2 Samuel

2 Samuel 1
2 Samuel 2
2 Samuel 3
2 Samuel 4
2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 6
2 Samuel 7
2 Samuel 8
2 Samuel 9
2 Samuel 10

2 Samuel 11
2 Samuel 12
2 Samuel 13
2 Samuel 14
2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 16
2 Samuel 17
2 Samuel 18
2 Samuel 19
2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 21
2 Samuel 22
2 Samuel 23
2 Samuel 24

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 1
1 Chronicles 2
1 Chronicles 3
1 Chronicles 4
1 Chronicles 5

1 Chronicles 6
1 Chronicles 7
1 Chronicles 8
1 Chronicles 9
1 Chronicles 10

1 Chronicles 11
1 Chronicles 12
1 Chronicles 13
1 Chronicles 14
1 Chronicles 15

1 Chronicles 16
1 Chronicles 17
1 Chronicles 18
1 Chronicles 19
1 Chronicles 20

1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 22
1 Chronicles 23
1 Chronicles 24
1 Chronicles 25

1 Chronicles 26

1 Chronicles 27

1 Chronicles 28

1 Chronicles 29

2 Samuel 4

2Sa 4:1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

All the Israelites were troubled - Abner was their great support; and on him they depended; for it appears that Ishbosheth was a feeble prince, and had few of those qualities requisite for a sovereign.

all the Israelites were troubled - at the loss of so great a man in their kingdom, and of whose designs to unite them to Judah, and put them under the government David, they were not ignorant; but now were in the utmost confusion, not knowing what step to take, and whom to send to carry on the treaty, in which Abner was concerned; and whether it would be safe for any to go upon it, since he who had the management of it was murdered, and no justice done on the murderer, and therefore might question David's sincerity and uprightness in this affair; these things greatly distressed and embarrassed them for the present, but Providence opened a way for their future establishment and prosperity.

Saul's son - By Saul's son is meant Ishbosheth

his hands were feeble - not only in a natural sense, being quite dispirited at hearing such news; but in a civil sense, having lost his main support and strength, he lost the power and courage to act as king, since Abner had been the only support of his throne.

2Sa 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:

Beeroth - From Jos_9:17, it might have been expected that the population of Beeroth would be Canaanite. But from some unknown cause the Canaanite inhabitants of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim and continued there as sojourners. If this flight of the Beerothites took place at the time of Saul’s cruel attack upon the Gibeonites 2Sa_21:1-2, Baanah and Reehab may have been native Beerothites, and have been instigated to murder the son of Saul by a desire to avenge the blood of their countrymen. The fact of their being reckoned as Benjamites is quite compatible with their being Canaanites by blood.

Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin - the place from whom Rimmon their father is denominated, and where he dwelt, as well as Gittaim, where they had sojourned, as in 2Sa_4:3. This place, Beeroth, originally belonged to the Gibeonites, and fell to the lot of Benjamin at the division of the land, Jos_9:17.

Captains of bands - Of troops in the army, or of guards about the person of Ishbosheth son of Saul:

of the children of Benjamin - so that these men were brethren in nature, as well as in iniquity; they had the same father, who is described by his name and city, and their names are expressly mentioned and recorded to their infamy; and they were not only the servants of Ishbosheth, who had commissions under him, but were of the same tribe with him; all which is observed as an aggravation of their crime:

2Sa 4:3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

The Beerothites fled to Gittaim - Probably the same as Gath ; as Ramathaim is the same as Ramah. At the death of Saul, when many of the Israelites deserted their cities, and left them to the Philistines, 1Sa_31:7; and so the inhabitants of Beeroth forsook their city, which was near the Philistines, and went to Gittaim, a city in the same tribe, though a little further off

The Beerothites fled to Gittaim - Gittaim is mentioned again in Neh_11:33, among the places in which Benjaminites were dwelling after the captivity, though it by no means follows from this that the place belonged to the tribe of Benjamin before the captivity. It may have been situated outside the territory of that tribe. It is never mentioned again. The reason why the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and remained there as strangers until the time when this history was written, is also unknown; it may perhaps have been that the Philistines had conquered Gittaim.

2Sa 4:4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

his nurse took him up and fled - fearing the Philistines would come thither and destroy the family of Saul; and this child being the son of Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, was by birth heir to the crown, his father and grandfather being both dead, and which might make the nurse the more solicitous to save his life by flight: This mention of Mephibosheth seems to be inserted here partly to show that with the death of Ish-bosheth the cause of the house of Saul became hopeless, and partly to prepare the way for the subsequent mention of him 2Sa_9:1-13; 2Sa_16:1-4; 2Sa_19:25.

his name was Mephibosheth - called Meribbaal, 1Ch_8:34; This story of Mephibosheth, and of his nurse's flight with him, and what happened upon it, is here inserted on occasion of the flight of the Beerothites, 2Sa_4:3; but chiefly to observe in what condition Saul's family now was, and what encouraged the murderers of Ishbosheth to be guilty of the crime they were, since when he was taken off, there was none but this lame child of that family; and as the removal of Ishbosheth would be of so much service to David, they doubted not but it would be very acceptable to him, and they should be greatly rewarded and honored; and which they might do with the greatest safety, since the nearest kinsman and avenger of blood was so young, and lame of both his feet: or rather this is mentioned to show that Ishbosheth had no right to the throne, his eldest brother's son being living; so that those murderers might think they did the right thing, to take away the life of an usurper.

Jonathan had a son - This history is inserted as that which encouraged these men to this wicked murder, because Saul's family was now reduced to a low ebb; and if Isbosheth was dispatched, there would be none left, but a lame child, who was altogether unfit to manage the kingdom, and therefore the crown must necessarily come to David by their act and deed; for which they promised themselves no small recompense.

2Sa 4:5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

Lay on a bed at noon - Render, “was taking his midday rest,” according to the custom of hot countries, to travel or work very early and very late, and rest at noonday, in which the heat chiefly prevails.

to the house of Ishbosheth - From Gittaim, where they were sojourners, 2Sa_4:3, to Ishosheth who was at Mahanaim:

2Sa 4:6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

As though they would have fetched wheat - This is a very obscure passage, and the double repetition in 2Sa_4:6-7 of the murder of the king and of the escape of the assassin, is hard to account for. Rechab and Baanah came into the house under the pretence of getting grain, probably for the band which they commanded out of the king’s storehouse, and so contrived to get access into the king’s chamber; or, they found the wheat-carriers (the persons whose business it was to carry in grain for the king’s household) just going into the king’s house, and by joining them got into the midst of the house unnoticed.

As though they would have fetched wheat - out of the king's granaries, for the payment and support of the soldiers under them, who in those days were paid in grain. The king’s stores were probably near his own dwelling; and these men were accustomed to go thither for provisions for themselves, their cattle, and their men.

smote him under the fifth rib – a term that refers to the belly, where the lower floating ribs are.

2Sa 4:7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.

For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber - This is repeated to give a more particular account of the murder;

they smote him, and slew him - so that it was out of all doubt with them that he was dead: No motive is assigned for this action. But there can be little doubt that it was no other than the hope of obtaining a great reward from David.

gat them away through the plain all night - through the plain of Jordan; all the way from Mahanaim to Hebron being for the most part a plain country till they came to Hebron, which was mountainous;

2Sa 4:8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

They brought the head unto David - Supposing it would have been a very acceptable present to him: They thought, as did the lying Amalekite, to ingratiate themselves with David by this abominable act.

