2 Samuel 2:15

KJV

Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which [pertained] to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then there arose {H6965} and went over {H5674} by number {H4557} twelve {H8147}{H6240} of Benjamin {H1144}, which pertained to Ishbosheth {H378} the son {H1121} of Saul {H7586}, and twelve {H8147}{H6240} of the servants {H5650} of David {H1732}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So they got up and paired off, twelve for Binyamin and Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul, and twelve of David's servants.

Berean Standard Bible

So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

American Standard Version

Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 2:15 describes the immediate prelude to a tragic, escalating conflict between the two emerging factions in Israel: those loyal to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, and those who followed David. This verse details the acceptance of Abner's challenge for a "game" or "contest," with twelve chosen men from each side stepping forward, setting the stage for a representative battle that quickly devolved into full-scale civil war, highlighting the deep divisions within the nascent kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative following the death of King Saul and his sons at the [Battle of Gilboa](/1_samuel/31-6 "1 Samuel 31:6 - Death of Saul and His Sons"). David has been anointed king over Judah in Hebron ([2 Samuel 2:4 "2 Samuel 2:4 - David Anointed King of Judah"]), but Abner, Saul's formidable army commander, has established Saul's son, Ishbosheth, as king over the rest of Israel ([2 Samuel 2:8-9 "2 Samuel 2:8-9 - Abner Makes Ishbosheth King Over Israel"]). This creates a divided kingdom and an inevitable clash. The armies of David, led by Joab, and Ishbosheth, led by Abner, have met at the Pool of Gibeon ([2 Samuel 2:13 "2 Samuel 2:13 - Joab and Abner Meet at Gibeon"]). Verse 15 is the direct response to Abner's proposal in [2 Samuel 2:14](/2_samuel/2-14 "2 Samuel 2:14 - Abner's Challenge for a Contest") for a "game" between young men. It immediately precedes the deadly "contest" described in [2 Samuel 2:16](/2_samuel/2-16 "2 Samuel 2:16 - The Deadly Contest at Helkath-hazzurim"), which ignites the full-scale battle.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period immediately following Saul's death was one of political instability and a power vacuum. While David had been divinely chosen and anointed, the transition of power was not seamless, largely due to lingering tribal loyalties and the ambitions of figures like Abner. The "game" proposed by Abner, and accepted by Joab, reflects a practice sometimes seen in ancient warfare where disputes might be settled by champions or limited engagements to avoid widespread slaughter, though in this case, it tragically failed to prevent a larger conflict. Gibeon, located strategically near Benjaminite territory, served as a natural meeting point for the two armies, and its pool provided a vital water source, making it a logical site for such a confrontation. The specific mention of "Benjamin" highlights the strong tribal allegiance to Saul's house, as Benjamin was Saul's own tribe.
* **Key Themes:** This verse starkly illustrates the theme of the **Divided Kingdom**, a central conflict in 2 Samuel. Instead of immediate unity under God's chosen king, David, there was a persistent loyalty to Saul's lineage, championed by Abner and embodied by Ishbosheth. This division would cause significant strife and bloodshed before David's reign was fully established over all Israel ([2 Samuel 5:3 "2 Samuel 5:3 - David Becomes King Over All Israel"]). The "game" itself introduces the theme of **Proxy Conflict**, where a larger struggle is represented and attempted to be resolved through a smaller, symbolic engagement. This highlights the human tendency to seek quick, decisive outcomes to complex political and military disputes, often with tragic consequences. Furthermore, the verse underscores the theme of **Loyalty and Allegiance**, contrasting the tribal loyalty of "twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth" with the growing allegiance of "twelve of the servants of David," representing the two competing claims to the throne.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Arose (Hebrew, _qum_):** This verb signifies not just a physical standing up, but also a readiness for action, an assumption of a position, or the initiation of an event. In this context, it conveys the immediate and decisive response of both sides to Abner's challenge, indicating their willingness to engage.
* **Pertained (Hebrew, _le_):** The preposition "le" here indicates possession, belonging, or allegiance. It clearly delineates the men from Benjamin as being "of" or "belonging to" Ishbosheth, emphasizing their loyalty and identification with Saul's house, even in its weakened state.
* **Servants (Hebrew, _'eved_):** While literally meaning "servants," in a broader sense, especially in ancient Near Eastern contexts, this term often refers to loyal subjects, followers, or soldiers. The "servants of David" are not merely domestic staff but devoted adherents and warriors committed to his cause, highlighting their allegiance to him as their leader.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then there arose and went over":** This phrase describes the immediate and decisive action taken by both sides in response to Abner's challenge in the previous verse. It signifies their acceptance of the "game" and their movement towards the designated combat area, the Pool of Gibeon.
* **"by number twelve of Benjamin, which [pertained] to Ishbosheth the son of Saul":** This specifies the first group of combatants. The number twelve is significant, possibly symbolizing the tribes of Israel or a representative group. The identification of these men as "of Benjamin" emphasizes the strong tribal loyalty to Saul's lineage, as Benjamin was Saul's own tribe. Their allegiance "to Ishbosheth" clearly marks them as representatives of Saul's house and its claim to the throne.
* **"and twelve of the servants of David":** This specifies the opposing group, matching the number from Ishbosheth's side. The phrase "servants of David" highlights their loyalty and commitment to David, underscoring the direct confrontation between the two rival claims to kingship, represented by these chosen men. The parallelism in the number and designation of the groups sets up a direct, albeit tragic, confrontation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several key literary devices to convey its meaning and set the scene. **Parallelism** is evident in the balanced structure of "twelve of Benjamin... and twelve of the servants of David," which starkly highlights the two opposing factions and their equal representation in the impending conflict. This structural balance underscores the direct confrontation between the houses of Saul and David. Furthermore, the verse functions as a moment of **Foreshadowing**, as this seemingly contained "game" quickly escalates into a full-blown and prolonged civil war, signaling the deep-seated animosity and inevitable bloodshed that will follow. The number **Symbolism** of "twelve" is also noteworthy; while it could simply be a practical number for a contest, it often represents the twelve tribes of Israel, suggesting that this microcosm of conflict at Gibeon is symbolic of the larger national division and the fractured state of the entire Israelite people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Samuel 2:15, though describing a human-initiated "game," subtly underscores the tension between human will and divine sovereignty. Abner's proposal, and Joab's acceptance, represent human attempts to control the outcome of a divinely ordained transition. While God had clearly chosen David to be king over all Israel, human ambition, tribal loyalty, and political maneuvering led to a prolonged and bloody civil war. This verse is a stark reminder that even when God's plan is clear, human resistance and self-interest can introduce chaos and suffering. Yet, even amidst this conflict, God's ultimate purpose for David's reign continued to unfold, demonstrating His ability to work through and ultimately triumph over human folly and division.

