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
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:25-32
Here, I. Abner, being conquered, meanly begs for a cessation of arms. He rallied the remains of his forces on the top of a hill (2 Sam. 2:25), as if he would have made head again, but becomes a humble supplicant to Joab for a little breathing-time, 2 Sam. 2:26. He that was most forward to fight was the first that had enough of it. He that made a jest of bloodshed (Let the young men arise and play before us, 2 Sam. 2:14) is now shocked at it, when he finds himself on the losing side, and the... read more