2 Samuel 2:31

KJV

But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, [so that] three hundred and threescore men died.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the servants {H5650} of David {H1732} had smitten {H5221} of Benjamin {H1144}, and of Abner's {H74} men {H582}, so that three {H7969} hundred {H3967} and threescore {H8346} men {H376} died {H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But David's servants had killed 360 of Avner's men of Binyamin.

Berean Standard Bible

but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.

American Standard Version

But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Samuel 2:31 provides the grim casualty count for Abner's forces following the brutal skirmish at the Pool of Gibeon, reporting that three hundred and threescore (360) men from Benjamin and Abner's company perished. This verse starkly concludes the account of a pivotal early engagement in the civil war between the house of Saul and the emerging kingdom of David, underscoring the decisive victory of David's men and foreshadowing his eventual consolidation of power over all Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the immediate aftermath and statistical summary of a fierce battle initiated by a seemingly innocuous challenge between twelve young men from each side at the Pool of Gibeon, as described in [2 Samuel 2:12-16](/2-samuel/2-12 "2 Samuel 2:12-16 - The Deadly Contest at Gibeon"). What began as a ritualized contest quickly devolved into a full-scale rout of Abner's forces. The preceding verse, [2 Samuel 2:30](/2-samuel/2-30 "2 Samuel 2:30 - David's Minimal Losses"), highlights the stark contrast in casualties, with David's men suffering only nineteen dead, plus Asahel. This numerical disparity emphasizes the divine favor on David's side and sets the stage for the protracted conflict detailed in [2 Samuel 3:1](/2-samuel/3-1 "2 Samuel 3:1 - The Long War Between Saul's House and David's House"), where the "long war" between the two houses is explicitly mentioned.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of 2 Samuel 2 occur during a turbulent period in Israel's history, following the death of King Saul and his sons. Israel was divided, with the northern tribes, under Abner's influence, supporting Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king, while Judah had anointed David king in Hebron. Gibeon, located strategically north of Jerusalem, became a flashpoint in this civil war. The presence of men from Benjamin, Saul's own tribe, among Abner's forces underscores the deep tribal loyalties and divisions within Israel. The "challenge" and subsequent battle reflect the brutal realities of ancient warfare, where personal combat could quickly escalate into widespread slaughter, and the pursuit of a routed enemy was common practice to maximize victory.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully illustrates several key themes. Firstly, it highlights **The Cost of Conflict**, particularly internal strife. The loss of 360 men from one side in a single engagement underscores the tragic consequences of a divided nation, a theme echoed throughout the Old Testament concerning the dangers of disunity (cf. [Judges 5:15-17](/judges/5-15 "Judges 5:15-17 - Divisions Among the Tribes")). Secondly, the lopsided casualty count reinforces **David's Ascendancy** and the divine hand guiding his rise to kingship. This military victory, following the anointing of David in [1 Samuel 16](/1-samuel/16 "1 Samuel 16 - Samuel Anoints David"), serves as tangible evidence of God's blessing on his cause, contrasting sharply with the dwindling power of Saul's house. Finally, the heavy losses among those loyal to Saul's lineage, particularly from Benjamin, speak to the **Consequences of Resisting God's Chosen Leader**, a recurring motif in the narrative of David's establishment as king over all Israel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Smitten (Hebrew, _nākāh'_):** This verb carries a strong connotation of striking, beating, or killing, often in battle. In this context, it denotes a decisive and violent defeat, emphasizing the active and destructive role of David's servants in inflicting casualties upon Abner's men. It is not merely that men "died," but that they were "smitten," indicating a forceful and intentional act of warfare.
* **Benjamin (Hebrew, _Binyamin'_):** This refers to the tribe of Benjamin, Saul's own tribe. Their prominent presence among Abner's casualties underscores the tribal loyalty to Saul's house and the direct conflict between the two emerging kingdoms. The heavy losses for Benjamin would have had significant social and political repercussions, further weakening the support base for Ish-bosheth.
* **Threescore (Old English):** This archaic term means "sixty." Therefore, "three hundred and threescore" translates directly to 360. The use of such a specific, albeit round, number provides a sense of factual reporting and emphasizes the scale of the defeat for Abner's forces, contributing to the narrative's credibility and impact.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men":** This clause establishes the active agent of destruction—David's forces—and identifies their victims. It highlights that the casualties were not accidental but the direct result of the military prowess and effectiveness of David's "servants," indicating a well-executed and successful engagement. The inclusion of "Benjamin" specifically points to the tribal dimension of the conflict, as Saul himself was a Benjaminite, and many of his loyalists would have hailed from this tribe. "Abner's men" is a broader designation for the forces under his command, representing the military strength of Ish-bosheth's kingdom.
* **"[so that] three hundred and threescore men died":** This concluding phrase delivers the grim outcome of the battle, quantifying the human cost. The phrase "so that" (implied in the KJV translation) indicates the direct consequence of the smiting. The precise number, 360, underscores the significant and disproportionate loss suffered by Abner's side, especially when contrasted with David's minimal casualties mentioned in the preceding verse. This numerical detail serves to concretize the extent of Abner's defeat and David's victory.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several effective literary devices. **Numerical Detail** is prominent, with the precise count of "three hundred and threescore men" providing a stark, almost clinical, measure of the devastation. This specificity lends a sense of historical accuracy and emphasizes the scale of the defeat. There is an implicit **Contrast** or **Juxtaposition** with the casualty count of David's men in [2 Samuel 2:30](/2-samuel/2-30 "2 Samuel 2:30 - David's Minimal Losses"), which highlights the overwhelming nature of David's victory and the divine favor upon his side. The grim tally also evokes **Pathos**, inviting the reader to reflect on the immense human cost of civil war and division. Furthermore, the decisive victory and heavy losses for the opposing side serve as **Foreshadowing** of David's inevitable triumph and consolidation of power over all Israel, reinforcing the narrative's overarching theme of God's sovereign plan for the Davidic dynasty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The heavy casualty count in 2 Samuel 2:31 serves as a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of human resistance to God's ordained plan and the devastating impact of internal strife. While David's men achieved a decisive victory, the loss of life, even among the "enemy," underscores the inherent sorrow in conflict, especially within a nation meant to be united under God. The theological implication is that God's purposes will ultimately prevail, but human opposition often incurs a heavy cost. This battle, though bloody, was a necessary step in the establishment of the Davidic kingdom, which was central to God's redemptive plan for Israel. It demonstrates that divine sovereignty can work through difficult and violent human events to bring about His ultimate will.

