2 Samuel 2
2 Samuel records the situation in Israel after King Saul’s death and the process by which David is officially established as king of Judah in Hebron. It then describes the beginning of conflict between North Israel and South Judah, highlighting the relationship among Ish-bosheth, Abner, and David. This chapter shows a transitional period before Israel’s unified kingdom is fully realized.
1verseAfter this, David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” The LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.”
2verseSo David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
3verseDavid brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron.
4verseThe men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.”
5verseDavid sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by the LORD, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.
6verseNow may the LORD show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing.
7verseNow therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
8verseNow Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
9verseHe made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10verseIshbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11verseThe time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12verseAbner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13verseJoab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
14verseAbner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and compete before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”
15verseThen they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.
16verseThey each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.
17verseThe battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants.
18verseThe three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
19verseAsahel pursued Abner. He didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
20verseThen Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is.”
21verseAbner said to him, “Turn away to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn away from following him.
22verseAbner said again to Asahel, “Turn away from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I look Joab your brother in the face?”
23verseHowever, he refused to turn away. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there and died in the same place. As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
24verseBut Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25verseThe children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.
26verseThen Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”
27verseJoab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.”
28verseSo Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more.
29verseAbner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.
30verseJoab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and Asahel were missing.
31verseBut David’s servants had struck Benjamin Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died.
32verseThey took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.
David’s Accession and Hebron (1–7)
After Saul’s death, David asks God and, according to His guidance, goes up to Hebron, where he is anointed as king over the tribe of Judah. This shows that David’s rise to the throne was not driven by human ambition, but by God’s will. Even after Saul’s death, David also seeks peace and shows kindness to those who buried him.
Ishbosheth’s Ascension to the Throne and the Division (Verses 8–11)
Saul’s army commander, Abner, establishes Saul’s son Ishbosheth as king of Israel at Mahanaim. As a result, the kingship is divided between Israel (the house of Saul) and Judah (the house of David). For a time, Israel is ruled by Ishbosheth and Judah by David, and the division between the two camps begins for a period of seven and a half years.
Fateful Battle: The Beginning of Conflict (12-32)
Abner and David's commander Joab each lead their men to confront one another by the pool of Gihon. It begins as a clash between the representative fighters, but soon expands into a large-scale battle that results in many casualties. In particular, the scene where Asahel persistently pursues Abner and meets his death shows how personal vengefulness and conflict between groups can escalate. In the end, David's side prevails, but the spark of conflict between the north and the south is not extinguished.
Meditation Point
- David chooses and acts according to God’s leading rather than his own will. You can reflect on an attitude of life that seeks God’s will at every moment of decisionthat can be considered.
- Even in David’s way of showing favor to people in Saul’s household, who had been his enemies in the past, you can find an example of forgiveness and reconciliation.
- Within the story of choosing and power struggles, we are also led to examine the division and conflict within our own hearts.
Try it on yourself
- When you face an important decision, ask yourself whether you can practice a prayer that seeks God’s will rather than your own desires and plans. to be able to do that.
- When conflict arises, let’s check whether you are dealing with people in an attitude of trying to reconcile and healing wounds. with an attitude.
- To prevent the breaking apart of relationships caused by unnecessary competition or comparison, begin a small practice of forming unity in love. a small practice.
