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2 Samuel
Chapter Two
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 2
This
chapter relates that David
upon inquiring of the Lord
was directed to go up
to Hebron
and did
where he was anointed king of Judah
2 Samuel 2:1. And
that being told of the kindness of the men of Jabeshgilead in burying Saul
he
sent them thanks
and promised to remember it
and took the opportunity to let
them know he was anointed king over Judah
2 Samuel 2:5. It
also relates that Abner set up Ishbosheth
the son of Saul
to be king over
Israel
2 Samuel 2:8; and
that there was an encounter between twelve of Abner's men and twelve of
David's
which brought on a sore battle between them
in which Abner was
beaten
2 Samuel 2:12; and
Asahel
who was of David's party
was slain in the pursuit by Abner
2 Samuel 2:18; when
a retreat was sounded by Joab
at the influence of Abner
who
with his wen
betook themselves to Mahanaim
where he had left Ishbosheth
2 Samuel 2:26. And
the chapter closes with an account of the slain on both sides
the burial of
Asahel
and the return of Joab with David's men to Hebron
2 Samuel 2:30.
2 Samuel 2:1 It
happened after this that David inquired of the Lord
saying
“Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him
“Go up.” David said
“Where shall I go up?” And He said
“To Hebron.”
YLT
1And it cometh to pass
afterwards
that David asketh at Jehovah
saying
`Do I go up into one of the
cities of Judah?' and Jehovah saith unto him
`Go up.' And David saith
`Whither do I go up?' and He saith
`To Hebron.'
And it came to pass after this
.... After David had heard
of the death of Saul and Jonathan
and made a lamentation over them
perhaps
the next day; since David and his men are only said to mourn
and weep
and
fast till even
2 Samuel 1:10
that David inquired of the Lord; of the Word of the Lord
as the Targum
by Abiathar the priest
and through the Urim and Thummim
in the
ephod he had put on on this occasion:
saying
shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? though the
Lord had promised him the kingdom
and he had been anointed by Samuel by his
appointment
yet he was not hasty to take it into his hands
but was desirous
of acting according to the will of God
and by his direction
and wait his time
when and where he should go and take possession of it; he mentions Judah
because it was his own tribe
and where he had the most friends:
and the Lord said unto him
go up; from Ziklag into the
tribe of Judah
but did not mention any particular place whither he should go;
hence another question was put:
and David said
whither shall I go up? To what town
or city in the tribe of Judah? whether Jerusalem or any other?
And he said
unto Hebron; a city of the priests
a
city of refuge
Joshua 21:13
twenty miles from Jerusalem
or more
which is not directed to
because it was
then chiefly in the hands of the Jebusites
and because
as Procopius Gazaeus
says
Hebron was now the metropolis of Judah.
2 Samuel 2:2 2 So David went up there
and his two wives also
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
and Abigail the widow of
Nabal the Carmelite.
YLT
2And David goeth up thither
and also his two wives
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
and Abigail wife of Nabal the
Carmelite;
So David went up thither
.... From Ziklag to
Hebron
which was sixteen miles according to BuntingF25Ut supra
(Travels &c.) p. 137. .
and his two wives also
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
and Abigail
Nabal's wife
the Carmelite; who were beloved by him
and who had shared
with him in his troubles
and which he took with him to partake of his honour
and grandeur
wealth and riches; in which he was now a type of Christ. See Romans 8:17.
2 Samuel 2:3 3 And David brought up the
men who were with him
every man with his household. So they dwelt in
the cities of Hebron.
YLT
3and his men who [are] with
him hath David brought up -- a man and his household -- and they dwell in the
cities of Hebron.
And his men that were with him did David bring up
every man with
his household
.... They and their families
and no doubt provided well for them
when he was settled on the throne
who had shown themselves to be his faithful
friends
closely attached to his interest
and had run the risk of their all on
his account. See Matthew 19:28.
And they dwelt in the cities of Hebron; in the towns
and villages about it; for that itself being a city of refuge
and inhabited by
priests
there was not room enough for all David's men
who were now
increasing
persons from various tribes flocking to him. See 1 Chronicles 12:1.
2 Samuel 2:4 4 Then the men of Judah
came
and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told
David
saying
“The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
YLT
4And the men of Judah come
and anoint there David for king over the house of Judah; and they declare to
David
saying
`The men of Jabesh-Gilead [are] they who buried Saul.'
