2 Samuel 2:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

NIV: So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

NASB: So they got up and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

CSB: So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David’s soldiers.

NLT: So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side — twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David.

KJV: Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

NKJV: So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

Following King Saul's death, the nation of Israel is divided. David is king of the large tribe of Judah in southern Israel. Saul's son Ish-bosheth, of the tribe of Benjamin, has been declared king over most of the rest of Israel, although the Philistine invaders control at least the north.

The fighting men of both sides have come face to face in the city of Gibeon. Abner, representing Ish-bosheth, suggested that skilled fighters face each other (2 Samuel 2:14). He may mean for the entire battle to be decided by the winner of that combat, much like Goliath's challenge to Saul (1 Samuel 17:7–10). Joab, the leader of David's fighters, has agreed.

Now twelve fighters from each side square off against each other in pairs. It quickly becomes clear this is not a friendly competition. Each man—possibly all using the same tactic—grabs his opponent by the head or neck and stabs him (2 Samuel 2:16). In a bizarre spectacle, all twenty-four men are killed practically at the same time. This is the last competitive combat between the forces of David and Ish-bosheth. For the next two years, David's army will continually dominate their enemy.

It's interesting to note that all of Abner's soldiers are from Saul's tribe of Benjamin. Where David was crowned king by the men of Judah—one of the largest tribes (2 Samuel 2:4), Abner, alone, made Ish-bosheth king of the rest of the tribes. These tribes are not a cohesive group. One consequence is that all the soldiers are from the king's tribe: the smallest.

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).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.