1By God's direction David goeth up with his company to Hebron, where he is made king over Judah. 5He commendeth the men of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul. 8Abner maketh Ish-bosheth king over Israel. 12A deadly skirmish between twelve of Abner's men and twelve of Joab's bringeth on a battle, wherein the men of Israel are worsted. 18Asahel refusing to desist from pursuing Abner is slain by him. 25At Abner's motion Joab soundeth a retreat. 30The loss in the action. 32Asahel's burial.
1AND it came to pass after this, that David 1enquired 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 2he said, Unto 3Hebron.
1 See Judges 1 on verse 1; 1 Sam. 23:6, 9; 30:7, 8.
2 The LORD.
3 Situated in Judah, not far from the western mount, and allotted to the children of Aaron. See Gen. 13:18; Joshua 21:10, 11, 13. From whence may be gathered that David indeed for his own person in particular dwelled and kept court there, but that his people or soldiers abode in the next adjacent cities and places, (as verse 3) that the priests and Levites, to whom this city was given by the tribe of Judah, might not be straightened in their possession.
2So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail 4Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
4 Understand, who had been Nabal’s wife. So 1 Sam. 30:5. See 1 Sam. 25:39, etc. and compare 2 Sam. 12:15.
3And his men that were 5with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the 6cities of Hebron.
5 Understand the warlike men, who had followed him in his banishment. See 1 Sam. 22:2.
6 That is, which were situated about Hebron, and belonged thereunto.
4And the men of Judah came, and there they 7anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told 8David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that 9buried Saul.
7 David was first, by God’s appointment, secretly anointed king by Samuel, 1 Sam. 16:13. Here he is again anointed by his own tribe, the tribe of Judah, who undoubtedly knew the will of God. The third time he is anointed by all Israel, 2 Sam. 5:3. This all tending to the strengthening and encouraging of David, and establishing of his calling, as also typifying and shadowing out of the anointing of our Lord Jesus Christ. See 1 Kings 1 on verse 34.
8 Who had asked, or inquired, what was become of Saul’s body, desiring to bury it, if it had not been done.
9 See 1 Sam. 31:11, 12, 13.
5¶And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and 10said unto them, 11Blessed be ye of the LORD, 12that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
10 That is, he sent word.
11 See Gen. 24 on verse 31; Ruth 2:20; 3:10.
12 Or, whom.
6And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will 13requite you this kindness, 14because ye have done this thing.
13 That is, bestow, or, in this sense: As the Lord will bestow it unto you, so will I also do it. Other, according to this good.
14 Or, who have, etc.
7Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye 15valiant: 16for your master Saul is dead, and 17also the house of Judah have anointed me 18king over them.
15 Hebr. unto children, or, sons of valor, or, courage. See 2 Sam. 3 on verse 34.
16 As if he would say: Let not your courage abate, although your lord and king be dead.
17 Or, who of the house of Judah have, etc.
18 So that, besides the willingness, I have also the power to help you in all occasional straits. Although David was assured of God’s purpose and counsel, yet nevertheless he uses these lawful means by well-doing to gain the hearts of the Israelites, and to wait with confidence and patience for the outcome.
8¶But 19Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took 20Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him 21over to Mahanaim;
19 Also called Abiner. See 1 Sam. 14:50, 51.
20 Hebr. Isch-boscheth.
21 Across the river Jordan, where Mahanaim is situated, at the brook Jabbok, not far from Jabesh in Gilead. See Gen. 32:2. Abner seems to have done this to get the Gileadites, to whom David had sent messengers, to side against David, and to break the friendship and favor that he might have obtained there.
9And made him 22king over 23Gilead, and over the 24Ashurites, and over 25Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over 26all Israel.
22 Notwithstanding Abner was not ignorant of the Lord’s will, as appears in 2 Sam. 3:9, 10, 18.
23 See of Gilead, Numbers 32.
24 Hereby is meant by most interpreters the tribe of Asher, being the uttermost in the north of Canaan, at the sea. Hebr. the Ascharite.
25 The city was situated between half Manasseh and Issachar, on the borders; the valley of Jezreel is situated in Issachar, almost in the midst of Canaan, under which the next adjacent Zebulon, Naphtali, and half Manasseh are likewise understood: as besides Ephraim, Dan and Simeon were located partly in Judah.
