Sometime afterward, David inquired of GOD, “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” GOD answered, “Yes.” David further asked, “Which one shall I go up to?” And GOD replied, “To Hebron.”
The people of Judahapeople of Judah I.e., their leaders, on the tribe’s behalf. came and there they anointed David king over the House of Judah.David was told about the agents of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.
So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gileadbto the people of Jabesh-gilead I.e., to their leaders. and said to them, “May you be blessed of GOD because you performed this act of faithfulness to your lord Saul and buried him.
But Abner son of Ner, Saul’s army commander, had taken Ish-boshethcIsh-bosheth Meaning “Man of Shame,” deliberately altered from Ish-baal, “Man of Baal”; cf. 1 Chron. 8.33; 9.39, and note at 2 Sam. 4.4 on Mephibosheth. son of Saul and brought him across to Mahanaim
and Joab son of Zeruiah and the soldiers of David [also] came out.ecame out Septuagint adds “from Hebron.” They confronted one another at the pool of Gibeon: one group sat on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool.
Each one grasped his opponent’s headggrasped his opponent’s head Septuagint adds “with his hand.” [and thrust] his dagger into his opponent’s side; thus they fell together. That place, which is in Gibeon, was called Helkath-hazzurim.hHelkath-hazzurim Meaning perhaps “the Field of the Flints (or Blades).”
The three sons of ZeruiahiZeruiah A sister of David, 1 Chron. 2.16. were there—Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was swift of foot, like a gazelle in the open field.
When he refused to desist, Abner struck him in the belly with a backward thrustja backward thrust Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of his spear and the spear protruded from his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And all who came to the place where Asahel fell and died halted;
but Joab and Abishai continued to pursue Abner. And the sun was setting as they reached the hill of Ammah, which faces Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.kwhich faces Giah … Gibeon Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Abner then called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? You know how bitterly it’s going to end! How long will you delay ordering your troops to stop the pursuit of their own kindred?”
And Joab replied, “As God lives, if you hadn’t spoken up, the troops would have given up the pursuit of their kindred only the next morning.”lif you hadn’t spoken up … the next morning Emendation yields “If you had only spoken up, the troops would already have given up the pursuit of their kinsmen this morning.”
Abner and his men marched through the Arabah all that night and, after crossing the Jordan, they marched through all of Bithronmthrough all of Bithron Meaning of Heb. uncertain. until they came to Mahanaim.
After Joab gave up the pursuit of Abner, he assembled all the troops and found nineteen of David’s soldiers missing, besides Asahel.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויואב
25
שב
302
מאחרי
259
אבנר
253
ויקבץ
208
אתכלהעם
566
ויפקדו
206
מעבדי
126
דוד
14
תשעהעשר
1345
איש
311
ועשהאל
412
II Samuel 2:31
Gematria: 3441
ועבדידודהכומבנימןובאנשיאבנרשלשמאותוששיםאישמתו
David’s soldiers, on the other hand, defeated the Benjaminites and the men under Abner and killed three hundred and sixty of them.ndefeated the Benjaminites … three hundred and sixty of them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.