And the men of Judah came
.... The inhabitants of
the tribe of Judah came from the several parts of it to Hebron
that is
the
principal of them
the elders of each city:
and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah; they did not
take upon them to make him king over all Israel
but left the rest of the
tribes to act for themselves; and no doubt in this they had the mind of David
who was not willing to force himself upon the people at once
but by degrees
get the whole government into his hands
as Providence should make his way;
these men knew the kingdom was promised to their tribe
from Genesis 49:10; and
were quite clear in what they did
and
without question
knew that David had
been anointed by Samuel: but as that anointing was only a declaration of the
Lord's choice of him
and of his will that he should be king after Saul's
death
he is again anointed by the people
as an inauguration into his office:
and they told David
saying
that the men of Jabeshgilead were
they that buried Saul. It is highly probable
that as soon as
David was anointed king
the first thing he thought of was to inquire after the
body of the late king
and give it an honourable interment
and upon inquiry
was told that the men of Jabeshgilead had buried him already. See 1 Samuel 31:11.
2 Samuel 2:5 5 So David sent messengers
to the men of Jabesh Gilead
and said to them
“You are blessed of the Lord
for you have
shown this kindness to your lord
to Saul
and have buried him.
YLT
5And David sendeth
messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead
and saith unto them
`Blessed [are]
ye of Jehovah
in that ye have done this kindness with your lord
with Saul
that ye bury him.
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead
.... To return
them thanks for their courage and boldness in rescuing the bodies of Saul and
his sons out of the hands of the Philistines
and for their civility in the
burial of them:
and said unto them
blessed be ye of the Lord; which may be
considered either as a wish
the Lord bless you for it
or as a prediction
the
Lord will bless you:
that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord
even unto
Saul
and have buried him. To bury the dead
with
the Jews
was always reckoned an instance of humanity and kindness
and indeed
of piety; an act done in imitation of GodF26T. Bab. Bava Metzia
fol. 32. 2. and Sotah
fol. 14. 1.
who buried Moses
and so it might be
expected the divine blessing would attend it.
2 Samuel 2:6 6 And now may the Lord show kindness
and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness
because you have done
this thing.
YLT
6`And
now
Jehovah doth
with you kindness and truth
and also
I do with you this good because ye have
done this thing;
And now the Lord show kindness and truth unto you
.... Or true
kindness; confer real favours
bestow upon you good and substantial blessings
blessings indeed!
and I also will requite you this kindness
because ye have done
this thing. He not only prayed to God to bless them and reward them for it
but would remember them himself
and at a proper opportunity would show favour
to them for this act of kindness to Saul. De Dieu proposes to consideration
whether it may not be as well interpreted to this sense
"and I also do
you this kindness" because of it; that is
have done you this honour by
sending messengers to you
to thank you for it
and by wishing a blessing upon
you on account of it
and by praising and commending you for it; but the former
sense seems best.
2 Samuel 2:7 7 Now therefore
let your
hands be strengthened
and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead
and also
the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
YLT
7and now
are your hands
strong
and be ye for sons of valour
for your lord Saul. [is] dead
and also
-- me have the house of Judah anointed for king over them.'
Now therefore let your hands be strengthened
and be ye valiant
.... And not
be afraid of the Philistines
who might resent their conduct in taking away
from them the bodies of Saul and his sons
whom they had hung up in triumph;
and these men might fear they would bring their armies against them
and destroy
them; but David bids them be of good heart and courage
and not be afraid of
them:
for your master Saul is dead; or rather
"though"F1כי "licet
enim"
V. L. "quamvis"
Piscator. So Pool and Patrick. he is
dead; for that he was dead they knew full well
having buried him
and needed
no information of it; but being dead
they might be discouraged
as having none
to protect and defend them
or come to their relief as he did
should they be
attacked:
and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them; or "for
even"
or "notwithstanding"F2וגם
"tamen"
V. L. "nam similiter"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. ; and this therefore being the case
he would take their parts
and
help and assist them; and which he suggests to them
to invite them to own him
as their king also
and put themselves under his protection.
