2 Samuel 2
1 David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron, where he is made king of Judah.
5 He commends them of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul.
8 Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel.
12 A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men.
18 Asahel is slain.
25 At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat.
32 Asahel's burial.
inquired <07592> [enquired.]
Hebron <02275> [Hebron.]
<0582> [his men.]
cities <05892> [the cities.]
Judah .............. Judah <03063 0582> [the men of Judah.]
anointed <04886> [anointed.]
Jabesh <03003 0582> [the men of Jabesh-gilead.]
David <01732> [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 <01288> [Blessed.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
may ................ done <06213> [I also.]
valiant <03027> [let your.]
valiant <01121> [valiant. Heb. the sons of valour.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
[Saul's host. Heb. the host which was Saul's. Ish-bosheth.]
[Esh-baal. Mahanaim.]
Gilead <01568> [Gilead.]
Geshurites <0805> [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.
Jezreel <03157> [over Jezreel.]
years ............ two years <08141 08147> [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.
<04557> [time. Heb. number of days.]
Mahanaim <04266> [A.M. 2951. B.C. 1053. An. Ex. Is. 438. Mahanaim.]
Gibeon <01391> [Gibeon.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
group <03162> [together. Heb. them together. pool.]
fight before <06440 07832> [play before.]
<07218> [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?"
Field of Flints <02521> [Helkath-hazzurim. that is, the field of strong men.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
three <07969> [three.]
quick <07031> [was as light.]
feet <07272> [foot. Heb. his feet. a wild roe. Heb. one of the roes that is in the field.]
[The word {tzevee,} rather denotes the gazelle or antelope.]
(See note on De 15:22.)
turning <05186> [turned.]
Abner ............. followed Abner <074 0310> [following Abner. Heb. after Abner.]
take ... equipment <03947 02488> [and take thee.]
It seems that Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy.
equipment <02488> [armour. or, spoil.]
strike <05221> [wherefore.]
show <05375> [how then.]
abdomen ........ spear ... spear <02570 02595> [the fifth rib.]
respect <05975> [stood still.]
sword .................. tell <02719 0559> [Shall.]
sword <02719> [sword.]
bitter <04751> [it will be.]
tell <0559> [how long.]
God <0430> [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.
not <03884> [unless.]
morning <01242> [in the morning. Heb. from the morning. gone up. or, gone away.]
Bitron <01338> [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.
[Bether. Mahanaim.]
360 <03967 07969> [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.
buried <06912> [buried.]
<03212> [went.]
