2 Samuel 2:18-32 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:26

Then Abner called to Joab ,.... For having now a troop of men with him, he could stop with the greater safety; and being on an hill, and perhaps Joab on one opposite to him, could call to him, so as to be heard: and said, shall the sword devour for ever ? slay men, and devour their blood. See Jeremiah 46:10 . That he was not thoughtful of, nor concerned about, when he set the young men to fighting before the battle, and called it play to wound and shed the blood of each other; but now... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:27

And Joab said, as God liveth ,.... Which was the form of an oath, swearing by the living God: unless thou hadst spoken ; that is, these words in 2 Samuel 2:14 ; "let the young men arise and play", that he had not given the challenge to fight: surely then in the morning the people had gone up everyone from following his brother ; they would have gone away and never fought at all; they were not desirous of shedding their blood, and following after them to slay them: thus he lays the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:28

So Joab blew a trumpet ,.... Or caused one to be blown as a signal of a retreat: and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more ; as soon as they heard the trumpet sound, the meaning of which they understood, they stepped at once, and left off their pursuit: neither fought they any more ; that day, and perhaps no pitched battle afterwards; for none we read of, though the war continued after this a long time, and there might be often skirmishes, which greatly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:29

And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain ,.... The plain of Jordan. He marched with his men all night, lest Joab should return, and pursue him, and take vengeance on him for the death of his brother: and passed over Jordan ; at one of the fords of it: and went through all Bithron ; the name of a province or country, as Jarchi, called so perhaps from its being separated from the rest of the tribes of Israel by the river Jordan; some think the mountains of Bether... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:30

And Joab returned from following Abner ,.... It being in his commission from David to shed as little blood as he could: and when he had gathered all the people together ; who had been pursuing the Israelites, some one way and some another: there lacked of David's servants nineteen men, and Asahel ; who is particularly mentioned, because a very honourable man, valiant and courageous, a relation of David, and brother of Joab the general, and the loss of him was greater than all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:31

But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and Abner's men ,.... Of those of the tribe of Benjamin that joined him, and of those that he brought with him from Mahanaim; so many of them were smitten, as appeared by their bodies lying on the field of battle: so that three hundred and threescore men died ; the number of the slain on each side was very unequal. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:32

And they took up Asahel ,.... From the place where he fell; that is, Joab and Abishai, his brethren, as Josephus F23 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 3. relates; after they had buried the dead in the field of battle, they took up him: and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem : not in the city of Bethlehem, but without it, on the south side of it; so says Fuller F24 Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, B. 2. c. 14. sect. 21. p. 301. ,"southward, i.e. of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 2:18

Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe - To be swift of foot was deemed a great accomplishment in the heroes of antiquity; ποδας ωκυς Αχιλλευς , the swift-footed Achilles, is an epithet which Homer gives to that hero no less than thirty times in the course of the Ilias. It has a qualification also among the Roman soldiers; they were taught both to run swiftly, and to swim well. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 2:21

Take thee his armor - It seems Asahel wished to get the armor of Abner as a trophy; this also was greatly coveted by ancient heroes. Abner wished to spare him, for fear of exciting Joab's enmity; but as Asahel was obstinate in the pursuit, and was swifter of foot than Abner, the latter saw that he must either kill or be killed, and therefore he turned his spear and ran it through the body of Asahel. This turning about that he might pierce him is what we translate "the hinder end of his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 2:27

And Joab said - The meaning of this verse appears to be this: If Abner had not provoked the battle, (see 2 Samuel 2:14 ;), Joab would not have attacked the Israelites that day; as his orders were probably to act on the defensive. Therefore the blame fell upon Israel. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:32

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 2:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 2:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 2:27

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