2 Samuel 2:8 8 But Abner the son of Ner
commander of Saul’s army
took Ishbosheth[a] the son of
Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim;
YLT
8And Abner
son of Ner
head
of the host which Saul hath
hath taken Ish-Bosheth
son of Saul
and causeth
him to pass over to Mahanaim
But Abner
the son of Ner
captain of Saul's host
.... This
man's father
Ner
was Saul's uncle
1 Samuel 14:50
and
he was his own cousin
and being general of his army
a post he was willing to
keep
might be the reasons for doing what he did
as follows:
took Ishbosheth the son of Saul; and who seems to be his
only son left
except what he had by his concubine. This man's name is Eshbaal
in 1 Chronicles 8:33.
Baal is the name of a shameful idol
and which was therefore sometimes called
Bosheth
"shame". See Hosea 9:10;
wherefore such names of men
which had Baal in them
were changed for Besheth
or Bosheth
as the names of Jerubbaal and Meribbaal
who were called
Jerubbesheth and Mephibosheth. See Judges 8:35;
compared with 2 Samuel 11:21
and
2 Samuel 4:4 with 1 Chronicles 8:34.
The latter of these
a son of Jonathan
bid fairest for the crown by lineal
succession
but he being but five years of age
and lame
this man Abner judged
fittest for his purpose; and though he knew it was the will of God
and he had
sworn that David should be king
yet so blind and obstinate was his ambition
that he set up another against him:
and brought him over to Mahanaim; a city on the other side
Jordan
in the tribe of Gad
on the border of the half tribe of Manasseh; see Joshua 13:26; and
hither Abner had Ishbosheth
partly to keep the men of Jabeshgilead in awe
to
whom David had sent messengers
acquainting them with his being king of Judah
and prevent their joining with him; and partly that he might be at a proper
distance both from the Philistines and from David
till he could form his
measures
and gradually carry his point
as he did.
2 Samuel 2:9 9 and he made him king over
Gilead
over the Ashurites
over Jezreel
over Ephraim
over Benjamin
and over
all Israel.
YLT
9and causeth him to reign
over Gilead
and over the Ashurite
and over Jezreel
and over Ephraim
and
over Benjamin
and over Israel -- all of it.
And he made him king over Gilead
.... Which lay beyond
Jordan
and included the tribes of Gad and Reuben
and the half tribe of
Manasseh; these he prevailed upon to acknowledge Ishbosheth
their king
and
proclaimed him king over them:
and over the Ashurites: that is
those of the
house or tribe of Asher
as the Targum
and indeed none else can well be
thought of; some indeed read the Geshurites
as the Vulgate Latin version; but
these were never expelled by the Israelites
and had at this time a king over
them
2 Samuel 3:3; see Joshua 13:13
and over Jezreel; the great plain which went along the
borders of Zebulun
Issachar
and Naphtali
and included these tribes:
and over Ephraim
and over Benjamin: the tribes of Ephraim
and Benjamin:
and over all Israel
excepting the tribe of
Judah; that is
he prevailed first on one of these
then on another
until he
got all the tribes of Israel to own him for their king; David all this time
being still and quiet
and not opposing him
waiting God's own time to open the
way for his possession of the kingdom over all Israel
and having a strict
regard to his oath to Saul
1 Samuel 24:21.
2 Samuel 2:10 10 Ishbosheth
Saul’s son
was
forty years old when he began to reign over Israel
and he reigned two years.
Only the house of Judah followed David.
YLT
10A son of forty years
[is]
Ish-Bosheth son of Saul
in his reigning over Israel
and two years he hath
reigned
only the house of Judah have been after David.
Ishbosheth
Saul's son
was forty years old when he began
to reign over Israel
.... Being born the same year his father began to reign. See Gill
on 1 Samuel 31:6
and reigned two years; which some understand of
these
and no more; and whereas David reigned seven years and a half over
Judah
before he reigned over all Israel
it is thought by the Jewish
chronologerF3Seder Olam Rabba
c. 13. p. 37. that there was a
vacancy in the throne of Israel for the space of five years
and so says
Kimchi; which vacancy was either before the reign of Ishbosheth
it being a
matter in dispute whether he or Mephibosheth should be set up
or after his
death; the tribes of Israel being so long before they acknowledged David their
king; or Ishbosheth's reign of two years must be in the middle of David's reign
over Judah; but there is no need to suppose either of these
for the text says
not that Ishbosheth reigned only two years; but the meaning is
as Ben Gersom
observes
that he had reigned two years when the following things happened
and
a war began
and not by him but by Abner
and carried on by him; and he being
an inactive prince
the rest of his reign was reckoned as no reign
whereas he
lived and reigned the same length of time David did over Judah; see 2 Samuel 3:1
but the house of Judah followed David; kept close to
him as their king
yielding a cheerful obedience to him.