They brought the head unto David --Such bloody trophies of rebels and conspirators have always been acceptable to princes in the East, and the carriers have been liberally rewarded. Ish-bosheth being a usurper, the two assassins thought they were doing a meritorious service to David by removing the only existing obstacle to the union of the two kingdoms.

said to the king - all which, his relation to Saul, his enmity to David, and his designs upon his life, are artfully put together to raise the indignation of David against him, and make their present of his head to him the more agreeable:

2Sa 4:9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

Who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity - This was, in David’s case, a very proper view of the goodness and watchful providence of God towards him. His life was frequently in danger; murderers had often laid wait for it: but God, the living God, had always redeemed that life from all adversity; and called on him now to punish such evil-minded and blood-thirsty men.

who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity - spiritual and temporal, especially the latter is meant, and particularly what he had been brought into by the persecution of Saul,

As the Lord lives - the words contain the form of an oath made to testify the truth of the following narrative,

2Sa 4:10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

I took hold of him, and slew him at Ziklag - that is, ordered one of his young men to lay hold on him, and slay him, as he did, 2Sa_1:15,

2Sa 4:11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

How much more - Here are several things which aggravated the guilt of those wicked men.

1. Ish-bosheth was an innocent man, and therefore none could have any ground of quarrel against him.

2. He was in his own house, which was his sanctuary, and none but the worst of men would disturb him there.

3. He was upon his bed, resting in the heat of the day, and so free from suspicion that he was not even attended by his guards, nor had he his doors secured. To take away the life of such a man, in such circumstances, whom also they professed to hold as their sovereign, was the most abandoned treachery.

How much more - David argues from the lesser to the greater, that if the man that brought him the tidings of Saul's death had no reward given him for bringing what he thought would be reckoned good tidings, then much less would any be given them who had actually slain their master, and that in such a base and barbarous way; and if the above person, who only was a bringer of tidings, was taken and slain, then how much more did they deserve to die, who had been guilty of such a cruel and barbarous murder?

shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hands - avenge his blood on them, by putting them to death, out of the world, and from the land of the living, as men that deserved to live no longer on it.

2Sa 4:12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

cut off their hands and their feet - their hands, which had smote Ishbosheth, and cut off his head; and their feet, which had been swift to shed his blood, and made haste to bring his head so many miles to David; this was what the Jews call measure for measure:

And they slew them - None ever more richly deserved death; and by this act of justice, David showed to all Israel that he was a decided enemy to the destruction of Saul’s family; and that none could lift up their hands against any of them without meeting with condign punishment.

hanged them up over the pool in Hebron - not their hands and their feet, but the trunks of their bodies, thus mutilated;( though other scholars think their hands and their feet were hung up, and not their bodies, because dead bodies were not to hang upon the tree more than a day); they were hung up over the fish pool in Hebron, a public place, and where they were the more exposed to their shame, and the terror of others:

buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron - by order of David no doubt; all which David did to show his regard to the family of Saul, his abhorrence of such execrable murders, and to remove all suspicion of his being concerned in them, and to conciliate the minds of the Israelites to him.

2 Samuel 3

2Sa 3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

There was long war - Frequent battles and skirmishes took place between the followers of David and the followers of Ishbosheth, after the two years mentioned above, to the end of the fifth year, in which Ishbosheth was slain by Rechab and Baanah.

There was long war - The recent battle, though so much in favor of David, did not, put an end to the war between him and Ishbosheth, which lasted five years longer; for it was when Ishbosheth had reigned two years that that battle was fought, and he reigned five years longer; for not till his death, and when David had reigned above seven years in Hebron, was he made king over all Israel; and during this time peace was not made, but the war carried on;

the house of Saul waxed weaker - being always worsted whenever they skirmished with David's men, and by continual revolts from them. This is reckoned an emblem of the kingdoms of Christ and antichrist, the one increasing more and more, as it has and will do, and the other decreasing, and before long will be consumed; and of the two parties in a regenerate man, grace and indwelling sin, the one as to its exercise growing stronger and stronger, and the other as to its influence on the outward conversation weaker and weaker.

And the war - this does not mean continual fighting, but the state of hostility or war in which they continued to stand towards one another. They concluded no peace, so that David was not recognised by Ishbosheth as king, any more than Ishbosheth by David. Not only is there nothing said about any continuance of actual warfare by Abner or Ishbosheth after the loss of the battle at Gibeon, but such a thing was very improbable in itself, as Ishbosheth was too weak to be able to carry on the war, whilst David waited with firm reliance upon the promise of the Lord, until all Israel should come over to him.

2Sa 3:2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

his firstborn was Amnon - he had not much comfort of this firstborn son of his; 2Sa_13.

2Sa 3:3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

Chileab - This son's name is called Daniel, 1Ch_3:1; and was the first name he had, and which his father gave him, because as if he should say, "God hath judged me", and pleaded the cause of his reproach from Nabal, 1Sa_25:39; but why he should be called Chileab is not easy to say; the name is commonly thought to signify "like unto his father", or "all father": had all the features of his father, and was exceedingly like him;

Geshur - A part of Syria , northward from the land of Israel . Her he married, as it may seem, in policy, that he might have a powerful friend and ally to assist him against Ishbosheth's party in the north, whilst himself opposed him in the southern parts. But he paid dear for making piety give place to policy, as the history of Absolom shows.

Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur--a region in Syria , north of Israel . This marriage seems to have been a political match, made by David, with a view to strengthen himself against Ishbosheth's party, by the aid of a powerful friend and ally in the north. Piety was made to yield to policy, and the bitter fruits of this alliance with a heathen prince he reaped in the life of the turbulent Absalom.

the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur - in 1Sa_27:8 we read of David's invading the land of the Geshurites; and the Jews say that he then took the daughter of this king captive, and she being a beautiful woman married her, after made a proselyte according to the law in Deu_21:10; but it should be observed that David slew all the women of that country, and left not any alive; and besides that lay to the south of Judah, whereas this Geshur, of which Talmai was king, was a part of Syria, 2Sa_15:8; and lay to the north of the land of Israel; and with this king David hereby entered into an alliance, to strengthen his interest against Ishbosheth in those parts;

Absalom - of the trouble he met with from Absalom, see 2Sa_13:1, contrary to the expectations he had raised when he gave him the name of Absalom, or Leabsalom, as in 1Ch_3:2; that is, one given "for his father's peace".

2Sa 3:4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

Adonijah - The same who, when David was dying, usurped the throne before his father's death, and was put to death by Solomon 1Ki_1:5.

Shephatiah - “God is judge.” This is the same name as Jehoshaphat, only with the two elements composing it placed in inverted order. Nothing more is known of him or of his brother Ithream.

Haggith, Abital, Eglah - The origin of the last three wives is unknown.

2Sa 3:5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

Ithream - Who also is not spoken of in any other place;

David's wife – the phrase, by what the rhetoricians call "zeugma", or "hypozeugma", is to be joined to everyone of the women before mentioned, 2Sa_3:2, who were his wives, and so called to distinguish them from his concubines, by whom he had sons also. Polygamy, or plurality of wives, which David gave into, is no favorable part of his character.

2Sa 3:6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

Abner made himself strong – he was strongly in the interest of that house, and used his utmost endeavors to support and confirm it which is mentioned, to show the reason of his deep resentment of the following aspersion.

2Sa 3:7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine --In the East, the wives and concubines of a king are the property of his successor to this extent, that for a private person to aspire to marry one of them would be considered a virtual advance of pretensions to the crown. It is not clear whether the accusation against Abner was well or ill founded. But he resented the charge as an indignity, and, impelled by revenge, determined to transfer all the weight of his influence to the opposite party. He evidently set a full value on his services, and seems to have lorded it over his weak nephew in a haughty, overbearing manner.

wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine - It was the exclusive right of the successor to the throne to cohabit with the concubines of the deceased king, who came down to him as part of the property which he inherited.

Saul had a concubine - By whom he had two sons, 2Sa_21:8.

wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine - and defiled her; though perhaps it was not so much the act of uncleanness that so much offended him, or the dishonor reflected on him and his family, as it discovered an ambitious view in Abner to get the kingdom into his own hands.

