2 Samuel 2:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

NIV: But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.

NASB: But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah by way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

CSB: but Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

NLT: When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.

KJV: Joab 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.

NKJV: Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.

The mighty Asahel is dead, killed in a surprise move by Abner, an experienced warrior running from a lost battle (2 Samuel 2:17–23). Asahel's brothers Joab and Abishai are still alive and eager to avenge their youngest brother. They take up the chase their brother could not continue.

At sunset, they came to the hill of Ammah. Some commentators speculate that Abner must have been headed northeast from Gibeon towards the Jordan valley.

Abner is the cousin of Saul, the late king of Israel. Joab and his brothers are David's nephews. Saul and David never fought. Saul tried to kill David several times, but David never lifted a hand against God's anointed. Now, David is king of Judah, and Abner has installed Saul's son Ish-bosheth king of Israel (2 Samuel 2:1–4, 8–10). It's not clear why this battle started; perhaps the two generals wanted the whole nation for their respective kings.

The remnants of Abner's once-confident army huddle behind him on the hill. He's lost 360 men to Joab's 20. Abner calls a truce: why should Israelites fight each other? Joab agrees (2 Samuel 2:25–28, 30–31). But since Abner killed Asahel, there's no chance for lasting peace until one side falls. They will continue to fight for another two years.

Second Samuel 2:24–28 records Abner calling for a truce. The armies of Israel, led by Abner, and Judah, led by Joab, have met in what seems to be their first battle. Israel is losing badly. During the fighting, Abner has killed Joab and Abishai's brother. As the sun sets, Abner reminds Joab that they are all brothers: Israelites. Joab agrees to suspend the hostilities. The two armies march all night to their homes (2 Samuel 2:29–32).

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.