2 Samuel 2:11 11 And the time that David
was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
YLT
11And the number of the days
that David hath been king in Hebron
over the house of Judah
is seven years
and six months.
And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah
.... And over
them only:
was seven years and six months; to which being added
thirty three years he reigned over all Israel in Jerusalem
made forty years
and six months; and which
for the roundness of the number
is usually called
forty years. See 2 Samuel 5:4.
2 Samuel 2:12 12 Now Abner the son of Ner
and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul
went out from Mahanaim to
Gibeon.
YLT
12And Abner son of Ner goeth
out
and servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul
from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
And Abner the son of Ner
.... Who was before
captain of Saul's host
and now of Ishbosheth's:
and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul; who seem to
be not only his domestic servants
that waited upon him
or his courtiers
but
his whole army by what follows:
went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon; came from the city on
the other side Jordan
where perhaps they had been two years past
concerting
schemes to bring all Israel under the government of Ishbosheth; in which they
had succeeded
only Judah stood out with David; and in order to reduce that
tribe
they passed over Jordan and came to Gibeon
a city in Benjamin. See Joshua 18:25.
2 Samuel 2:13 13 And Joab the son of
Zeruiah
and the servants of David
went out and met them by the pool of
Gibeon. So they sat down
one on one side of the pool and the other on the
other side of the pool.
YLT
13And Joab son of Zeruiah
and servants of David
have gone out
and they meet by the pool of Gibeon
together
and sit down
these by the pool on this [side]
and these by the pool
on that.
And Joab the son of Zeruiah
.... A sister of David
and this her son was general of David's army:
and the servants of David
went out; that is
his army went
out from Hebron to Gibeon
which was twenty four milesF4Bunting's
Travels
p. 146. to meet that under Abner; for though he had but one tribe with
him
and Ishbosheth had all the rest
yet Judah was a numerous
powerful
and
warlike tribe; and besides many out of the other tribes had joined them
and
above all
God was on their side
and they had his promise to rely upon with
respect to the establishment of the kingdom in the house of David
and his
power and providence to trust in
and therefore went out boldly and cheerfully
to meet the armies of Israel under Abner:
and met together by the pool of Gibeon; the same
perhaps with the great waters in Gibeon
Jeremiah 41:12
and they sat down
the one on the one side of the pool
and the
other on the other side of the pool; facing one another
and
watching each other's motions.
2 Samuel 2:14 14 Then Abner said to Joab
“Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said
“Let them
arise.”
YLT
14And Abner saith unto Joab
`Let the youths rise
I pray thee
and they play before us;' and Joab saith
`Let them rise.'
And Abner said to Joab
.... Perceiving he made
no motion towards an engagement with him
his orders from David being only to
act on the defensive
and avoid as much as possible the effusion of blood:
let the young men now arise
and play before us; with their
swords after the manner of gladiators or duellers; that it might appear who
were best skilled in the use of the sword
and who were the bravest
stoutest
and most courageous; and this he proposed in a way of bravado
and in order to
bring on a battle
or to decide the quarrel between them; and this bloody
barbarous exercise Abner calls play
as if it was a diversion and pastime to
see men wounding and killing one another:
and Joab said
let them arise; he accepted the
challenge
not caring to be hectored and bullied by Abner.
2 Samuel 2:15 15 So they arose and went
over by number
twelve from Benjamin
followers of Ishbosheth the son of
Saul
and twelve from the servants of David.
YLT
15And they rise and pass
over
in number twelve of Benjamin
even of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul
and twelve
of the servants of David.
Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin
.... Whom
Abner had picked out of that tribe
being his own
and whom he knew to be stout
and courageous men
and closely attached to him. It seems by this as if Abner's
men:
which pertained to Ishbosheth
the son of Saul
passed over the pool of Gibeon unto Joab's men; so forward were
they to engage in this duel
and it makes it still more appear that they were
the aggressors:
and twelve of the servants of David; of his army under Joab
whom Joab either selected
or they
offered themselves as willing to engage
with the twelve that were come over.
2 Samuel 2:16 16 And each one grasped his
opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so
they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp
Swords
[b] which is
in Gibeon.