* [1 Samuel 16:1-13](/1-samuel/16-1 "1 Samuel 16:1-13 - Samuel Anoints David as King"): God's sovereign choice of David as king, despite human preferences or existing power structures.
* [Matthew 12:25](/matthew/12-25 "Matthew 12:25 - A House Divided Cannot Stand"): Jesus' teaching on the destructive nature of internal division, a principle vividly illustrated by the civil war in 2 Samuel.
* [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalms/33-16 "Psalm 33:16-17 - Not by Might, but by God's Deliverance"): Reaffirms that victory in battle is not solely dependent on military might or numbers, but on God's favor and deliverance, a truth evident in David's disproportionate success.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The grim tally of 2 Samuel 2:31 serves as a profound historical echo, resonating with timeless truths about the destructive nature of division and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes. In any context—be it a nation, a community, a family, or even within the church—unresolved conflict and a refusal to acknowledge God's leading can lead to immense suffering and loss. This passage challenges us to consider the "casualties" of our own disagreements: broken relationships, lost opportunities for ministry, and spiritual stagnation. It reminds us that while God's plan will always prevail, the path to its fulfillment can be fraught with pain when human pride, tribalism, or self-interest resist divine alignment. True victory, in God's eyes, often involves humility, reconciliation, and a willingness to lay down personal agendas for the greater good of His kingdom. We are called to be peacemakers, seeking unity and submitting to God's appointed leadership, recognizing that genuine peace comes from aligning our will with His.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "civil wars" or deep divisions exist in my own life, community, or church, and what is their true cost?**
* **How can I discern God's will and align myself with His purposes, even when it means challenging existing loyalties or traditions?**
* **In what ways might I be contributing to disunity, and what steps can I take towards reconciliation and healing?**
* **How does the disproportionate victory of David's men encourage me to trust in God's power and favor, even when facing overwhelming odds?**

### FAQ
**Why is the specific number "three hundred and threescore" (360) men highlighted?**

Answer: The specific number of 360 casualties for Abner's forces, especially when contrasted with the minimal losses (19 men plus Asahel) for David's side in [2 Samuel 2:30](/2-samuel/2-30 "2 Samuel 2:30 - David's Minimal Losses"), serves several purposes. It provides a concrete, almost journalistic, detail that lends credibility and gravity to the account. More importantly, it dramatically emphasizes the decisive nature of David's victory and the overwhelming defeat suffered by the house of Saul. This numerical disparity underscores the divine favor resting upon David, signaling that God was actively working to establish his kingdom, even through the crucible of civil war. It visually represents the weakening of Saul's house and the strengthening of David's.

**What was the significance of men from "Benjamin" being among the casualties?**

Answer: The specific mention of "Benjamin" is highly significant because Benjamin was the tribe of King Saul. This detail highlights the tribal loyalties that fueled the civil war. Many of the men fighting for Ish-bosheth and Abner would have been Saul's kinsmen, bound by tribal allegiance to his lineage. Their heavy losses signify the direct and painful conflict between the old order (Saul's house) and the new, divinely appointed order (David's house). It underscores that even those with strong, traditional loyalties were falling in opposition to God's unfolding plan for David's kingship, further weakening the political and military base of Ish-bosheth's reign.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The grim tally of 2 Samuel 2:31, while detailing a bloody historical conflict, points forward to the ultimate victory of God's true anointed King, Jesus Christ. David, as God's chosen king, prefigures Christ, who comes not to conquer by earthly sword but by sacrificial love. The casualties of Abner's men represent the devastating cost of humanity's rebellion against God's sovereign rule, a rebellion that ultimately led to the need for a perfect sacrifice. Unlike the battlefield at Gibeon, Christ's victory on the cross involved His own suffering and death, not the slaughter of His enemies. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus decisively "smote" the powers of sin and death, achieving a victory far greater than any earthly battle (cf. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). He is the true King who unites all people, breaking down the dividing walls of hostility (cf. [Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")), offering peace and reconciliation rather than division and death. The "long war" of human sin and rebellion finds its decisive end in Christ's reign, where His kingdom is established not by force, but by grace, drawing all creation to Himself (cf. [John 12:32](/john/12-32 "John 12:32 - Jesus Lifted Up")). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering life where the old order brought death (cf. [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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.

Cross-References

1 Kings 20:11

And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that putteth it off.

2 Samuel 3:1

¶ Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.