Decline of the House of Saul - During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner adhered firmly to the house of Saul, but he appropriated one of Saul's concubines to himself. When Ishbosheth charged him with this, he fell into so violent a rage, that he at once announced to Ishbosheth his intention to hand over the kingdom to David. Abner had certainly perceived the utter incapacity of Ishbosheth for a very long time, if not from the very outset, and had probably made him king after the death of Saul, merely that he might save himself from the necessity of submitting to David, and might be able to rule in Ishbosheth's name, and possibly succeed in paving his own way to the throne. His appropriation of the concubine of the deceased monarch was at any rate a proof, according to Israelitish notions, and in fact those generally prevalent in the East, that he was aiming at the throne. But it may gradually have become obvious to him, that the house of Saul could not possibly retain the government in opposition to David; and this may have led to his determination to persuade all the Israelites to acknowledge David, and thereby to secure for himself an influential post under his government. This will explain in a very simple manner Abner's falling away from Ishbosheth and going over to David.

2Sa 3:8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

Am I a dog’s head - This was a proverbial expression among the Hebrews to denote whatever was deemed worthless and contemptible.

Then was Abner very wroth - If false he had a good deal of reason for it; and if true, he thought he deserved better at his hands, than to be reproved for and upbraided with what he might think was a very small fault, and might easily be connived at, and especially in one that had been so serviceable to him:

that thou chargest me today with a fault concerning this woman - he neither denies nor owns the charge, and yet, by his not denying it, tacitly owns it; though, by his way of speaking, he suggests as if it was no fault at all, at least a very trifling one, and such as ought not to have been mentioned to him, considering the services he had done to Ishbosheth and his family.

2Sa 3:9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

So do God to Abner, and more also - He wishes the worst of evils to himself, such as he cared not to name; but left them to be supposed what he meant as utter ruin and destruction of himself, soul and body:

Except, as the Lord hath sworn to David - And why did he not do this before, when he knew that God had given the kingdom to David? Was he not now, according to his own concession, fighting against God?

Except, as the Lord hath sworn to David - it appears that Abner knew of the promise and oath of God respecting this matter; and therefore acted against his conscience, in setting up Ishbosheth on the throne; which he knew would not prosper, and that he was fighting against God; which shows what a hardened wicked creature he was, and how far ambition, and being thought to be of consequence, will carry a man.

2Sa 3:10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul -Which was what the Lord had sworn to do, 1Sa_15:28 And Samuel said to him, The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you; and which Abner now threatens to do, insolently taking that to himself which belonged to the Lord, and as if he could not do it without him:

from Dan even unto Beersheba - which were the utmost borders of the land of Israel , from north to south, and so includes the whole.

2Sa 3:11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

2Sa 3:12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

Whose is the land - Meaning, Is not the land thine by God’s promise? It is not to any of Saul's posterity. This he ordered the messengers to say in the first place, in order to ingratiate himself to David, and gain his messengers an audience.

Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf - On his own account, and not on the account of Ishbosheth, or the people of Israel ; but to obtain terms for himself,

Abner sent messengers to David--Though his language implied a secret conviction, that in supporting Ish-bosheth he had been laboring to frustrate the divine purpose of conferring the sovereignty of the kingdom on David, this acknowledgment was no justification either of the measure he was now adopting, or of the motives that prompted it. Nor does it seem possible to uphold the full integrity and honor of David's conduct in entertaining his secret overtures for undermining Ishbosheth, except we take into account the divine promise of the kingdom, and his belief that the secession of Abner was a means designed by Providence for accomplishing it. The demand for the restoration of his wife Michal was perfectly fair; but David's insisting on it at that particular moment, as an indispensable condition of his entering into any treaty with Abner, seems to have proceeded not so much from a lingering attachment as from an expectation that his possession of her would incline some adherents of the house of Saul to be favorable to his cause.

make thy league with me - he desired to enter into a covenant of friendship with him, that everything that had passed might be forgiven and forgotten:

my hand shall be with thee - he promises on his part to do his utmost to bring all Israel under his government and to obedience to him.

2Sa 3:13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

Except thou first bring Michal - David had already six wives at Hebron; and none of them could have such pretensions to legitimacy as Michal, who had been taken away from him and married to Phaltiel. However distressing it was to take her from a husband who loved her most tenderly, yet prudence and policy required that he should strengthen his own interest in the kingdom as much as possible; and that he should not leave a princess in the possession of a man who might, in her right, have made pretensions to the throne. Besides, she was his own lawful wife, and he had a right to demand her when he pleased.

Except thou first bring Michal - David’s motive in requiring the restitution of Michal was partly his affection for her, and his memory of her love for him; partly the wish to wipe out the affront put upon him in taking away his wife, by obtaining her return; and partly, also, a politic consideration of the effect on Saul’s partisans of a daughter of Saul being David’s queen.

Except thou first bring Michal - he insisted on it that Michal, Saul's daughter, and his wife, should be brought along with him, and presented to him; this was the preliminary to the league and covenant; if this was not complied with, the proposal would not be attended to. This shows the great affection David retained for his first wife, though he had had six since, and though she had lived with another man, 1Sa_25:44; as also his great regard to the honor of Saul's family, that one of them might share with him in the grandeur of the kingdom; though this also might be a piece of policy in him, to gain the friends of Saul's family to him.

Except thou first bring Michal - Michal was not divorced, but violently separated from David, he had a legal right to demand her, and was justified in receiving her again. It is probable, also, that her marriage with Phaltiel was a force upon her inclinations; and whatever affections he might have for her, it was highly criminal for him to take another man’s wife. David required Michal probably both out of affection for her, and to strengthen his interest, by asserting his affinity with the house of Saul.

I will make a league with thee - He accepted of the offer, he was ready and willing to enter into a covenant of friendship with him, and forgive all past offences:

thou shall not see my face – not be admitted into my presence, or have any mark of my favor and respect:

2Sa 3:14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

Sent messengers to Ishbosheth - Not to Abner, for the league between David and Abner was a profound secret, but to Ishbosheth who, David knew, must act, feeble as he was, at Abner’s dictation. Abner’s first act of overt allegiance to David was thus done at Ishbosheth’s bidding; and the effect of the humiliation laid upon Ishbosheth in exposing his weakness to his own subjects, and so shaking their allegiance to him, was such that Abner needed to use no more disguise.

Sent messengers to Ishbosheth - When Abner's messengers returned to him, and acquainted him with the condition of David's entering into a league with him, it is probable that Abner sent them or others to David, to let him know that it was advisable for him to write to Ishbosheth, whose sister she was, and demand her of him; and that then he would use his interest with Ishbosheth to grant it, and this method David took:

Sent messengers to Ishbosheth - Whose consent was necessary, both to take her away from her present husband, and to persuade her to return to David.

Deliver me my wife - It is supposed that he meant to screen Abner; and to prevent that violence which he might have used in carrying off Michal.

Deliver me my wife - two arguments he made use of to enforce his demand; one is, that it was his wife he required, to whom he had a right, and no other man; and the other is, that he had purchased her at a great expense, at the risk of his life, in slaying an hundred Philistines, whose foreskins he paid in for her at the instance of Saul; he mentions but one hundred, though he gave two hundred as her dowry, no more being required than one hundred;

2Sa 3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

took her from her husband - Her second husband, to whom Saul had given her, 1Sa_25:44 And Saul gave his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

2Sa 3:16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

Bahurim - Best known as the residence of Shimei, and as the place where Jonathan and Ahimaaz were concealed in a well on the occasion of David’s flight from Absalom 2Sa_16:5; 2Sa_17:18. It seems to have been situated in the southern border of the tribe of Benjamin, and on the route from Jerusalem to the Jordan fords, since Phaltiel came from Mahanaim 2Sa_2:8.

Weeping behind her - Because of his great affection to her, unwilling to part with her, but forced to it at the command of the king her brother: If genuine affection did not still subsist between David and Michal, it was a pity to have taken her from Phaltiel, who had her to wife from the conjoint authority of her father and her king. Nevertheless David had a legal right to her, as she had never been divorced, for she was taken from him by the hand of violence.

2Sa 3:17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

Ye sought for David - It was only by Abner’s great influence that the elders of Israel had been restrained hitherto from declaring for David, and this accounts for Ishbosheth’s helpless submission to his uncle’s dictation.