* [1 Samuel 16:1-13](/1_samuel/16-1 "1 Samuel 16:1-13 - David Anointed by Samuel") (God's prior anointing of David, contrasting with human attempts to maintain Saul's line).
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction") (The pride and ambition of men like Abner and Ishbosheth leading to destruction).
* [Matthew 12:25](/matthew/12-25 "Matthew 12:25 - A Divided Kingdom Cannot Stand") (Jesus' teaching on the inherent instability and self-destructive nature of division).

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This historical account of ancient conflict offers profound insights into human nature and the complexities of leadership transitions, with timeless lessons for us today. The division depicted in 2 Samuel 2:15 serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of disunity within any community—be it a family, a church, or a nation. When factions arise and loyalty is split, even seemingly small conflicts can quickly escalate, leading to widespread suffering and prolonged instability. We are reminded that power struggles often treat human lives as pawns, underscoring the tragic consequences of ambition and resistance to God's ordained plans. However, the narrative also points to God's enduring sovereignty: despite the human conflict and bloodshed, God's ultimate plan for David to unite Israel and establish a lasting dynasty continued to unfold. This provides a vital reminder that God's purposes prevail even through periods of human strife and political turmoil, calling us to align our loyalties and efforts with His will, rather than engaging in self-serving battles that only perpetuate division.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do personal or communal divisions manifest in our lives today, and what are their costs to relationships and spiritual well-being?**
* **Where might we be tempted to engage in "proxy battles" or symbolic conflicts rather than addressing core issues or submitting to God's authority in our lives?**
* **What does this passage teach us about the nature of true leadership and the importance of allegiance to God's chosen path, even when it challenges existing loyalties?**

### FAQ
**Why did Abner propose this "game" instead of a full battle?**

Answer: Abner's proposal for a "game" or "contest" was likely an attempt to resolve the escalating conflict without immediately committing to a full-scale, potentially devastating war. This practice, sometimes referred to as "trial by combat" or a limited engagement by champions, was not uncommon in ancient warfare. It could have been an attempt to minimize casualties, to test the strength or resolve of the opposing side, or even to seek a quick, decisive outcome that might be interpreted as divine favor for one side without the full cost of a major battle. However, as the narrative shows, this "game" tragically failed to prevent wider conflict and instead served as the catalyst for the long civil war.

**What is the significance of the number twelve in this verse?**

Answer: The number twelve holds significant symbolic weight in biblical contexts, often representing the twelve tribes of Israel. In 2 Samuel 2:15, the selection of "twelve of Benjamin" and "twelve of the servants of David" could be deeply symbolic. It suggests that this "game" was intended to be a microcosm of the entire nation, with each side putting forward a representative group. Thus, the conflict between these 24 men symbolically represented the larger national division and the competing claims for the kingship of all Israel, making the outcome of this contest a symbolic judgment on the future of the divided kingdom.

**How does this "game" relate to the larger civil war between David and Ishbosheth?**

Answer: This "game" at the Pool of Gibeon served as the direct catalyst and initial major engagement of the long and bloody civil war between the house of Saul (represented by Ishbosheth and Abner) and the house of David. What began as a proposed "sport" quickly turned deadly, with all 24 participants killing each other ([2 Samuel 2:16 "2 Samuel 2:16 - The Deadly Contest at Helkath-hazzurim"]). This immediate escalation triggered a full-scale battle between the two armies, marking the formal beginning of a protracted conflict that would last for years, highlighting the deep-seated animosity and the tragic cost of the divided kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic "game" at Gibeon in 2 Samuel 2:15, born of human ambition and tribal division, stands in stark contrast to the ultimate resolution of conflict found in Jesus Christ. The divided kingdom of Israel, with its internal strife and bloodshed, foreshadows humanity's universal state of alienation from God and from one another due to sin. While the men of Benjamin and the servants of David sought to resolve their differences through a proxy battle that only led to more death, Christ's mission was to bring true peace and reconciliation. He is the ultimate "Champion" who did not engage in a battle of equals, but offered Himself as the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), making a once-for-all sacrifice to reconcile all things to God ([Colossians 1:19-20 "Colossians 1:19-20 - Christ Reconciles All Things"]). Unlike the temporary and violent solutions of human history, Christ’s victory on the cross broke down the dividing wall of hostility ([Ephesians 2:14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace"]) and established a kingdom not of this world, not built by human might or conflict ([John 18:36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World"]), but by grace and truth. The eventual unity of Israel under David points forward to Christ's universal and eternal reign, where all nations and peoples will be gathered under His peaceful and righteous rule, fulfilling the promise of a kingdom that will never end ([Revelation 11:15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes Christ's"]).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.