2Sa 2 | TSK | STEP | David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron, where he is made king of Judah. He commends them of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul. Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel. A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men. Asahel is slain. At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat. Asahel's burial. enquired. Hebron.

David.This was a generous and noble act, highly indicative of the grandeur of David's mind. He respected Saul, though he had been greatly injured by him, as the anointed king of Israel, and once his legitimate sovereign; and he loved Jonathan as his most intimate friend.

Blessed.

Ru 1:8; 2:20; 3:10; 1Sa 23:21; 24:19; 25:32,33; Ps 115:15

the Lord.

15:20; Ps 57:3; Pr 14:22; Mt 5:7; 2Ti 1:16-18

I also.

9:3,7; 10:2; Mt 5:44; 10:16; Phm 1:18,19

let your.

10:12; Ge 15:1; 1Sa 4:9; 31:7,12; 1Co 16:13; Eph 6:10

valiant. Heb. the sons of valour.

Abner.

1Sa 14:50; 17:55; 26:14

Saul's host. Heb. the host which was Saul's. Ish-bosheth.

3:7,8; 4:5,6; 1Ch 8:33; 9:39

Esh-baal. Mahanaim.

17:26,27; Ge 32:2

Gilead.

Nu 32:1-42; Jos 13:8-11; Ps 108:8

Ashurites.The LXX. read [ ,] {Thasiri;} and the Vulgate {Gessuri,} "Geshurites;" but it is probable that for {ashuri,} "Ashurites," we should read {ashairi,} "Asherites," or those of the tribe of Asher.

Ge 30:13; Nu 1:40

over Jezreel.

Jos 19:18

two years.Houbigant proposes to read {shesh shanah,} "six years" instead of {shetayim shanim,} "two years," of the text, which he contends is a solecism; for, in pure Hebrew, the words should be {shetayim shanah;} and this is the reading of twenty MSS.; but two is acknowledged by all the versions and MSS. yet collated.

time. Heb. number of days.

5:4,5; 1Ki 2:11; 1Ch 3:4; 29:27

A.M. 2951. B.C. 1053. An. Ex. Is. 438. Mahanaim.

17:14; Ge 32:2

Gibeon.

Jos 9:3; 10:2,4,12; 18:25

Joab.

18; 8:16; 20:23; 1Ki 1:7; 2:28-35; 1Ch 2:16

together. Heb. them together. pool.

Jer 41:12

play before.

17,26,27; Pr 10:23; 17:14; 20:18; 25:8; 26:18,19

by the head.Probably by the beard or hair of the head. Plutarch, in his Apophthegms, informs us, that all things being ready for a battle, Alexander's captains asked him whether he had any thing else to command them. "Nothing," said he, "but that the Macedonians shave their beards." Parmenio wondering what he meant, "Dost thou not know," said he, "that in fight, there is no better hold than the beard?"

Helkath-hazzurim. that is, the field of strong men.

Abner.

3:1

three.

1Ch 2:15,16; 11:26

was as light.

1:23; 1Ch 12:8; Ps 147:10,11; Ec 9:11; Am 2:14

foot. Heb. his feet. a wild roe. Heb. one of the roes thatis in the field.

Ps 18:33; So 2:17; 8:14; Hab 3:19

The word {tzevee,} rather denotes the gazelle or antelope.(See note on De 15:22.)

turned.

21; Jos 1:7; 23:6; 2Ki 22:2; Pr 4:27

following Abner. Heb. after Abner.

and take thee.It seems that Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy.

armour. or, spoil.

Jud 14:19

wherefore.

2Ki 14:10-12; Pr 29:1; Ec 6:10

how then.

3:27

the fifth rib.

3:27; 4:6; 5:6; 20:10

stood still.

20:12,13

Shall.

14; Ac 7:26

sword.

11:25; Isa 1:20; Jer 2:30; 12:12; 46:10,14; Ho 11:6

it will be.

16; Pr 17:14

how long.

Job 18:2; 19:2; Ps 4:2; Jer 4:21

As God.This was spoken in allusion to the proposal of Abner, (ver. 14,) which led to the slaughter of twelve young men of each party, and thus provoked the battle. It is probable, that Joab had orders simply to act on the defensive, and would not have attacked the Israelites that day unless compelled; therefore the blame lay upon Abner and Israel.

1Sa 25:26; Job 27:2

unless.

14; Pr 15:1; 17:14; 20:18; 25:8; Isa 47:7; Lu 14:31,32

in the morning. Heb. from the morning. gone up. or, goneaway.

Bithron.Bithron or Bether is probably the same as {Betarus,} which is placed in the Antonine Itinerary between Caesarea of Palestine and Diospolis or Lydda, 18 miles from the former, and 22 from the latter. The Jerusalem Itinerary mentions a place called Bethar, 16 miles from Caesarea, and 20 from Diospolis, which is probably the same. The Talmudists say that it was four miles distant from the sea.

So 2:17

Bether. Mahanaim.

three hundred.The slain of Israel, though greatly exceeding those of Judah, were not great. This might be owing to the directions given by David, to be as lenient as possible; but the death of Asahel seems to have stopped the pursuers, and greatly favoured the escape of the vanquished.

3:1; 1Ki 20:11

buried.

1Sa 17:58; 1Ch 2:13-16; 2Ch 16:14; 21:1

went.

5:1; Pr 22:29