Ye sought for David - that is, at the death of Saul, and not before; for it was pretty generally known throughout the kingdom that David was anointed by Samuel and Saul himself had declared that he knew the kingdom would come to him; so that upon his death it was the general expectation and desire of the people that the government would devolve upon him, as it doubtless would, if Abner had not set up one of Saul's house, and persuaded the Israelites to own him their king.

Abner had communication with the elders of Israel--He spoke the truth in impressing their minds with the well-known fact of David's divine designation to the kingdom. But he acted a base and hypocritical part in pretending that his present movement was prompted by religious motives, when it sprang entirely from malice and revenge against Ishbosheth. The particular appeal of the Benjamites was a necessary policy; their tribe enjoyed the honor of giving birth to the royal dynasty of Saul; they would naturally be disinclined to lose that prestige. They were, besides, a determined people, whose contiguity to Judah might render them troublesome and dangerous. The enlistment of their interest, therefore, in the scheme, would smooth the way for the adhesion of the other tribes; and Abner enjoyed the most convenient opportunity of using his great influence in gaining over that tribe while escorting Michal to David with a suitable equipage. The mission enabled him to cover his treacherous designs against his master. Abner pursued a course unworthy of an honorable man and though his offer was accepted by David, the guilt and infamy of the transaction were exclusively his.

2Sa 3:18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

2Sa 3:19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin - Of the inhabitants of the tribe of Benjamin, of which tribe he was, and among whom he had the greatest influence; and with whom it was necessary to take some pains, because of their attachment to the family of Saul, which was of that tribe; We may see from Abner's address to the elders, that even among the northern tribes the popular voice had long since decided for David. In 1 Chron 12 we have historical proofs of this.

Abner went also to speak in the ears of David - having sounded the elders of Israel, and won their thoughts about the change of government, and found them well disposed to David, and had prevailed upon them to consent to make him king, and had gained the tribe of Benjamin on his side, went and reported to David the success he had:

all that seemed good to Israel - how agreeable it was to the elders of Israel , and particularly to the tribe of Benjamin, to have David king over them.

2Sa 3:20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

Twenty men - These were doubtless his official suite as Ishbosheth’s envoy to conduct Michal to David, but privy and consenting to his intrigue with David. It is remarkable that not a word should be said about the meeting of David and Michal.

Abner came to David to Hebron - Before he went privately to him, and conferred with him, but now, having gained so many of the Israelites in favor of David, he appeared more publicly and brought perhaps some of the principal of the nation with him, to join in the league and covenant to be made:

David made Abner a feast - not only in honor to them, as great personages, especially Abner, and as expressive of reconciliation; but as a token of the covenant they were entering into, and for the confirmation of it; it being usual to have feasts when covenants were made; see Gen_26:28.

2Sa 3:21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

Abner said to David - Abner repeats the offer 2Sa_3:12; and the condition of Michal’s return 2Sa_3:13 being now fulfilled, David accepts it, and the league between them was solemnly ratified at David’s board, amidst the rites of hospitality.

Abner said to David - What Abner had done for Ishbosheth, including his fighting against David, was indeed a sinful act of resistance to the will of Jehovah, which was not unknown to him, and according to which Samuel had both called and anointed David king over the nation; but for all that, it was not an ordinary act of rebellion against the person of David and his rightful claim to the throne, because Jehovah had not yet caused David to be set before the nation as its king by Samuel or any other prophet, and David had not yet asserted the right to reign over all Israel, which had been secured to him by the Lord and guaranteed by his anointing, as one which the nation was bound to recognise; but, like a true servant of God, he waited patiently till the Lord should give him the dominion over all His people.

He went in peace - David dismissed him in good faith, having no sinister design in reference to him. The expression “in peace” serves to prepare the way for what follows. It is not stated, however, that David sent him away in peace (without avenging himself upon him), but that “David sent him away, and he went in peace.” Apart altogether from the mildness of David's own character, he had no reason whatever for treating Abner as an enemy, now that he had given up all opposition to his reigning, and had brought all the Israelites over to him.

thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth - which he supposed reached to all the people of the house of Israel and of Judah, though David had not expressed any eager and impatient desire of government, but waited the Lord's time to be put into the possession of the whole kingdom of Israel:

2Sa 3:22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop - A troop of robbers, that made an incursion into the land, taking the advantage of a civil war between Israel and Judah ;

2Sa 3:23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

2Sa 3:24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

what hast thou done - which was very insolent in a subject to say to his prince: Joab and his brother Abishai, David’s nephews, had been very faithful and highly useful to him in his distresses; and, from gratitude and natural affection, he had inadvertently permitted them to assume almost as much ascendancy over him as Abner had over Ishbosheth. he trusted and feared them too much, and allowed them all the importance they claimed; which had emboldened them, especially Joab, to a high degree of presumption.

why is it that thou hast sent him away - when he ought to have been laid hold on as a traitor, and put in irons.

Then Joab came to the king - Possibly Joab saw that if Abner was reconciled to David, his own post as second in the state would be forfeited; and then with characteristic unscrupulosity he proceeded to take Abner’s life.

Joab came to the king - Joab's knowledge of Abner's wily character might have led him to doubt the sincerity of that person's proposals and to disapprove the policy of relying on his fidelity. But undoubtedly there were other reasons of a private and personal nature which made Joab displeased and alarmed by the reception given to Abner. The military talents of that general, his popularity with the army, his influence throughout the nation, rendered him a formidable rival. In the event of his overtures being carried out, the important service of bringing over all the other tribes to the king of Judah would establish so strong a claim on the gratitude of David, that his accession would inevitably raise a serious obstacle to the ambition of Joab. To these considerations was added the remembrance of the blood feud that existed between them since the death of his brother Asahel (2Sa_2:23). Determined, therefore, to get Abner out of the way, Joab feigned some reason, probably in the king's name, for recalling him, and, going out to meet him, stabbed him unawares; not within Hebron, for it was a city of refuge, but at a noted well in the neighborhood.

2Sa 3:25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner - Thou canst not be ignorant what a cunning deceitful man he is, nor of his designs;

to know thy going out, and coming in - the affairs of his court, the secrets of his government, to observe his conduct and behavior, and all his actions, and improve them against him: He suggests that he came not as a friend, but as a spy, and therefore ought to have been taken up, and detained, and not dismissed. This Joab said to set David against him, fearing, if he should be received into favor, he would be a rival of his; and besides his breast was full of revenge against him for the death of his brother.

2Sa 3:26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

The well Sirah - Nowhere else mentioned;

David knew it not - that Joab had sent after Abner to fetch him back; it was not done by his order, with his consent or knowledge; this is observed, to clear David from any concern in the death of Abner.

2Sa 3:27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

And smote him there - Joab feared that, after having rendered such essential services to David, Abner would be made captain of the host: he therefore determined to prevent it by murdering the man, under pretense of avenging the death of his brother Asahel. The murder, however, was unprovoked and wicked: and such was the power and influence of this nefarious general, that the king dared not to bring him to justice for his crime. In the same way he murdered Amasa, a little time afterwards. 2Sa_20:10. Joab was a cool-blooded, finished murderer.

Joab took him aside in the gate - where he was waiting for him, and met him; this was a public place, where people were continually passing, and where courts of judicature used to be held; wherefore Abner might think himself safe here with Joab, and have no suspicion at all of his design, and shows how fearless Joab was of God or men:

to speak with him quietly - peaceably, in a friendly manner, as all his gestures towards him showed; so that Abner made no difficulty of turning aside with him, supposing he had something to communicate to him from the king, which he had forgot:

smote him under the fifth rib - in the same place that Abner had smote his brother,

smote him under the fifth rib - while Joab’s conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner’s punishment; who, from ambition, had opposed the declared will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert Ishbosheth, and offer his services to David.

for the blood of Asahel his brother - for Abner's shedding his brother's blood; but this was not the only reason, and perhaps not the chief reason; but because he was fearful if Abner was received into the friendship of the king, he would be preferred unto him, and take his place as general of the army, as being an older and more experienced officer.

