2 Samuel 2:32
ESV
And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.
NIV
They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
NASB
And they carried Asahel away and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men traveled all night until the day dawned at Hebron.
CSB
Afterward, they carried Asahel to his father’s tomb in Bethlehem and buried him. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at dawn.
NLT
Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.
KJV
And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
NKJV
Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.
What does 2 Samuel 2:32 mean?
The first battle of the civil war between Israel and Judah has ended. It began when the armies of Ish-bosheth and David met in Gibeon. This was a neutral, Gentile city in the middle of Israelite territory. A show of strength between the two sides devolved into a fierce battle. One side has called for a truce, and the other agrees. The armies now march all night to reach their respective homes. Joab, David's nephew and general, takes his army to Bethlehem to bury his brother before they continue to Hebron.The next two years will be civil war. Sadly, it didn't have to be that way. David never wanted war with Ish-bosheth's father Saul, and he went out of his way to avoid it. The players now aren't so circumspect.
David was welcomed by Judah to be their king shortly after Saul died (2 Samuel 2:1–4). God's intention is that he be king over all Israel. But the other tribes didn't follow Judah's example.
Saul's general Abner knew God chose David to be king after Saul. Instead of respecting that choice and convincing the other tribes to follow David, Abner took Saul's son Ish-bosheth and crowned him, instead (2 Samuel 2:8–10).
When Abner met David's army under Joab, he suggested the two sides choose twelve men each to duel. All of them killed their opponents (2 Samuel 2:12–16). Abner and Joab could have taken that as a sign that fighting against fellow Israelites is futile. Instead, they enjoined the battle.
As Abner fought, Joab's brother Asahel caught sight of him and chased after the general. Abner tried to convince Asahel to break off the pursuit. If Asahel had listened, Abner wouldn't have killed him, and the battle would have turned into a fierce desire for Joab to avenge his brother (2 Samuel 2:19–24).
God's plan always comes to fruition. Humans often make up their own minds how things should be. In this case, choosing personal preferences instead of God's will result in a two-year civil war and countless, needless deaths. Despite human struggles and resistance, David will be king.
