2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King over Judah

¹After this, David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” The LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.”

²So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

³David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron.

⁴The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.”

⁵David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by the LORD, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.

⁶Now may the LORD show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing.

⁷Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

Abner Makes Ishbosheth King and Civil War Begins

⁸Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

⁹He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

¹⁰Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

¹¹The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

¹²Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

¹³Joab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

¹⁴Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and compete before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”

¹⁵Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.

¹⁶They each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.

¹⁷The battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants.

¹⁸The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.

¹⁹Asahel pursued Abner. He didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

²⁰Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is.”

²¹Abner said to him, “Turn away to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn away from following him.

²²Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn away from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I look Joab your brother in the face?”

²³However, he refused to turn away. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there and died in the same place. As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

²⁴But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

²⁵The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.

²⁶Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”

²⁷Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.”

²⁸So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more.

²⁹Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.

³⁰Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and Asahel were missing.

³¹But David’s servants had struck Benjamin Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died.

³²They took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.

Previous 2 Samuel 1

Next 2 Samuel 3

Following Saul's death, David seeks God's guidance and is anointed king over Judah in Hebron, while Abner installs Saul's son Ishbosheth as king over the northern tribes, creating a divided kingdom. The chapter chronicles the beginning of civil war between these two kingdoms, culminating in a tragic encounter at Gibeon where twelve champions from each side kill each other simultaneously, followed by a larger battle. The conflict becomes personal when Asahel pursues Abner and is killed despite Abner's warnings, setting the stage for ongoing bloodshed between the houses of David and Saul.

Context

This chapter begins the aftermath of Saul's death from chapter 1, establishing the divided kingdom that will dominate the early chapters of 2 Samuel.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
David Anointed King over Judah David seeks divine guidance, moves to Hebron, and is anointed king by the men of Judah.
5-7
David's Diplomatic Outreach David commends the men of Jabesh Gilead for burying Saul and announces his kingship over Judah.
8-11
Ishbosheth Made King over Israel Abner establishes Saul's son Ishbosheth as king over the northern tribes, creating a divided kingdom.
12-17
The Contest at Gibeon Representatives from both kingdoms meet at Gibeon where twelve champions from each side kill each other, leading to broader battle.
18-32
Asahel's Pursuit and Death Asahel relentlessly pursues Abner despite warnings and is killed, prompting calls for ceasefire and mutual withdrawal.

David Anointed King over Judah

2:1–2:7

narrative narration hopeful

After seeking God's guidance, David moves to Hebron where he is anointed king over Judah. He blesses the men of Jabesh Gilead for their loyalty in burying Saul.

person_contrast

David's inaugural act as king involves blessing distant strangers rather than consolidating power, revealing his understanding that kingship begins with honoring loyalty wherever it exists.

Abner Makes Ishbosheth King and Civil War Begins

2:8–2:32

narrative narration solemn

Abner makes Ishbosheth king over Israel while David rules Judah, leading to civil war. A battle at Gibeon results in Asahel's death while pursuing Abner.

person_contrast

Abner's pursuit by Asahel ironically reverses the hunter-hunted dynamic, as Israel's military commander becomes the reluctant killer of his pursuer rather than the aggressor.

Insight Character Study

David's inaugural act as king involves blessing distant strangers rather than consolidating power, revealing his understanding that kingship begins with honoring loyalty wherever it exists.

Insight Character Study

Abner's pursuit by Asahel ironically reverses the hunter-hunted dynamic, as Israel's military commander becomes the reluctant killer of his pursuer rather than the aggressor.