2 Samuel2

After Saul's death, David enquired of the LORD and was directed to Hebron, where the men of Judah anointed him king over their house. Simultaneously, Abner, Saul's captain, made Ishbosheth, Saul's son, king over the rest of Israel, establishing a divided kingdom. This division led to an initial confrontation at the pool of Gibeon, escalating into a fierce battle where David's men prevailed, but resulted in the death of Asahel, Joab's brother, at Abner's hand.

David Anointed King in Hebron

After this, David consulted ADONAI; he asked, "Should I go up into any of the cities of Y'hudah?"ADONAI said to him, "Go up." David asked, "Where should I go up?" He said, "To Hevron."

So David went up there with his two wives Achino'am from Yizre'el and Avigayil the widow of Naval from Karmel.

David brought the men up with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hevron.

Then the men of Y'hudah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Y'hudah. They informed David that the men of Yavesh-Gil'ad were the ones who had buried Sha'ul.

So David sent messengers to the men of Yavesh-Gil'ad with this message: "May you be blessed by ADONAI, because you showed this kindness to your lord, Sha'ul, and buried him.

Now may ADONAI show kindness and truth to you; and I too will show you favor because you have done this.

Be strong, and be brave. Sha'ul your lord is dead, but the house of Y'hudah have anointed me king over them."

Ishbosheth Established as Rival King

Avner the son of Ner, commander of Sha'ul's army, had taken Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul, brought him over to Machanayim,

and made him king over Gil'ad, the Ashuri, Yizre'el, Efrayim, Binyamin and all Isra'el.

Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul was forty years old when he began to rule over Isra'el, and he ruled for two years. But the house of Y'hudah followed David.

David was king in Hevron over the house of Y'hudah for seven years and six months.

War Breaks Out at Gibeon

Avner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul went out from Machanayim to Giv'on;

while Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah and David's servants also went out; and they met together by the pool at Giv'on. One group sat down on one side of the pool and the other on the other side.

Avner said to Yo'av, "If it's all right with you, let's have the young men get up and fight it out between themselves, while we watch." Yo'av said, "Yes, let them."

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

Each one grabbed his partner by the head and drove his sword into his side, so that they fell down together. For this reason that place was named Helkat-Hatzurim [field of blades]; it is in Giv'on.

The battle that day was very fierce; Avner and the men of Isra'el were beaten by David's servants.

The three sons of Tz'ruyah were there, Yo'av, Avishai and 'Asah'el. 'Asah'el was as fleet-footed as a gazelle in an open field.

'Asah'el chased Avner, going straight for him, veering neither right nor left.

Avner looked behind him and asked, "Is that you, 'Asah'el?""Yes, it is," he answered.

Avner said to him, "Turn off to your right or your left, catch one of the young men and take his armor." But 'Asah'el wouldn't turn aside and kept following him.

Avner said again to 'Asah'el, "Turn aside and stop following me! Why should I kill you? If I did, how could I look your brother Yo'av in the eye?"

But he still refused to turn aside; so Avner stabbed him in the groin with the back end of the spear, so that the shaft protruded behind him. He fell down and died on the spot. Everyone who came to the place where 'Asah'el lay dead stopped there.

Abner Calls for a Truce

Yo'av and Avishai continued in pursuit of Avner; the sun went down when they arrived at Amah Hill, across from Giach along the Giv'on Desert road.

The people of Binyamin gathered themselves together into a phalanx behind Avner and stood on top of a hill.

Then Avner called out to Yo'av, "Must the sword go on devouring forever? Don't you know that in the end it can produce only bitterness? How long will it be, then, before you tell the people to quit pursuing their brothers?"

Yo'av said, "As God lives, if you hadn't said something, there is no doubt that the people would have kept following their brothers all night long."

Then Yo'av sounded the shofar, and with that the people halted. They stopped pursuing Isra'el, and they stopped fighting.

Avner and his men went through the 'Aravah all that night; they crossed the Yarden, went through all of Bitron and arrived at Machanayim.

Yo'av returned from following Avner. When he brought the troops together for review, nineteen of David's servants were missing, along with 'Asah'el.

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

They took 'Asah'el and buried him in his father's tomb in Beit-Lechem. Then Yo'av and his men marched all night, so that they reached Hevron at daybreak.

Study Notes for 2 Samuel 2

Verse 1

David continues his pattern of seeking divine counsel (through the Urim and Thummim or a prophet) even after Saul's death, demonstrating reliance on God rather than seizing power immediately. Hebron was strategically significant as a major city in Judah.