YLT
16And they lay hold
each on
the head of his companion
and his sword [is] in the side of his companion
and
they fall together
and [one] calleth that place Helkath-Hazzurim
which [is]
in Gibeon
And they caught everyone his fellow by the head
.... By the
hair of his head with his hand:
and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; which he had
in the other:
so they fell down together; the twelve on each side
all the twenty four; some think only the twelve on Abner's side fell; but to me
it seems that they all fell dead as one man
since they thrust their swords in
each other's sides:
wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim
which is
in Gibeon; the field of rocks
or of mighty men as strong as rocks
who
stood as immovable
and would not give way
but fell and died in the field of
battle; the Targum interprets it
the inheritance of the slain.
2 Samuel 2:17 17 So there was a very fierce
battle that day
and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the
servants of David.
YLT
17and the battle is very hard
on that day
and Abner is smitten
and the men of Israel
before the servants
of David.
And there was a very sore battle that day
.... When the
twenty four men fell together
and no decision could be made thereby
or any
triumph on either side
both armies drew up in battle array
and fought very
furiously:
and Abner was beaten
and the men of Israel
before the servants
of David; the army under him had the worst of it
and were routed
and
obliged to flee before the army of David under the command of Joab.
2 Samuel 2:18 18 Now the three sons of
Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet
of foot as a wild gazelle.
YLT
18And there are there three
sons of Zeruiah
Joab
and Abishai
and Asahel
and Asahel [is] light on his
feet
as one of the roes which [are] in the field
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there
.... In the
battle:
Joab
and Abishai
and Asahel; Joab was the general of
the array
Abishai was he who went into Saul's host at night
and took away his
spear and cruse of water at his head
1 Samuel 26:6; and
it is for the sake of the third
Asahel
that the account is given
the story
of his death being about to be told.
And Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe: swiftness of
foot
as well as courage
for which this man was famous
1 Chronicles 11:26;
was a very great qualification for a warriorF5Cornel. Nepos
Epaminond. l. 2. . So Achilles
in HomerF6
ποδας ωκυς
Iliad. 1. lin. 15.
is often said to be swift of
foot
and others of his heroes are commended for their swiftness. Harold son of
King Canutus
was from his swiftnessF7Rapin's History of England
vol. 1. p. 128. called Harefoot; as here this man for the same reason is
compared to a wild roe
which is a very swift creature
or to one of the roes
that were in the field as in the original text. See Song of Solomon 2:7;
one sort of which
called "kemas"
is said to run as swift as a
tempestF8Aelian. Hist. de Animal
l. 14. c. 14. .
2 Samuel 2:19 19 So Asahel pursued Abner
and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following
Abner.
YLT
19And Asahel pursueth after
Abner
and hath not turned aside to go to the right or to the left
from after
Abner.
And Asahel pursued after Abner
.... Ambitious of the
glory of taking or slaying the general of the army of Israel; trusting to his
swiftness
not considering that the race is not always to the swift
and that
he had to do with a veteran soldier
and he a raw young man
though valiant:
and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left in
following Abner; he kept his eye upon him
and pursued him closely
disregarding
persons on the right or left he could have made prisoners; but those he
neglected
being bent on taking Abner if possible.
2 Samuel 2:20 20 Then Abner looked behind
him and said
“Are you Asahel?” He answered
“I am.”
YLT
20And Abner looketh behind
him
and saith
`Art thou he -- Asahel?' and he saith
`I [am].'
Then Abner looked behind him
.... Perceiving one at
his heels
and making haste up to him.
And said
art thou Asahel? for it seems he knew him
personally
being well acquainted with his family:
and he answered
I am; so that they were very
near to each other
as to discourse together
and be heard and understood by
each other.
2 Samuel 2:21 21 And Abner said to him
“Turn aside to your right hand or to your left
and lay hold on one of the
young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside
from following him.
YLT
21And Abner saith to him
`Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left
and seize for thee one of
the youths
and take to thee his armour;' and Asahel hath not been willing to
turn aside from after him.
And Abner said unto him
.... Having a respect for
him
and consulting his good
and however fearing his brother Joab should he
slay him:
turn thee aside to thy right or to thy left; he does not
advise him to go back
which would have been to his disgrace
having engaged in
the pursuit
but to turn to the right or left
as if pursuing some other person
and not Abner:
and lay thee hold on one of the young men
and take thee his
armour; one of the common soldiers
or an attendant on Abner
a young
man like himself
whom he might be able to cope with
and take him a prisoner
and disarm him
when he was not a match for such an old experienced officer as
he was; and this Abner seems to speak as a friend
consulting the young man's
safety and his honour too.
