2 Samuel 2:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."

NIV: Then Abner said to Joab, "Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us." "All right, let them do it," Joab said.

NASB: Then Abner said to Joab, 'Now have the young men arise and hold a martial skills match in our presence.' And Joab said, 'Have them arise!'

CSB: Then Abner said to Joab, "Let’s have the young men get up and compete in front of us." "Let them get up," Joab replied.

NLT: Then Abner suggested to Joab, 'Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.' 'All right,' Joab agreed.

KJV: And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

NKJV: Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

This meeting between the fighting men of King David of Judah and King Ish-bosheth of Israel seems tense. It's possible that both have come to Gibeon to persuade the town to support them in the coming civil war. Or, it could be that Gibeon, whose people are Gentile servants to the Israelites (Joshua 9), provides a neutral space. Even more likely, it's because this is where the tabernacle is (1 Chronicles 16:39–40). Whatever the reason, the two armies sit across from each other on either side of the pool at Gibeon.

Abner is Saul's cousin and former commander. He installed Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king over northern and eastern Israel (2 Samuel 2:8–9), and it's his responsibility to take Judah to unite the country. Joab and his brothers Abishai and Asahel (2 Samuel 2:18), are David's sister's sons. They've been with David since he fled Saul (1 Samuel 22:1). The men likely know each other from Saul's army.

Abner suggests each side choose twelve men to duel in hand-to-hand combat (2 Samuel 2:15). It's unclear if this is a training exercise, a show of strength, or a limited fight to determine the entire battle, such as when Goliath offered to fight one soldier from Saul's army (1 Samuel 17:8–10). The spectacle is quick. Each man grabs his opponent's head and stabs him in the side with his sword (2 Samuel 2:16). The ensuing large-scale battle is fierce.

It's evident that Abner is reluctant to kill fellow Israelites. He begs Asahel to back off because he doesn't want to kill Joab's brother (2 Samuel 2:18–23). He convinces Joab to stop the battle between brother Israelites (2 Samuel 2:24–28). After two years of continually losing men, Abner ends the war, defects, and brings all of Israel to David (2 Samuel 3:21).

Second Samuel 2:12–17 marks the beginning of a civil war. Upon Saul's death, David became king of Judah (1 Samuel 31:1–4; 2 Samuel 2:1–4). Despite five years of his diplomatic attempts (2 Samuel 1; 2:4–7), David hasn't managed to unite the Israelites under his rule. Abner makes Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over the rest of Israel (2 Samuel 2:8–10). For two years, the rival kingdoms fight: David's side growing stronger and Ish-bosheth's weaker (2 Samuel 3:1). The war begins with twelve duels.

David returns to Israel, where he is anointed king over Judah, and settles in Hebron. Abner declares Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over Israel. David blesses the men of Jabesh-gilead for burying Saul's remains. Abner, leading Ish-bosheth's men, faces off against Joab, leading David's fighters, at Gibeon. In a fierce, one-sided battle, Abner kills Joab's brother, but David's men overwhelm Abner's Benjaminite fighters, losing twenty but killing 360. Abner and the survivors prepare for a last stand on the hill of Ammah, but Joab calls off the battle when Abner pleads with him to stop. Both sides return home.

Saul and three of his sons are dead (1 Samuel 31:1–4). David becomes king of Judah, and Saul's son Ish-bosheth is king of the remaining tribes. When the two sides meet in battle, Ish-bosheth's army fares poorly. David continues to grow stronger over two years of fighting. Ish-bosheth's general Abner appears to make a futile attempt to take the crown from his king, then starts the work to peacefully hand David the crown of Israel (2 Samuel 3:1–12).