2Sa 3:28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

And afterward, when David heard it - this circumstance is observed, the more to clear the king from any concern in this affair: He spoke publicly and called God to witness.

I and my kingdom are guiltless - He was sensible it would be known that Abner had been with him, and that Joab his general had killed him; and therefore it might be suspected that he had an hand in it; and therefore, to purge him from it, he made this public declaration, that neither he nor his council knew anything of it; and that it was not done with their knowledge and consent, and by their order, but through the resentment of a single person; and therefore hoped that no man would impute the shedding of this blood unto them, or that God would punish them for it; and he was the rather led to make this public declaration, because he knew that the death of Abner in this way would be resented by the friends of Saul's family, and be an obstruction to the union of the two kingdoms, which it was known Abner was endeavoring to bring about.

2Sa 3:29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

Let it rest on the head - That is, the blood of Abner, who was the shedder of it; let the guilt of it be charged to him, and let punishment for it be inflicted on him: All these verbs may be rendered in the future tense: it will rest on the head of Joab, etc. This was a prophetic declaration, which sufficiently showed the displeasure of God against this execrable man.

Let it rest on the head - The meaning is: May God avenge the murder of Abner upon Joab and his family, by punishing them continually with terrible diseases, violent death, and poverty. To make the reason for this fearful curse perfectly clear, the historian observes in 2Sa_3:30, that Joab and his brother Abishai had murdered Abner, “because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle” (2Sa_2:23). This act of Joab, in which Abishai must have been in some way concerned, was a treacherous act of assassination, which could not even be defended as blood-revenge, since Abner had slain Asahel in battle after repeated warnings, and only for the purpose of saving his own life. The principal motive for Joab's act was the most contemptible jealousy, or the fear lest Abner's reconciliation to David should diminish his own influence with the king, as was the case again at a later period with the murder of Amasa (2Sa_20:10).

and on all his father's house - on Abishai his brother, and other relations that might be privy to the death of Abner,

let there not fail from the house of Joab - let there be always in his family, and of his seed, one or other of the persons described as follows:

let there not fail from the house of Joab - all which David might say, not by a spirit of prophecy, but in a passion; and to show with what horror he resented the action, and how detestable it was to him, and how far it was for him to have any concern in it: but though it was a very wicked action in Joab to murder Abner in this manner, and for the reasons he did; yet it was a just vengeance from the Lord on Abner for fighting against God, and acting against the dictates of his own conscience; for his rebellion against David, and perfidy to Ishbosheth, and for having been the cause of much bloodshed in Israel.

let there not fail from the house of Joab - The curse of David proves that Joab was not justified as blood-revenger 2Sa_3:27 in taking away Abner’s life. For similar instances of hereditary disease and poverty as a punishment of great sin, see 1Sa_2:31-33, 1Sa_2:36; 2Ki_5:27. Compare to Joh_9:2-3 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither has this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God might be revealed in him.

That leaneth on a staff - Rather, a crutch. The phrase denotes one lame or infirm.

one that hath an issue - gonorrhoea, which was reckoned infamous, and very impure, according to the Jewish law, and rendered persons unfit for society; see Lev_15.

that is a leper - whose disease was very loathsome and infectious, and shut him out of the company of men; see Lev_13.

or that falleth on the sword - not by it honorably in the field of battle, but cowardly destroying themselves with it:

or that lacketh bread - and is obliged to beg it:

2Sa 3:30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner - For though it was only Joab that gave him the thrust of which he died, Abishai was in the secret, and was consenting and advising to his death, and so an accessory to it; and might be present, ready to assist in it, if occasion required.

because he had slain their brother Asahel - which was no just reason at all; his blood was shed in war, this in peace, in cold blood, and under the guise of friendship; that was shed with reluctance, and after fair warning, and in defense of himself; but this willfully in Joab, unawares to Abner, and in great deceit and hypocrisy; 1Ki_2:5 And also you know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, that he murdered them, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle on his loins, and in his shoes on his feet.

2Sa 3:31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

David said to Joab - He commanded him to take on him the part of a principal mourner.

David said to Joab - To his whole court, Joab being present: for he did not flee, nor was he laid hold on in order to be brought to justice; which shows how great his power was, and that he was too hard for David; however he enjoined his whole court, and Joab also, to express public mourning on this account:

David said to Joab - Him he especially obliged to it, to bring him to repentance for his sin, and to expose him to public shame. David, intending no doubt to punish Joab, and to lessen his authority with the people, commanded him to take upon him the office of chief mourner; but, as his revenge was gratified, his rival removed, and no heavier punishment inflicted, it is probable his hardened mind would feel but little objection to the ceremony.

rend your clothes and gird you with sackcloth - which were expressions of mourning used on various occasions, and on account of the dead.

rend your clothes and gird you with sackcloth - David's sorrow was sincere and profound, and he took occasion to give it public expression by the funeral honors he appointed for Abner.

2Sa 3:32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

2Sa 3:33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

Lamented - composed and sang the funeral dirge.

the king lamented over Abner--This brief elegy is an effusion of indignation as much as of sorrow. As Abner had stabbed Asahel in open war [2Sa_2:23], Joab had not the right of the Goel. Besides, he had adopted a lawless and execrable method of obtaining satisfaction. The deed was an insult to the authority, as well as most damaging to the prospects of the king. But David's feelings and conduct on hearing of the death, together with the whole character and accompaniments of the funeral solemnity, tended not only to remove all suspicion of guilt from him, but even to turn the tide of popular opinion in his favor, and to pave the way for his reigning over all the tribes more honorably than by the treacherous negotiations of Abner.

died Abner as a fool dieth – That is, as a wicked man. Was he cut off by the hand of justice for his crimes? Nothing less; but by Joab's malice and treachery.

died Abner as a fool dieth – the answer to the question is, he did not die as wicked men die; he did not die for any wickedness he had been guilty of; he did not die as a malefactor, whose crime has been charged and proved in open court, and sentence of condemnation pronounced on him righteously for it; but he died without anything being laid to his charge, and much less proved, and without judge or jury; he was murdered in a clandestine, insidious, and deceitful manner; so the word "fool" is often taken in Scripture for a wicked man, especially in the book of Proverbs;

2Sa 3:34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

Thy hands were not bound - This thought prepares the way for the solution; Abner had been treacherously murdered by wicked men.

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters - As criminals are when they are taken up for any crime, and especially when proved upon them, and condemned for it, and brought forth to be executed. This was not his case, and had he been aware of the design against him.

as a man falleth before wicked men - as a man being before bloodthirsty and deceitful men, falls before them, through treachery and deceit, privately and unawares, so fell Abner before Joab and Abishai; this David said in the presence of Joab, and before all the people, to declare the plain fact how it was, to express his detestation of it, and to show he had no hand in it; and Joab must be an hardened creature to stand at the grave of Abner, and hear all this, and not be affected with it:

all the people wept again over him - over Abner, being laid in his grave; they had wept before, but hearing this funeral oration delivered by the king in such moving language, and in such a mournful tone, it drew tears afresh from them.

2Sa 3:35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

To eat meat - Fasting was a sign of the deep mourning 2Sa_1:12. The fast lasted until the sun was set.

To eat meat - The custom was to bury in the daytime, and after the funeral was over to provide and send in food to the relations of the deceased, and come and eat with them;

2Sa 3:36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

The people took notice - They saw that the king’s grief was sincere, and that he had no part nor device in the murder of Abner:

The people took notice - Not only of his oath, that he would not eat food till evening, but of his whole conduct at the funeral of Abner; the sorrow he expressed for his death, and the oration he made on account of it, in which he pretty severely reflected on his murderer:

it pleased them - that he showed such a concern for his death, and that it was a clear case he had no hand in it: and they had such an high opinion of him, that all that he did in public and private affairs they reckoned well done; they were highly approved of by them. They were satisfied concerning David's integrity.