But
Asahel would not turn aside from following him; fired with
the ambition of taking him
and not content with any prey short of him; and
perhaps was the more animated by what he said
as supposing it arose from fear
of him.
2 Samuel 2:22 22 So Abner said again to
Asahel
“Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground?
How then could I face your brother Joab?”
YLT
22And Abner addeth again
saying unto Asahel
`Turn thee aside from after me
why do I smite thee to the
earth? and how do I lift up my face unto Joab thy brother?'
And Abner said again to Asahel
.... Being loath to
dispatch him:
turn thee aside from following me
wherefore should I smite thee
to the ground? which was giving him fair warning
and letting him know what he
must expect
if he did not desist from his pursuit:
how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? the general
of David's army
a stout valiant commander
a man of spirit and resentment
whom Abner knew full well
and that should he slay his brother
he would never
be friendly with him
or look pleasantly on him; he would never forgive him
but seek ways and means to avenge his blood on him and by this it seems as if
Abner was conscious to himself that he was in a wrong cause
that the kingdom
was of right David's
and would be his
and he must be obliged to make peace
with him; when he should stand in need of Joab as his friend
which he could
not expect
if he slew his brother
nor to live in favour and friendship with
him hereafter.
2 Samuel 2:23 23 However
he refused to
turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the
spear
so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died
on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel
fell down and died
stood still.
YLT
23And he refuseth to turn
aside
and Abner smiteth him with the hinder part of the spear unto the fifth
[rib]
and the spear cometh out from behind him
and he falleth there
and
dieth under it; and it cometh to pass
every one who hath come unto the place
where Asahel hath fallen and dieth -- they stand still.
Howbeit
he refused to turn aside
.... Determined on making
him his captive if possible.
Wherefore Abner
with the hinder end of the spear; he had in his
hand
which seems to have had a pike at both ends; so that with the hinder end
of it
next to Asahel
he thrust it at him
without turning to him: and
smote him under the fifth rib; the place
where hang the gall and liver
as the Jewish commentators from their TalmudF9T.
Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 49. 1. observe. There are twelve ribs
seven of which are
called true ones
and five spurious; if this was the fifth of the seven
the
spear must pierce the breastF11"Transadigit costas
et crates
pectoris ensom". Virgil. Aeneod. l. 12. ver. 506.
and strike the seat of
life
the heart and lungs; if the fifth from the eighth and first of the
spurious ones
then wounding the hypochondria
it must pass to the vital bowels
of the abdomen
which seems to be the case hereF12Vid. Scheuchzer.
Physic. Sacr. vol. 3. p. 501. : according to someF13Weemse's
Portrait of Man
p. 24. this is meant of the inferior ribs
which we call the
short ribs
and any of these five are called the fifth rib; and Abner must
strike him in the right side
because he was behind him
and which stroke must
be deadly
because he struck him through the liver:
that the spear came out behind him: the thrust was so
violent that the spear went through him
and came out at his back:
and he fell down and died in the same place; he fell at
once
and died on the spot immediately:
and it came to pass
that as many as came to the place
where Asahel fell down and died stood still; that is
such of David's
men who were in the pursuit after the Israelites
when they came to the spot
and saw Asahel dead
they had no power to proceed in the pursuit
being so
troubled and grieved at the death of him.
2 Samuel 2:24 24 Joab and Abishai also
pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah
which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.
YLT
24And Joab and Abishai pursue
after Abner
and the sun hath gone in
and they have come in unto the height of
Ammah
which [is] on the front of Giah
the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner
.... Or rather
but Joab
&c.F14"Autem"
V. L. Tiguriue version;
"sed"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator; so Kimchi. . They stood not
still as the rest
but
filled with indignation and resentment
pursued after
Abner
to be avenged on him:
and the sun went down when they came to the hill of Ammah; a hill by the
side of which was a pool of water
as Kimchi thinks
and from thence so called:
that lieth before Giah; a place near Gibeon
but
nowhere after mentioned:
by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon; very likely
not far from the city from which it had its name.
2 Samuel 2:25 25 Now the children of Benjamin
gathered together behind Abner and became a unit
and took their stand on top
of a hill.
