2 Samuel 2-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:5

And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead ,.... To return them thanks for their courage and boldness in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons out of the hands of the Philistines, and for their civility in the burial of them: and said unto them, blessed be ye of the Lord ; which may be considered either as a wish, the Lord bless you for it, or as a prediction, the Lord will bless you: that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul , and have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:6

And now the Lord show kindness and truth unto you ,.... Or true kindness; confer real favours, bestow upon you good and substantial blessings, blessings indeed! and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing . He not only prayed to God to bless them and reward them for it, but would remember them himself, and at a proper opportunity would show favour to them for this act of kindness to Saul. De Dieu proposes to consideration whether it may not be as well... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:7

Now therefore let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant ,.... And not be afraid of the Philistines, who might resent their conduct in taking away from them the bodies of Saul and his sons, whom they had hung up in triumph; and these men might fear they would bring their armies against them, and destroy them; but David bids them be of good heart and courage, and not be afraid of them: for your master Saul is dead ; or rather "though" F1 כי "licet enim", V. L. "quamvis",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:8

But Abner, the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host ,.... This man's father, Ner, was Saul's uncle, 1 Samuel 14:50 , and he was his own cousin, and being general of his army, a post he was willing to keep, might be the reasons for doing what he did, as follows: took Ishbosheth the son of Saul ; and who seems to be his only son left, except what he had by his concubine. This man's name is Eshbaal in 1 Chronicles 8:33 . Baal is the name of a shameful idol, and which was therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:9

And he made him king over Gilead ,.... Which lay beyond Jordan, and included the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh; these he prevailed upon to acknowledge Ishbosheth, their king, and proclaimed him king over them: and over the Ashurites : that is, those of the house or tribe of Asher, as the Targum, and indeed none else can well be thought of; some indeed read the Geshurites, as the Vulgate Latin version; but these were never expelled by the Israelites, and had at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:10

Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel ,.... Being born the same year his father began to reign. See Gill on 1 Samuel 31:6 , and reigned two years ; which some understand of these, and no more; and whereas David reigned seven years and a half over Judah, before he reigned over all Israel, it is thought by the Jewish chronologer F3 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 13. p. 37. that there was a vacancy in the throne of Israel for the space of five years,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:11

And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah ,.... And over them only: was seven years and six months ; to which being added thirty three years he reigned over all Israel in Jerusalem, made forty years and six months; and which, for the roundness of the number, is usually called forty years. See 2 Samuel 5:4 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:12

And Abner the son of Ner ,.... Who was before captain of Saul's host, and now of Ishbosheth's: and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul ; who seem to be not only his domestic servants, that waited upon him, or his courtiers, but his whole army by what follows: went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon ; came from the city on the other side Jordan, where perhaps they had been two years past, concerting schemes to bring all Israel under the government of Ishbosheth; in which they had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:13

And Joab the son of Zeruiah ,.... A sister of David, and this her son was general of David's army: and the servants of David, went out ; that is, his army went out from Hebron to Gibeon, which was twenty four miles F4 Bunting's Travels, p. 146. to meet that under Abner; for though he had but one tribe with him, and Ishbosheth had all the rest, yet Judah was a numerous, powerful, and warlike tribe; and besides many out of the other tribes had joined them, and, above all, God was on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:14

And Abner said to Joab ,.... Perceiving he made no motion towards an engagement with him, his orders from David being only to act on the defensive, and avoid as much as possible the effusion of blood: let the young men now arise, and play before us ; with their swords after the manner of gladiators or duellers; that it might appear who were best skilled in the use of the sword, and who were the bravest, stoutest, and most courageous; and this he proposed in a way of bravado, and in order... read more

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