2 Samuel 2:17-32
2:17 a The casualty count of this fierce battle is noted in 2:30-31 b.2:18 c Zeruiah was David’s sister (1 Chr 2:15-16 d), so Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were his nephews.
Summary for 2Sam 2:20-22: 2:20-22 e Go fight someone else! ... Get away from here! Abner’s words reflect respect between peers trained for the same career, as well as a sense of fair play. The youthful Asahel would have been no match for the more experienced Abner. Abner also knew that if he killed Asahel, the conflict with David would escalate and David’s forces would seek revenge (see 3:22-39 f).
2:24 g they set out after Abner: See 3:27 h.
• Ammah (“conduit”) and Giah (“gushing”) suggest that there was an aqueduct system connected to the pool at Gibeon (2:12-13 i).
2:26 j bitterness is the only result: Realizing that such wars go on generation after generation, Abner wisely negotiated a truce.
2:28 k The ram’s horn signaled the beginning and end of combat (see also 18:16 l; Josh 6:15-16 m). For other uses of the ram’s horn, see study note on 2 Sam 6:15.
2:29 n Abner was wise to put as much distance as possible between his troops and Joab’s forces, recognizing that their desire for blood vengeance could overpower the truce.
2:31 o The 360 who died were all from the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, under the leadership of one of Saul’s relatives. This defeat was a direct blow to Saul’s dynasty (cp. 3:1 p).
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