YLT
25And the sons of Benjamin
gather themselves together after Abner
and become one troop
and stand on the
top of a certain height
And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after
Abner
.... Either those that were with him before
who upon the battle
were dispersed
but now got together again; or others of that tribe
who
hearing of the defeat of Abner
went out of the several cities after him
to
strengthen his hands
and renew the fight with Joab:
and became one troop; were united together in
a body
and became a regular troop:
and stood on the top of an hill; which was some advantage
to them
and from whence they could take a view of Joab's army
and observe its
motions.
2 Samuel 2:26 26 Then Abner called to Joab
and said
“Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be
bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to
return from pursuing their brethren?”
YLT
26and Abner calleth unto
Joab
and saith
`For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it
is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people
to turn back from after their brethren?'
Then Abner called to Joab
.... For having now a
troop of men with him
he could stop with the greater safety; and being on an
hill
and perhaps Joab on one opposite to him
could call to him
so as to be
heard:
and said
shall the sword devour for ever? slay men
and
devour their blood. See Jeremiah 46:10.
That he was not thoughtful of
nor concerned about
when he set the young men
to fighting before the battle
and called it play to wound and shed the blood
of each other; but now the battle going against him
he complains of the
devouring sword; and though it had been employed but a few hours
it seemed
long to him
a sort of an eternity:
knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? since it
might issue in the death of himself
or of Joab
or of both
as it had in
Asahel
or
however
in the death of a multitude of others; and which at last
would cause bitter reflection in the prosecutors of the war:
how long shall it be then ere thou bid the people return from
following their brethren? he pleads relation
that the men of Israel and the men of Judah
were brethren; so they were by nation and religion
and therefore should not
pursue one another to destruction; but who was the aggressor? It was Abner
that brought his forces against Judah; the men of David acted only on the
defensive.
2 Samuel 2:27 27 And Joab said
“As
God lives
unless you had spoken
surely then by morning all the people would have
given up pursuing their brethren.”
YLT
27And Joab saith
`God
liveth! for unless thou hadst spoken
surely then from the morning had the
people gone up each from after his brother.'
And Joab said
as God liveth
.... Which was the form
of an oath
swearing by the living God:
unless thou hadst spoken; that is
these words in 2 Samuel 2:14;
"let the young men arise and play"
that he had not given the challenge
to fight:
surely then in the morning the people had gone up everyone from
following his brother; they would have gone away and never fought at all; they were not
desirous of shedding their blood
and following after them to slay them: thus
he lays the blame upon Abner
and makes him to be the cause and beginner of the
war. Some render the particle by "if"
and give the sense
that if he
had spoken what he last did sooner
the people would long before this time have
desisted from pursuing them; for it was not from a thirst after their blood
and a desire to luke vengeance on them
that they pursued them
but to bring
them to submission
and lay down their arms; for they could not in honour
retreat until they desired it; but the former sense seems best
and is the
general sense of the Jewish commentators.
2 Samuel 2:28 28 So Joab blew a trumpet;
and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore
nor did they
fight anymore.
YLT
28And Joab bloweth with a
trumpet
and all the people stand still
and pursue no more after Israel
nor
have they added any more to fight.
So Joab blew a trumpet
.... Or caused
one to be blown as a signal of a retreat:
and all the people stood still
and pursued after Israel no more; as soon as
they heard the trumpet sound
the meaning of which they understood
they
stepped at once
and left off their pursuit:
neither fought they any more; that day
and perhaps no
pitched battle afterwards; for none we read of
though the war continued after
this a long time
and there might be often skirmishes
which greatly weakened
Abner's party. See 2 Samuel 3:1.
2 Samuel 2:29 29 Then Abner and his men
went on all that night through the plain
crossed over the Jordan
and went
through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.
YLT
29And Abner and his men have
gone through the plain all that night
and pass over the Jordan
and go on
[through] all Bithron
and come in to Mahanaim.
And Abner and his men
walked all that night through the plain
.... The plain of Jordan.
He marched with his men all night
lest Joab should return
and pursue him
and
take vengeance on him for the death of his brother:
and passed over Jordan; at one of the fords of
it:
and went through all Bithron; the name of a province
or country
as Jarchi
called so perhaps from its being separated from the rest
of the tribes of Israel by the river Jordan; some think the mountains of Bether
were in this country
Song of Solomon 2:17.