2Sa 3:37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

2Sa 3:38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

a prince and a great man - a "prince", being of the royal family, his father was Saul's uncle, and he his own cousin; a "great" man, being general of the army, a very valiant and skilful commander, a man of great wisdom and parts. David says nothing of his grace and virtue, only of his grandeur, his high birth and civil excellencies; he praises him in what he was commendable, and proceeds no further;

2Sa 3:39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

I am this day weak - Which seems to be given as a reason, or for an excuse why he did not inflict just punishment upon the murderer, according to the law of God, because he was "weak"; not in body or mind, but with respect to the kingdom, that was like a tender branch, or in its infant state; and great care and caution were to be used that it was not overturned: he was a king by unction, not by birth; a son of the late king was yet up against him, and was possessed of the far greater part of the kingdom; he was indeed anointed by Samuel to be king over all Israel; but as yet he was not put into the possession of the kingdom he was anointed to; he was anointed and made king over Judah, and invested with the office of king there, and settled in it; and yet his power was not very great there.

The Lord shall reward the doer of evil - That is, Joab, whom he appears afraid to name. Which may be considered either as an imprecation of evil on Joab, or a prediction, that sooner or later righteous judgment would be rendered to him by the Lord; with whom he leaves it to take vengeance on him, satisfying himself with this for the present, that though it was not in his power to do it, the Lord would in his own time and way:

the sons of Zeruiah, be too hard for me - his sister's sons, Joab and Abishai, they were a check upon him; he could not do what he would, their influence was so great, both in the court and in the camp; the one was general of the army, and the other a considerable officer in it, and both very respectable among the people, for their achievements in war, and the success they had; so that they were very much out of the reach of David to bring them to justice, without shaking his kingdom; and therefore in point of prudence he thought it best to connive at this fact until he was more established in the kingdom. Whatever may be said for this conduct, it is certain he was too dilatory, and it did not sit easy upon his mind, and therefore gave it in charge to Solomon before his death not to suffer Joab to go to his grave in peace, 1Ki_2:5-6.

the sons of Zeruiah, be too hard for me - After all that can be said in favor of David, he seems to have been too much in fear of men, and too distrustful of the power and promise of God to establish him in his kingdom, and was too negligent of public justice; which had it been exercised, might have prevented other sins, as the murder of Ishbosheth, Ammon, and others.

2 Samuel 2

2Sa 2:1 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

Enquired of the Lord - Thus David begins at the right end, and lays his foundation in God's counsel and assistance.

Enquired of the Lord - Through Abiathar, the high priest and through the Urim and Thummim, in the ephod he had put on on this occasion, for he did not know whether the different tribes were willing to receive him, though he was fully persuaded that God had appointed him king over Israel . The death of Saul and Jonathan had entirely changed David’s position, and therefore he needed divine guidance how to act under the new circumstances in which he was placed.

Enquired of the Lord - though the Lord had promised him the kingdom, and he had been anointed by Samuel by his appointment, yet he was not hasty to take it into his hands, but was desirous of acting according to the will of God, and by his direction, and wait his time when and where he should go and take possession of it; he mentions Judah because it was his own tribe, and where he had the most friends:

To Hebron - The metropolis of the tribe of Judah, one of the richest regions in Judea . The mountains of Hebron were famed for fruits, herbage, and honey; and many parts were well adapted for vines, olives, and different kinds of grain, abounding in springs of excellent water. Hebron was well suited for the temporary capital of David’s kingdom, being situated in a strong position in the mountains of Judah , amidst David’s friends, and withal having especially sacred. It appears to have also been the center of a district 2Sa_2:3.

unto Hebron - a city of the priests, a city of refuge, Jos_21:13.

2Sa 2:2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

2Sa 2:3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

And his men that were with him did David bring up - They and their families, and no doubt provided well for them when he was settled on the throne, who had shown themselves to be his faithful friends, closely attached to his interest, and had run the risk of their all on his account.

they dwelt in the cities of Hebron - in the towns and villages about it; for that itself being a city of refuge, and inhabited by priests, there was not room enough for all David's men, who were now increasing.

2Sa 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.

Anointed David king - David had already been anointed by Samuel 1Sa_16:13. His first anointing indicated God’s secret purpose, his second the accomplishment of that purpose. The interval between the anointing of the Lord Jesus as the Christ of God, and His taking to Himself His kingdom and glory, seems to be thus typified.

the men of Judah came - The inhabitants of the tribe of Judah came from the several parts of it to Hebron , that is, the principal of them, the elders of each city:

they anointed David king over the house of Judah - they did not take upon them to make him king over all Israel, but left the rest of the tribes to act for themselves; and no doubt in this they had the mind of David, who was not willing to force himself upon the people at once, but by degrees get the whole government into his hands, as Providence should make his way; these men knew the kingdom was promised to their tribe, from Gen_49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. And the obedience of the peoples to him; and were quite clear in what they did, and, without question, knew that David had been anointed by Samuel: but as that anointing was only a declaration of the Lord's choice of him, and of his will that he should be king after Saul's death, he is again anointed by the people, as an inauguration into his office:

Anointed - This they did upon just grounds, because not only the kingdom was promised to that tribe, but David was designed and anointed by God, whose will both they and all Israel were obliged to obey. And they resolved not to neglect their duty, though they saw the other tribes would. Yet their modesty is observable, they make him king of Judah only, and not of all Israel . And therefore there was need of a third anointing to the kingdom over all Israel , which he had 2Sa_5:3, that first anointing; 1Sa_16:13, was only a designation of the person who should be king, but not an actual inauguration of him to the kingdom.

they told David the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul - It is probable, that as soon as David was anointed king, the first thing he thought of was to inquire after the body of the late king, and give it an honorable interment, and upon inquiry was told that the men of Jabeshgilead had buried him already.

2Sa 2:5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

and have buried him - To bury the dead, with the Jews, was always reckoned an instance of humanity and kindness, and indeed of piety; an act done in imitation of God, who buried Moses, and so it might be expected the divine blessing would attend it.

You have shown this kindness - For as it is, an act of inhumanity to deny burial to the dead; so it is an act of mercy and kindness to bury them.

2Sa 2:6 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

I also will requite you this kindness - 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 favor to them for this act of kindness to Saul.

2Sa 2:7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

Now let your hands be strengthened - David certainly wished to attach the men of Jabesh to his interest; he saw that they were generous and valiant, and must be of great service to him whose part they espoused; and he was no doubt afraid that they would attach themselves to the house of Saul, in consideration of the eminent services Saul had rendered them in rescuing them from Nahash, king of the Ammonites.

the house of Judah have anointed me king over them - he would take their parts, and help and assist them; and which he suggests to them, to invite them to own him as their king also, and put themselves under his protection. With Saul dead, they might be discouraged, as having none to protect and defend them, or come to their relief as he did, should they be attacked:

Be valiant - Be not afraid lest the Philistines should punish you for this fact, but take good courage, I will defend you.

2Sa 2:8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

Abner the son of Ner - This man had long been one of the chief captains of Saul’s army, and commander-in-chief on several occasions; This man's father, Ner, was Saul's uncle, 1Sa_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,

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 1Ch_8:33. Baal is the name of a shameful idol, and which was therefore sometimes called Bosheth, "shame". See Hos_9:10; wherefore such names of men, which had Baal in them, were changed for Besheth or Bosheth, as the names of Jerubbaal and Meribbaal, who were called Jerubbesheth and Mephibosheth. This prince was so called from his imbecility.

took Ishbosheth the son of Saul - The latter of these, a son of Jonathan, bid fairest for the crown by lineal succession, but he being but five years of age, and lame, this man Abner judged fittest for his purpose; and though he knew it was the will of God, and he had sworn that David should be king, yet so blind and obstinate was his ambition, that he set up another against him:

brought him over to Mahanaim - a city on the other side Jordan , in the tribe of Gad, on the border of the half tribe of Manasseh; see Jos_13:26; From 2Sa_2:12 it would seem to have been Ish-bosheth’s capital.