Verse 2

David’s practice of taking multiple wives was common among ancient Near Eastern kings, partially to solidify alliances and produce heirs, though it stood in tension with the idealized law for kings (Deut. 17:17).

Verse 3

David ensured the safety and settlement of his followers and their families, indicating his responsibility as a leader and establishing a stable base of support in the southern territory.

Verse 4

This anointing by the men of Judah partially fulfilled the earlier prophetic anointing by Samuel (1 Sam. 16). However, because the northern tribes did not participate, this action initiated a period of civil war and divided monarchy.

Verse 5

David’s immediate diplomatic outreach to Jabesh-Gilead is a calculated political move. By honoring those who honored Saul, David shows respect for the deceased king and subtly begins the process of unifying the tribes under his own authority.

Verse 7

David uses the opportunity to encourage the men of Jabesh-Gilead, subtly shifting their perspective from the fallen house of Saul to his new monarchy, offering stability and strength.

Verse 8

Abner, Saul’s cousin and army commander, attempts to preserve the Saulide dynasty by installing Ishbosheth (likely a nickname for Eshbaal, meaning 'man of the Lord') as a puppet king.

Verse 9

Abner strategically placed Ishbosheth in Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, away from David’s stronghold in Hebron and the chaos left by the Philistine defeat. The list of regions shows Ishbosheth claimed authority over most of central and northern Israel.

Verse 10

The note that Ishbosheth reigned for only two years contrasts sharply with the seven and a half years David reigned over Judah (v. 11), highlighting the instability and ultimate failure of the Saulide claim.

Verse 11

This chronological marker sets the duration of the ensuing civil war. David’s patient rule in Hebron demonstrates his commitment to God’s timing, refusing to force the unity of Israel prematurely.

Verse 12

This meeting was likely intended as a political negotiation or a show of force, but it quickly escalated into armed conflict, initiating the official civil war between the two houses.

Verse 13

Joab, David's nephew, emerges here as the fierce and loyal commander of David's forces, paralleling Abner's role for Ishbosheth.

Verse 14

Abner proposes a *śeḥoq* (a game or sport), which quickly turns into a deadly ritual duel designed to test the strength of the opposing sides, rather than an immediate full-scale battle.

Verse 16

The synchronized, fatal nature of the fighting—where each man killed his opponent simultaneously—earned the place the name Helkath-hazzurim, meaning 'Field of Sharp Edges' or 'Field of Sides,' commemorating the tragic duel.

Verse 18

Asahel, known for his incredible speed, was one of the three formidable sons of Zeruiah (David’s sister), alongside Joab and Abishai, who formed the core of David’s military leadership.

Verse 20

Abner attempts to avoid a direct confrontation, recognizing the dangerous political implications of killing a relative of David's primary general, Joab. He seeks to prevent a blood feud.

Verse 21

Abner warns Asahel to fight a less significant soldier and take his armor, demonstrating his desire to avoid the legally binding obligation of blood revenge that would follow if he killed a close relative of Joab.

Verse 23

Abner killed Asahel in self-defense, striking him in the abdomen. This act, though unintentional in its context (Abner tried to warn him off), guarantees a vendetta by Joab, setting up the central conflict of the next chapter.

Verse 24

The pursuit continues until sunset, a natural break in ancient warfare. Joab and Abishai now have a deeply personal motive (blood revenge) driving their military action against Abner.

Verse 26

Abner appeals to Joab based on kinship ('brethren') and common sense, arguing that prolonged civil war only leads to lasting 'bitterness' for the whole nation, reflecting an ethical awareness of the tragedy of internal conflict.

Verse 27

Joab places the blame for the continued pursuit back on Abner, claiming that had Abner not initiated the fighting (v. 14), the battle would have never escalated, thus accepting the truce only after achieving a decisive victory.

Verse 28

The blowing of the trumpet signals the immediate cessation of hostilities, demonstrating the authority of the commanders to negotiate and enforce a sudden truce during the civil war.

Verse 30

The casualty count highlights David’s superior military position, having lost only 20 men (including Asahel) compared to the enemy's significant losses (360 men), demonstrating divine favor and military effectiveness.

Verse 32

The burial of Asahel near Bethlehem ensures that the memory of Abner’s action will remain a source of conflict for Joab and David’s house, foreshadowing the tragic events of 2 Samuel 3.

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2 Samuel2

David Anointed King in Hebron

Ishbosheth Established as Rival King

War Breaks Out at Gibeon

Abner Calls for a Truce

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