2 Samuel 2:9-10 NTV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 2:10

Forty ... two - The numerals are somewhat strange. First, as regards the 40 years. Even assuming that Ish-bosheth’s reign did not commence until five and a half years after Saul’s death, which must have been the case if the two years in the text gives the true length of his reign, it is startling to hear of Saul’s younger son being 35 years old at his father’s death, born consequently some three years before his father’s accession, and five years older than David, the bosom friend of his older... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 2:9-11

2 Samuel 2:9-11. He made him king over Gilead Over all the tribes on the other side Jordan, which are comprehended under this name. Over the Ashurites That is, the tribe of Asher, as the Chaldee paraphrast and others understand it. Over Jezreel A large and rich valley, situate in the borders of the tribes of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali, and so put for them all. And over all Israel All the tribes on this side Jordan, save only the tribe of Judah. Ish-bosheth was forty years old ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:1-32

Two kings in Israel (2:1-3:1)The Philistines now controlled much of Israel’s territory west of Jordan (see 1 Samuel 31:7). Believing that David was still friendly to them, the Philistines allowed him to become king over Judah in the south, no doubt thinking that this would help to divide and weaken Israel further. The tribes east of Jordan, however, were still free, and David quickly tried to win their support (2:1-7). But Abner (Saul’s army commander and his cousin; see 1 Samuel 14:50) had... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 2:9

and . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in 2 Samuel 2:9 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 2:10

2 Samuel 2:10. Ish-bosheth—was forty years old,—and reigned two years— Ish-bosheth was born in the year that Saul was made king, for Saul reigned forty years, Acts 13:21. Ish-bosheth reigned two years, says the sacred writer. Now, by referring to the next verse, and the first of the next chapter, we shall see that this is to be understood with some restriction. Ish-bosheth reigned all the time that David resided at Hebron, that is seven years and a half; but they both reigned two years in... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 2:9

9, 10. over Gilead—used in a loose sense for the land beyond Jordan. Ashurites—the tribe of Asher in the extreme north. Jezreel—the extensive valley bordering on the central tribes. over all Israel . . . But Judah—David neither could nor would force matters. He was content to wait God's time and studiously avoided any collision with the rival king, till, at the lapse of two years, hostilities were threatened from that quarter. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 2:8-11

4. Ish-bosheth’s coronation over Israel 2:8-11David’s overtures to the Jabesh-gileadites were very important. Saul’s commander-in-chief and cousin, Abner, was working to install Saul’s youngest son, Ish-bosheth (called Eshbaal in 1 Chronicles 9:39), Abner’s nephew, as Saul’s successor. This was not a move that Yahweh had ordained (cf. 1 Samuel 13:14). David was God’s anointed. Abner, Saul’s cousin, was simply doing what was customary in the ancient Near East and in the process securing his own... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 2:1-32

David made King over Judah, Ishdosheth over israel. Asahel slain by Abner1. Shall I go up?] The defeat and death of Saul had entirely changed David’s position. He had, for some time to come, nothing to fear from Abner, who was occupied elsewhere (2 Samuel 2:8-9). The Philistines would not molest him, as he was their vassal. But even so, he asks God’s wishes, before he takes the decisive step. Hebron] There were several reasons which rendered Hebron suitable. It was fairly central, was a... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 2:9

(9) The Ashurites, and over Jezreel.—This verse apparently expresses the gradual extension of Ishbosheth’s dominion as the country became freed from the Philistines. At first, his authority was established over Gilead—i.e., the country on the east of the Jordan; then “over the Ashurites.” No satisfactory explanation of this name as it stands has been found, but it is probably meant for Asherites, or the tribe of Asher, the reading of some MSS. and of the Chaldee Version; the name of this tribe... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:1-11

CHAPTER IIBEGINNING OF DAVID’S REIGN AT HEBRON.2 Samuel 2:1-7.THE death of Saul did not end David’s troubles. nor was it for a good many years that he became free to employ his whole energies for the good of the kingdom. It appears that his chastisement for his unbelieving spirit, and for the alliance with Achish to which it led, was not yet completed. The more remote consequences of that step were only beginning to emerge, and years elapsed before its evil influence ceased altogether to be... read more