2 Samuel 2:26-31 BDS

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:24-29

( GIBEON ) War. "Shall the sword devour forever?" ( 2 Samuel 2:26 ; 2 Samuel 11:25 ). The sword is more destructive than ravenous beasts, famine, pestilence ( 2 Samuel 24:13 ; Le 26:26), earthquake, tempest, or fire. The history of its ravages constitutes a considerable portion of the history of mankind. Of these we have here a slight but noteworthy instance. Twenty-four brave men of the same nation (half of them chosen from each of the opposing forces) fell, pierced by each... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:26

Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end! The Vulgate renders this, "Art thou not aware that desperation is dangerous?" This is a very obvious truth, but probably Abner had in his mind something more statesmanlike. The struggle was for the empire over all Israel, and whoever won would be king over both sides. But every man slain meant a blood feud, which would continue even after the kingdom was united; and Abner probably felt that his own slaughter of Asahel that day... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:26

Longing for the cessation of wars. "Shall the sword devour forever?" This exclamation of Abner respecting the pursuit of his discomfited troops by the conquering troops of Joab, has often been uttered in respect to war in general. As so employed it expresses horror of war, and impatient longing for its final termination. I. THE QUESTION . The feelings which it indicates are excited in view of: 1 . The nature of war. The mutual slaughter of each other by those who are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:27

Unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up; or as the Revised Version renders, had gone away, nor followed every man his brother. The Revised Version makes the sense more plain. Joab throws the whole blame, and rightly so, on Abner. David would under no circumstances have attacked Ishbosheth, and Joab with his men had marched to the tank of Gibeon simply to repel an invading force. When there, Joab, doubtless by David's orders, had remained strictly on the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:29

And Abner and his men walked all that night . At the end of the chapter we learn that Joab did the same. Each army had about twenty-six miles to march, and the night was less exhausting for a long walk than the day. As soon, then, as Abner saw Joab and his men occupied with the removal of Asahel's body, he withdrew from the hill of Ammah, and, passing through the Arabah, or plain of Jordan, crossed the river by the same ford which he had used when starting on his unfortunate errand, and so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:30-31

Nineteen men … three hundred and three score men. Though David's "mighties," as they were called, excelled in the use of arms, yet the disparity of numbers is remarkable; for the Benjamites were also famous warriors. We can only account for it by the superiority of the tactics of Joab, who was a man of consummate military skill, and who knew both how to gain a victory and how to use the advantage which the pursuers have over the pursued to the full. If we sometimes wonder that David endured... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:30-32

( GIBEON , BETHLEHEM , HEBRON .) The sorrows of victory. "What a glorious thing must be a victory, sir!" it was remarked to the Duke of Wellington. "The greatest tragedy in the world," he replied, "except a defeat" ('Recollections,' by S. Rogers). The rejoicing by which it is attended, is usually mingled with weeping and sometimes swallowed up of grief. Various persons are thus affected for various reasons. Think of the sorrows endured: 1 . At the fall of fellow soldiers. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 2:27

Joab’s speech means either “unless thou hadst spoken (challenged us to fight, 2 Samuel 2:14), the people would have returned from the pursuit of their brethren (many hours ago, even) this morning;” or, “If thou hadst not spoken (asked for peace, 2 Samuel 2:26), surely the people would have returned, etc., in the morning, i. e. would not have ceased the pursuit until the morning.” The latter interpretation is the more accordant with Joab’s boastful character. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 2:29

Through the plain - See 1 Samuel 23:24. Bithron is unknown. From the expression all (the) Bithron, it seems likely that it is a tract of country, intersected by ravines lying on the east side of Jordan. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 2:26

2 Samuel 2:26. Bitterness in the latter end It will produce dreadful effects. In civil wars, as Cicero speaks, ( Familiar Epist., lib. 4.,) all things are miserable, and nothing more miserable than victory itself, which makes the conqueror do many things against his will, to satisfy those by whom he conquers. Joab seems to have been very sensible of this, from his withdrawing his forces so readily from the pursuit. From following their brethren By nation and religion; descended from one... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:24-29

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:26

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:26

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:29

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:30-31

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:30-32

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 2:27

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 2:29

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 2:26

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