26 Except Judah, as follows.
10Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he 27began to reign over Israel, and 28reigned two years. But the house of Judah 29followed David.
27 Hebr. reigned, that is, was king, or began to reign; and so often in the histories of the kings.
28 See 1 Sam. 13 on verse 1. Or, had reigned, for the sense seems to be that he had reigned two full years, when the battle mentioned in verse 12, etc. happened. See further 2 Sam. 3 on verse 1, although it follows not from this that they let David be quite at peace in these two foregoing years.
29 Hebr. were after David.
11And the timea that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
a 2 Sam. 5:5; 1 Kings 2:11.
12¶And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went 30out from Mahanaim to 31Gibeon.
30 To war against David and Judah.
31 Situated in Benjamin, Joshua 18:25. See also Joshua 9 and 10. This city was not far from the borders of Judah, and was given to the children of Aaron, Joshua 21:17.
13And 32Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the 33pool 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.
32 This was David’s captain general, as Abner was Ishbosheth’s. Zeruiah was David’s sister. See 1 Chron. 2:16.
33 Which was outside Gibeon, on the south side of it.
14And Abner said to Joab, Let the 34young men now arise, and 35play 36before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
34 Certain lusty young soldiers.
35 That is, to skirmish, trying one another at their weapons. It seems that Abner, after the manner of rough soldiers, esteemed lightly the death of certain young heroes; for which he has felt his punishment in the end of this combat. See verses 17, 26, 27.
36 In our presence, before our eyes, for a sight or show; that we may only sit still and look on, and leave them alone to themselves.
15Then there arose and went 37over 38by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
37 Or, alongside, namely, the pool, whereof in verse 13.
38 That is, by equal number on both sides.
16And they caught every 39one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they 40fell down together: wherefore that place was called 41Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
39 Hebr. the man’s neighbor, or, his fellow companion; so in the following words.
40 That is, they, the four and twenty, all died.
41 That is, part, piece of land, or, field of rocks; that is, of mighty ones, who were immovable like rocks, and everyone kept his standing; or, of points, edges, because they fell one another down by the point or edge of the sword.
17And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
18¶And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as 42light of foot as a wild roe.
42 That is, very swift in running. Compare 2 Sam. 1:23.
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 43armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
43 That is, their apparel or weapons, or both. Compare Judges 14:19.
22And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: 44wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
44 As if he had said, Why wilt thou hazard thyself? Thou wilt so urge me that I shall not be able to spare you, which otherwise I would willingly do for thy brother’s sake, who is a valiant and brave commander.
23Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the 45hinder end of the spear smote him 46under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same 47place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
45 That is, he thrust him with the sharp, which was at the lowest, or the most back-part of the spear.
46 Or, by, near, under. This by many is meant of that place of the right side, where the liver lies, or near the breastbone, and where is the use or root of the liver vein; where (as learned and experienced physicians do affirm, and the same was likewise not unknown to the ancient heathens) the wound, that is there given, brings quicker death to a man than any other wound whatsoever. Some understand it of the left side, where the heart lies, or the hypochondria under the short ribs which are five in number, which seems to be confirmed by the effusion or pouring out of the bowels, happened by the same wound, whereof 2 Sam. 20:10. Compare 2 Sam. 3:27; 4:6; 20:10.
47 That is, he laid dead on the place, where he had stood, or where he was thrust through.
24Joab 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.
25¶And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one 48troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
48 Or, a closely joined troop. Hebr. properly bundle. Thus they put themselves in battle array upon the top of an hill to defend themselves in a capable manner.
26Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour 49for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness 50in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return 51from following their brethren?
49 That is, without ceasing.
50 That is, that it shall yield at last a bitter and sorrowful outcome?
51 Hebr. from after their brethren.
27And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst 52spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following 53his brother.
52 As if he would say: At first set them on to fighting, and so caused the battle. See verse 14. I would have caused the people to retire sooner today.
53 Hebr. from after 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 54Bithron, and they came to 55Mahanaim.
54 Or, all the partition of land, the separated, or, divided part of the land, which was beyond the Jordan, and thereby was severed or divided from Canaan. Thus Cant. 2:17, they are called mountains of Bether, that is, of separation because they were situated in Gilead, and were separated or divided from Canaan by the river Jordan.
55 From where they went forth, or set out, verse 12.
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.
32¶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 Hebron at break of day.