruth 2:20, Ruth 3:10, 1 Samuel 23:21, 1 Samuel 24:19, 1 Samuel 25:32, 1 Samuel 25:33, Psalms 115:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:18 - the most Genesis 14:19 - Blessed be Judges 21:8 - Jabeshgilead 1 Samuel 31:13 - their bones 2 Samuel 21:12 - the bones of Saul Psalms 141:6 - for they

Verse 6

the Lord: 2 Samuel 15:20, Psalms 57:3, Proverbs 14:22, Matthew 5:7, 2 Timothy 1:16-18

I also: 2 Samuel 9:3, 2 Samuel 9:7, 2 Samuel 10:2, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 10:16, Philemon 1:18, Philemon 1:19

Reciprocal: Judges 21:8 - Jabeshgilead Psalms 141:6 - for they

Verse 7

let your: 2 Samuel 10:12, Genesis 15:1, 1 Samuel 4:9, 1 Samuel 31:7, 1 Samuel 31:12, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:10

valiant: Heb. the sons of valour

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 2:4 - anointed 2 Samuel 16:21 - the hands 2 Kings 11:12 - anointed him 1 Chronicles 5:18 - valiant men 1 Chronicles 26:6 - mighty men of valour 2 Chronicles 18:16 - master Nehemiah 2:18 - So they strengthened

Verse 8

Abner: 1 Samuel 14:50, 1 Samuel 17:55, 1 Samuel 26:14

Saul's host: Heb. the host which was Saul's

Ishbosheth: 2 Samuel 3:7, 2 Samuel 3:8, 2 Samuel 4:5, 2 Samuel 4:6, 1 Chronicles 8:33, 1 Chronicles 9:39, Esh-baal

Mahanaim: 2 Samuel 17:26, 2 Samuel 17:27, Genesis 32:2

Reciprocal: Joshua 13:26 - Mahanaim 1 Samuel 26:5 - Abner 2 Samuel 3:6 - Abner 2 Samuel 3:38 - a prince 2 Samuel 17:24 - Mahanaim 1 Kings 4:14 - Mahanaim 2 Kings 10:3 - Look even 1 Chronicles 12:29 - the greatest part of them Psalms 60:2 - broken Psalms 60:6 - divide Psalms 108:8 - Gilead

Verse 9

Gilead: Numbers 32:1-42, Joshua 13:8-11, Psalms 108:8

Ashurites: The LXX read פןם בףיסי, 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 2 Samuel 3:21 - will gather 1 Kings 18:45 - Ahab 2 Kings 10:3 - Look even 1 Chronicles 12:29 - the greatest part of them Psalms 18:43 - from Psalms 60:6 - divide

Verse 10

two years: Houbigant 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: 2 Samuel 3:14 - Ishbosheth Psalms 18:43 - from

Verse 11

time: Heb. number of days, 2 Samuel 5:4, 2 Samuel 5:5, 1 Kings 2:11, 1 Chronicles 3:4, 1 Chronicles 29:27

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:2 - Kirjatharba Genesis 35:27 - Mamre Numbers 13:22 - Hebron Joshua 10:3 - Hebron 2 Samuel 2:1 - Hebron 2 Samuel 2:4 - the men of Judah 2 Samuel 15:10 - Hebron 2 Chronicles 11:10 - Hebron

Verse 12

am 2951, bc 1053, An, Ex, Is, 438

Mahanaim: 2 Samuel 17:14, Genesis 32:2

Gibeon: Joshua 9:3, Joshua 10:2, Joshua 10:4, Joshua 10:12, Joshua 18:25

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 2:29 - Mahanaim 2 Kings 10:3 - fight for

Verse 13

Joab: 2 Samuel 2:18, 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 20:23, 1 Kings 1:7, 1 Kings 2:28-35, 1 Chronicles 2:16

together: Heb. them together

pool: Jeremiah 41:12

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 20:8 - in Gibeon 2 Samuel 24:2 - Joab

Verse 14

play before: 2 Samuel 2:17, 2 Samuel 2:26, 2 Samuel 2:27, Proverbs 10:23, Proverbs 17:14, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 25:8, Proverbs 26:18, Proverbs 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 head: Probably 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?"

Helkathhazzurim: that 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 Samuel 2:14 - play before 2 Samuel 18:7 - the people

Verse 18

three: 1 Chronicles 2:15, 1 Chronicles 2:16, 1 Chronicles 11:26

was as light: 2 Samuel 1:23, 1 Chronicles 12:8, Psalms 147:10, Psalms 147:11, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Amos 2:14

foot: Heb. his feet

a wild roe: Heb. one of the roes that is in the field, Psalms 18:33, Song of Solomon 2:17, Song of Solomon 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 2 Samuel 14:1 - Joab 2 Samuel 20:6 - Abishai 2 Samuel 22:34 - like hinds' 2 Samuel 23:18 - Abishai 2 Samuel 23:24 - Asahel 1 Chronicles 11:6 - Joab 1 Chronicles 11:20 - Abishai 1 Chronicles 27:7 - Asahel Joel 2:7 - They shall run

Verse 19

turned: 2 Samuel 2:21, Joshua 1:7, Joshua 23:6, 2 Kings 22:2, Proverbs 4:27

following Abner: Heb. after Abner

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:27 - for the blood 2 Samuel 3:30 - because Joel 2:7 - They shall run

Verse 21

and take thee: It seems that Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy.

armour: or, 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 Psalms 143:3 - smitten

Verse 23

the fifth rib: 2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 4:6, 2 Samuel 5:6, 2 Samuel 20:10

stood still: 2 Samuel 20:12, 2 Samuel 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, Jeremiah 12:12, Jeremiah 46:10, Jeremiah 46:14, Hosea 11:6

it will be: 2 Samuel 2:16, Proverbs 17:14

how long: Job 18:2, Job 19:2, Psalms 4:2, Jeremiah 4:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:26 - edge Judges 9:38 - General Judges 21:6 - repented them 2 Samuel 18:7 - twenty thousand men 2 Chronicles 11:4 - against Psalms 133:1 - how good Proverbs 20:18 - and Proverbs 25:8 - hastily Jeremiah 47:6 - how long Galatians 5:15 - General

Verse 27

As God: This 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, Proverbs 17:14, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 25:8, Isaiah 47:7, Luke 14:31, Luke 14:32

in the morning: Heb. from the morning

gone up: or, gone away

Reciprocal: Judges 9:38 - General Psalms 133:1 - how good Galatians 5:15 - General

Verse 28

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 13:3 - blew 2 Samuel 18:16 - blew the trumpet 2 Samuel 20:22 - he blew

Verse 29

Bithron: Bithron 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 Solomon 2:17, Bether

Mahanaim: 2 Samuel 2:12

Verse 31

three hundred: The 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, 2 Chronicles 21:1

went: 2 Samuel 5:1, Proverbs 22:29