From Gibeon
where the battle was fought
to Bithron
according to BuntingF15Travels
&c. p. 145
146.
was twenty eight miles
the which he says was in the
tribe of Gad
twenty eight miles from Jerusalem northeastward
lying between
Dibon and Jordan:
and they came to Mahanaim: from whence they came
and where they had left Ishbosheth
2 Samuel 2:8. From
Bithron to this place
according to the same writerF16Ibid.
was
sixteen miles.
2 Samuel 2:30 30 So Joab returned from
pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together
there were
missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
YLT
30And Joab hath turned back
from after Abner
and gathereth all the people
and there are lacking of the
servants of David nineteen men
and Asahel;
And Joab returned from
following Abner
.... It being in his commission from David to shed as little
blood as he could:
and when he had gathered all the people together; who had been
pursuing the Israelites
some one way and some another:
there lacked of David's servants nineteen men
and Asahel; who is
particularly mentioned
because a very honourable man
valiant and courageous
a relation of David
and brother of Joab the general
and the loss of him was
greater than all the rest. This has made some think that the twelve men of the
servants of David were not killed in the duel
or otherwise there must be but
seven slain in the battle; though that is not more strange than that in the
battle with Midian not one should be slain
and
yet a terrible slaughter was
made of the Midianites
Numbers 31:1. So in
a sharp battle between the Spartans and Arcadians
ten thousand of the latter
were slain
and not one of the formerF17Diodor. Sic. l. 15. p. 383.
. Stilicho killed more than an hundred thousand of the army of Rhadagaisus
king of the Goths
without losing one of his own men
no
not so much as one
wounded
as Austin affirmsF18De civilate Dei
l. 5. c. 23. . At the
battle of Issus the Persians lost an hundred ten thousand men
and Alexander
not two hundredF19Curtius
l. 3. c. 11. . Julius Caesar killed in
the three camps of Juba
Scipio
and Labienus
ten thousand men
with the loss
of fifty men onlyF20Hirtius de Bello African. c. 86. . After these
instances
not only the case here
but that between the Israelites and
Midianites
cannot be thought incredible
for the sake of which the above are
produced. This account
according to JosephusF21Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1.
sect. 3.
was taken the day following.
2 Samuel 2:31 31 But the servants of David
had struck down
of Benjamin and Abner’s men
three hundred and sixty men who
died.
YLT
31and the servants of David
have smitten of Benjamin
even among the men of Abner
three hundred and sixty
men -- they died.
But the servants of David
had smitten of Benjamin
and Abner's men
.... Of those of the
tribe of Benjamin that joined him
and of those that he brought with him from
Mahanaim; so many of them were smitten
as appeared by their bodies lying on the
field of battle:
so that three hundred
and threescore men died; the number of the slain on each side was very unequal.
2 Samuel 2:32 32 Then they took up Asahel
and buried him in his father’s tomb
which was in Bethlehem. And Joab
and his men went all night
and they came to Hebron at daybreak.
YLT
32And they lift up Asahel
and bury him in the burying-place of his father
which [is] in Beth-Lehem
and
they go all the night -- Joab and his men -- and it is light to them in Hebron.
And they took up Asahel
.... From the
place where he fell; that is
Joab and Abishai
his brethren
as JosephusF23Antiqu.
l. 7. c. 1. sect. 3. relates; after they had buried the dead in the field of
battle
they took up him:
and buried him in the sepulchre of his father
which was in
Bethlehem: not in the city of Bethlehem
but without it
on the south side
of it; so says FullerF24Pisgah-Sight of Palestine
B. 2. c. 14.
sect. 21. p. 301.
"southward
i.e. of Bethlehem
we find Asahel's
sepulchre
who was buried in the grave of his father.'What was his father's
name is not known
only his mother's name
Zeruiah
is mentioned in Scripture
a sister of David
and daughter of Jesse the Bethlehemite. Bethlehem was
sixteen miles from Gibeon
according to BuntingF25Travels
ut supra.
(p. 145
146.) .
And Joab and his men went all night; not the night following
the battle
but the night following the next day
after he had been to
Bethlehem
and buried his brother there; wherefore
lest David should think it
long before he came
he travelled all night:
and they came to Hebron at break of day; where David
was
which
according to the same writerF26Travels
ut supra. (p.
145
146.)
was twenty miles from Bethlehem.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)