The big picture
David, the leader who mourned Saul, Israel's fallen king, asks God where to settle. God sends him to Hebron, a city in Judah, one of Israel's tribes. Judah accepts him as king. Abner, the late king's army chief, sets Saul's son Ish-bosheth over the other tribes. The two sides soon meet at Gibeon, a town with a pool. A deadly contest grows into a battle. Even when the fighting stops, the losses leave deep wounds between the leaders.
In this chapter
- Judah Anoints David at Hebron 2 Samuel 2:1-7
David asks God whether to move to a city of Judah.
- Abner Sets Up Another King 2 Samuel 2:8-11
Abner takes Saul's son Ish-bosheth to Mahanaim and makes him king.
- A Contest Becomes a Battle 2 Samuel 2:12-17
Abner's men and David's men meet on opposite sides of the pool at Gibeon.
- Asahel Refuses to Turn Aside 2 Samuel 2:18-23
Asahel, Joab's brother, runs swiftly and chases Abner without turning aside.
- The Trumpet Ends the Pursuit 2 Samuel 2:24-32
Joab and Abishai keep chasing Abner until evening.
Central truth
David and Ish-bosheth rule divided groups, and a clash between their armies leaves deaths that outlast the day's fighting.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 322 Samuel 2:1-7
Judah Anoints David at Hebron
David asks God whether to move to a city of Judah. God directs him to Hebron. His wives, his men and their families move there with him. The men of Judah then make him their king. David hears that the men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul. He sends thanks and promises to repay their kindness. He also tells them that Judah has chosen him as king. His message honours their care for Saul while making his own new position known.
In everyday life
A fishing-club chair thanks volunteers in the net loft for caring for her predecessor's family. She promises to support their work and gives the date of her first meeting. Their loyalty to the former chair does not prevent a new bond. David's message concerns an anointed kingship and a move directed by God.
Notice
2 Samuel 2:5 David praises the burial of Saul as kindness to their lord. He recognises care for the dead king while speaking as Judah's new ruler.
2 Samuel 2:1-7
King James Version1And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
3And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
5And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
6And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
7Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
2 Samuel 2:8-11
Abner Sets Up Another King
Abner takes Saul's son Ish-bosheth to Mahanaim and makes him king. His rule extends across Israel, but Judah follows David. Ish-bosheth is forty when he becomes king, and his reign lasts two years. David rules Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months. The people therefore do not move together under one ruler after Saul dies. Saul's army chief backs his son, while David has a separate base. The split between the two houses has become a split in the kingdom.
In everyday life
The rice-mill owner appoints a foreman while the night crew chooses a different leader. Workers at the sorting belts receive orders from both men. Each claims the right to set the whole shift's pace. Even moving sacks now requires choosing whose word to follow. Israel's split concerns rule over tribes, not control of a mill.
Notice
2 Samuel 2:10 Judah follows David while the other named regions come under Ish-bosheth. The contrast explains why the next meeting involves two rival groups from one people.
2 Samuel 2:8-11
King James Version8But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
9And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
2 Samuel 2:12-17
A Contest Becomes a Battle
Abner's men and David's men meet on opposite sides of the pool at Gibeon. Joab leads David's group. Abner suggests a contest, and Joab agrees. Twelve men from each side step forward. Each seizes an opponent and drives a sword into him, so they fall together. The encounter grows into a fierce battle between the larger groups. David's men defeat Abner and Israel's men. What begins as a limited match brings shared deaths and then wider fighting among the divided people.
In everyday life
A sports steward watches rival fan groups agree to a pushing contest outside the ground. It spreads through the crowd, and she calls for the gates to close. Leaders who allowed the contest can no longer keep it small. The contest at Gibeon involves swords and deaths, followed by a battle between armies.
Notice
2 Samuel 2:16 Both groups lose men in the first clash. The matched numbers do not make the contest safe; they produce paired deaths before the wider battle.
2 Samuel 2:12-17
King James Version12And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
14And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
15Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
16And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
17And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
2 Samuel 2:18-23
Asahel Refuses to Turn Aside
Asahel, Joab's brother, runs swiftly and chases Abner without turning aside. Abner recognises him and tells him to choose another target. He warns that killing Asahel would make it hard to face Joab. Asahel still refuses to stop. Abner strikes him with the back end of his spear, and it passes through his body. Asahel dies where he falls. Those who reach the place stop in shock. His speed has brought him close to an opponent whose warning he would not heed.
In everyday life
A mountain guide calls to a young runner who keeps chasing a faster group across loose rock. The runner refuses to turn onto the safe path. Other walkers stop when they see him fall. His speed has not protected him from danger. Asahel is killed by the armed man he pursues, not by a fall.
Notice
2 Samuel 2:22 Abner names Joab while warning Asahel to turn back. The brothers' bond already matters before the death that will deepen the conflict.
2 Samuel 2:18-23
King James Version18And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
19And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
21And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
22And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
23Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
2 Samuel 2:24-32
The Trumpet Ends the Pursuit
Joab and Abishai keep chasing Abner until evening. Benjamin's men gather behind Abner on a hill. He calls out that endless killing will bring bitterness among their own people. Joab sounds a trumpet, and his men stop fighting. The two groups travel through the night to their separate bases. David's side has lost nineteen men besides Asahel; Abner's side has lost 360. Asahel is buried at Beth-lehem. The chase ends, but the burial gives Joab's family a loss they cannot set aside.
In everyday life
A union mediator calls both sides back from a bitter walkout dispute. A lead organiser tells his supporters to stop blocking the gate. People go home in separate groups, still counting lost shifts and broken trust. The halt prevents another clash but does not mend every wound. These armies also carry their dead from the field.
Notice
2 Samuel 2:28 Joab's trumpet brings the pursuit and fighting to a stop. The command comes after Abner warns that continued killing will leave lasting bitterness.
2 Samuel 2:24-32
King James Version24Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
26Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
27And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
28So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
29And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
30And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
31But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
32And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 2:1 begins with “And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up…”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 2:15 forms a natural hinge: “Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.”
The final note
2 Samuel 2:32 leaves the reader with “And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Abner, David, Joab, Asahel, following, Judah help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- wherefore
- for that reason
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