Abner--was first cousin of Saul, commander of the forces, and held in high respect throughout the country. Loyalty to the house of his late master was mixed up with opposition to David and views of personal ambition in his originating this factious movement. He, too, was alive to the importance of securing the eastern tribes; so, taking Ish-bosheth across the Jordan, he proclaimed him king at Mahanaim, a town on the north bank of the Jabbok, hallowed in patriarchal times by the divine presence (Gen_32:2). There he rallied the tribes around the standard of the unfortunate son of Saul.

The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honor and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behavior while passing through various difficulties. David was herein a type of Christ, whom Israel would not submit to, though anointed of the Father to be a Prince and a Savior to them.

2Sa 2:9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

The Ashurites - Who the Ashurites were is not generally agreed; probably men of the tribe of Ashur. If the tribe of Asher, the verse indicates the order in which Abner recovered the different districts from the Philistines, and added them to the dominions of Ish-bosheth, beginning with Gilead, and then gradually adding, on the west of Jordan, first the territory of Asher as far as Carmel and the whole plain of Esdraelon, and then the country of Ephraim and Benjamin, being in fact all Israel, as distinguished from Judah; and this reconquest may have occupied five years. Ish-bosheth’s reign over Israel may not have been reckoned to begin until the conquest was complete.

Made him king over Gilead - These were places beyond Jordan, and included the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh; for as the Philistines had lately routed the Israelites, they were no doubt in possession of some of the principal towns, and were now enjoying the fruits of their victory. Abner was possibly afraid to bring the new king to any place where he was likely to meet with much resistance, till he had got his army well recruited.

over Jezreel - the great plain which went along the borders of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali, and included these tribes:

and over all Israel - excepting the tribe of Judah; that is, he prevailed first on one of these, then on another, until he got all the tribes of Israel to own him for their king; David all this time being still and quiet, and not opposing him, waiting God's own time to open the way for his possession of the kingdom over all Israel, and having a strict regard to his oath to Saul, 1Sa_24:21 And swear therefore to me before the LORD that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.

and over all Israel - 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.

2Sa 2:10 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

Ishbosheth reigned two years - Since David reigned seven years in Hebron over Judah only, it follows, either that an interval of five years elapsed between Ishbosheth’s death and David’s being anointed “king over all Israel ,” or that a like interval elapsed between Saul’s death and the commencement of Ishbosheth’s reign. Of the two the latter is the more probable.

Ishbosheth reigned two years - It is well observed that Ishbosheth reigned all the time that David reigned in Hebron , which was seven years and six months. Perhaps the meaning of the writer is this: Ish-bosheth reigned two years before any but the tribe of Judah had attached themselves to the interest of David. Some think that Abner in effect reigned the last five years of Ish-bosheth, who had only the name of king after the first two years. Or the text may be understood thus: When Ishbosheth had reigned two years over Israel , he was forty years of age. Ishbosheth had reigned two years without any rupture with David or his men, till under the direction of Abner, captain of his host, the Israelites passed over Jordan , from Mahanaim to Gibeon , and being opposed by Joab, captain of David’s host, that battle took place which is described in the following verses.

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 that there was a vacancy in the throne of Israel for the space of five years; which vacancy was either before the reign of Ishbosheth, or after his death; the tribes of Israel being so long before they acknowledged David their king; or Ishbosheth's reign of two years must be in the middle of David's reign over Judah; but there is no need to suppose either of these, for the text says not that Ishbosheth reigned only two years; but the meaning is that he had reigned two years when the following things happened, a war began by Abner, and carried on by him; and he being an inactive prince, the rest of his reign was reckoned as no reign, whereas he lived and reigned the same length of time David did over Judah ;

Two years - Namely, before the following war broke out, which continued five years. The opinion that the two years of Ishbosheth's reign are to be reckoned up to the time of the war with David, because Abner played the principal part during the other five years and a half that David continued to reign at Hebron, is equally untenable.

was forty years old - Being born the same year his father began to reign.

2Sa 2:11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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.

2Sa 2:12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Went to Gibeon - This expedition to Gibeon may have been for the purpose of shifting his metropolis to his own tribe of Benjamin, and to his family place, “Gibeah of Saul,” close to Gibeon , with the further purpose of attacking the kingdom of David . When Abner had brought all Israel under the dominion of Ishbosheth, he also sought to make Judah subject to him, and went with this intention from Mahanaim to Gibeon , taking with him the servants, i.e., the fighting men, of Ishbosheth.

the servants of Ishbosheth - 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 - To fight with David's army, and to bring back the rest of the kingdom to Saul's house. “To go out” is a phrase for going out to war 1Sa_18:30.

2Sa 2:13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together 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.

Joab the son of Zeruiah - A sister of David, and this her son was general of David's army:

the servants of David went out - that is, his army went out from Hebron to Gibeon; 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 their side, and they had his promise to rely upon with respect to the establishment of the kingdom in the house of David, and his power and providence to trust in, and therefore went out boldly and cheerfully to meet the armies of Israel under Abner:

the pool of Gibeon - the same perhaps with the great waters in Gibeon , Jer_41:12,

they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool - That is, met the opposite army, and put themselves in a posture for battle, facing one another, and watching each other's motions.

2Sa 2:14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

Play before us --Some think that the proposal was only for an exhibition of a little tilting match for diversion. Others suppose that, both parties being reluctant to commence a civil war, Abner proposed to leave the contest to the decision of twelve picked men on either side. This fight by championship instead of terminating the matter, inflamed the fiercest passions of the two rival parties; a general engagement ensued, in which Abner and his forces were defeated and put to flight.

Play before us --Abner then proposed to Joab that the contest should be decided by a single combat, probably for the purpose of avoiding an actual civil war. As Joab accepted this proposal, twelve young warriors for Benjamin and Ishbosheth, and twelve from David's men went out of the two camps to the appointed scene of conflict; “and one seized the other's head, and his sword was (immediately) in the side of the other (his antagonist), so that they fell together.” Sending the sword into the opponent's side is thus described as simultaneous with the seizure of his head. This was a sign that the young men on both sides fought with great ferocity, and also with great courage.

Play before us - Here, the word is applied to the serious game of war, to be played by twelve combatants on each side, with the two armies for spectators. This was diabolical play, where each man thrust his sword into the body of the other, so that the twenty-four (twelve on each side) fell down dead together! But this was the signal for that sanguinary skirmish which immediately took place.

Play before us - 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 to bring on a battle, or to decide the quarrel between them; and this bloody barbarous exercise Abner calls play, as if it was a diversion and pastime to see men wounding and killing one another:

Play before us - That is, show their prowess and dexterity in fighting together. He speaks like a vainglorious and cruel man, and a soldier of fortune, that esteemed it a sport to see men wounding and killing one another. So this he designed, partly for their mutual recreation and trial of skill; and partly, that by this occasion they might be engaged in a battle.

2Sa 2:15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

2Sa 2:16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

Helkath-hazzurim - “The portion of the mighty;” or, “The inheritance of those who were slain,” according to the Targum.

Helkathhazzurim - the field of rocks, or of mighty men as strong as rocks, who stood as immovable, and would not give way, but fell and died in the field of battle; the Targum interprets it, the inheritance of the slain.

Caught every one his fellow by the head - Probably by the beard, if these persons were not too young to have one, or by the hair of the head.

2Sa 2:17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

there was a very sore battle that day - Neither side had the advantage in the combat of twelve a side; hence, the quarrel was fought out with great fierceness by the two armies, and the victory was won by David.

there was a very sore battle that day - When the twenty four men fell together, and no decision could be made thereby, or any triumph on either side, both armies drew up in battle array, and fought very furiously:

2Sa 2:18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe - To be swift of foot was deemed a great accomplishment in the heroes of antiquity;

Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe - swiftness of foot, as well as courage, for which this man was famous, 1Ch_11:26 And the mighty ones of the army: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem; was a very great qualification for a warrior.

Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel - Joab was the general of the array, Abishai was he who went into Saul's host at night, and took away his spear and cruse of water at his head, 1Sa_26:6 And David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to the camp to Saul? And Abishai said, I will go down with you; and it is for the sake of the third, Asahel, that the account is given, the story of his death being about to be told.

a wild roe - The word denotes the gazelle or antelope

2Sa 2:19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

Asahel pursued after Abner - Ambitious of the glory of taking or slaying the general of the army of Israel ; trusting to his swiftness, not considering that the race is not always to the swift, and that he had to do with a veteran soldier, and he a raw young man, though valiant:

Asahel pursued after Abner--To gain the general's armor was deemed the grandest trophy. Asahel, ambitious of securing Abner's, had outstripped all other pursuers, and was fast gaining on the retreating commander. Abner, conscious of possessing more physical power, and unwilling that there should be "blood" between himself and Joab, Asahel's brother, twice urged him to desist. The impetuous young soldier being deaf to the generous remonstrance, the veteran raised the pointed butt of his lance and with a sudden back thrust, transfixed him on the spot, so that he fell, and lay weltering in his blood.

not to the right hand nor to the left - he kept his eye upon him, and pursued him closely, disregarding persons on the right or left he could have made prisoners; but those he neglected, being bent on taking Abner if possible.

2Sa 2:20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

he answered - so that they were very near to each other, as to discourse together, and be heard and understood by each other.

2Sa 2:21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

His armour – content thyself with the spoil of some inferior soldier for a trophy.

Take thee his armor - It seems Asahel wished to get the armor of Abner as a trophy; this also was greatly coveted by ancient heroes. Abner wished to spare him, for fear of exciting Joab’s enmity; but as Asahel was obstinate in the pursuit, and was swifter of foot than Abner, the latter saw that he must either kill or be killed, and therefore he turned his spear and ran it through the body of Asahel. This slaying of Asahel cost Abner his life, as we shall find in the next chapter.

turn thee aside to thy right or to thy left - he does not advise him to go back, which would have been to his disgrace, having engaged in the pursuit, but to turn to the right or left, as if pursuing some other person and not Abner:

lay thee hold on one of the young men - one of the common soldiers, or an attendant on Abner, a young man like himself, whom he might be able to cope with, and take him a prisoner and disarm him, when he was not a match for such an old experienced officer as he was; and this Abner seems to speak as a friend, consulting the young man's safety and his honour too.

Asahel would not turn aside - fired with the ambition of taking him, and not content with any prey short of him; and perhaps was the more animated by what he said, supposing it arose from fear of him.

2Sa 2:22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

And Abner said again to Asahel - Being loath to dispatch him:

wherefore should I smite thee to the ground - which was giving him fair warning, and letting him know what he must expect, if he did not desist from his pursuit:

how should I hold up my face to Joab - should he slay his brother, he would never be friendly with him, or look pleasantly on him; he would never forgive him, but seek ways and means to avenge his blood on him and by this it seems as if Abner was conscious to himself that he was in a wrong cause, that the kingdom was of right David's, and would be his, and he must be obliged to make peace with him; .

2Sa 2:23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

With the hinder end - the wooden end, which was more or less pointed to enable the owner to stick it in the ground

The fifth rib - The word so rendered here means the abdomen, and is not etymologically connected with the Hebrew for five, as the translation “fifth rib” supposes, but with a verb meaning to be fat, or strong.

smote him under the fifth rib - the place where hang the gall bladder and liver, as the Jewish commentators from their Talmud observe. There are twelve ribs, seven of which are called true ones, and five spurious; if this was the fifth of the seven, the spear must pierce the breast (k), and strike the seat of life, the heart and lungs; if the fifth from the eighth and first of the spurious ones, then it must pass to the vital bowels of the abdomen, which seems to be the case here: according to some this is meant of the inferior ribs, which we call the short ribs (also called floating ribs since they do not connect to the sternum), and any of these five are called the fifth rib; and Abner might have struck him in the right side, because he was behind him, and which stroke must be deadly, because he struck him through the liver:

as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still - that is, such of David's men who were in the pursuit after the Israelites, when they came to the spot, and saw Asahel dead, they had no power to proceed in the pursuit, being so troubled and grieved at the death of him.

2Sa 2:24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

Ammah and Giah - Local, and otherwise unknown names.

Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner - They stood not still as the rest, but, filled with indignation and resentment, pursued after Abner, to be avenged on him:

2Sa 2:25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together -Either those that were with him before, who upon the battle were dispersed, but now got together again; or others of that tribe, who, hearing of the defeat of Abner, went out of the several cities after him, to strengthen his hands, and renew the fight with Joab:

stood on the top of an hill - which was some advantage to them, and from whence they could take a view of Joab's army, and observe its motions.

2Sa 2:26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

Then Abner called to Joab - For having now a troop of men with him, he could stop with the greater safety; and being on an hill, and perhaps Joab on one opposite to him, could call to him, so as to be heard:

shall the sword devour for ever - slay men, and devour their blood. That he was not thoughtful of, nor concerned about, when he set the young men to fighting before the battle, and called it play to wound and shed the blood of each other; but now the battle going against him, he complains of the devouring sword; and though it had been employed but a few hours, it seemed long to him, a sort of an eternity:

following their brethren - he pleads relation, that the men of Israel and the men of Judah were brethren; so they were by nation and religion, and therefore should not pursue one another to destruction; but who was the aggressor? It was Abner, that brought his forces against Judah ; the men of David acted only on the defensive.

2Sa 2:27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

Unless thou hadst spoken - Joab’s speech could be taken one of two ways. First it could mean that if Abner had not provoked the battle, Joab would not have attacked the Israelites that day; as his orders were probably to act on the defensive. Thus Joab threw all the blame of the fight upon Abner, because he had been the instigator of the single combat; and as that was not decisive, and was so bloody in its character, the two armies had felt obliged to fight it out. Second it could mean that if Abner had not spoken now, then there would have been further bloodshed as they continued their pursuit. Jewish and Christian commentators tend towards the first view.

as God liveth - Which was the form of an oath, swearing by the living God:

2Sa 2:28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

pursued after Israel no more - as soon as they heard the trumpet sound, the meaning of which they understood, they stepped at once, and left off their pursuit:

neither fought they any more - that day, and perhaps no pitched battle afterwards; though the war continued after this a long time, and there might be skirmishes, which greatly weakened Abner's party.

2Sa 2:29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

Through all Bithron - 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 . Other versions say “all the forenoon” or “all the morning”. The Septuagint reads “through the adjacent country” 2Sa 2:29 Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim. (NASB) 2Sa 2:29 And Abner and his men went all that night through the plain and passed over Jordan, and went all the forenoon and came to Mahanaim. (MKJV) 2Sa 2:29 And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to Mahanaim. (ESV) 2 Sam 2:29 And Abenner and his men departed at evening, [and went] all that night, and crossed over Jordan, and went along the whole adjacent [country], and they come to the camp. (Septuagint)

They came to Mahanaim - So they returned to the place whence they set out. This was the commencement of the civil wars between Israel and Judah , and properly the commencement of the division of the two kingdoms, through which both nations were deluged with blood.

Abner and his men walked all that night - Through the plain of Jordan. He marched with his men all night, lest Joab should return, and pursue him, and take vengeance on him for the death of his brother:

2Sa 2:30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

2Sa 2:31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

of Benjamin, and Abner's men - Of those of the tribe of Benjamin that joined him, and of those that he brought with him from Mahanaim;

three hundred and threescore men died - the number of the slain on each side was very unequal. The slain of Israel , though greatly exceeding those of Judah , were not great.

three hundred and threescore men died - Nineteen of Joab’s soldiers were missing besides Asahel, all of whom had fallen in the battle. But they had slain as many as three hundred and sixty of Benjamin and of Abner's men. This striking disproportion in the numbers may be accounted for from the fact that in Joab's army there were none but brave and well-tried men, who had gathered round David a long time before; whereas in Abner's army there were only the remnants of the Israelites who had been beaten upon Gilboa, and who had been still further weakened and depressed by their attempts to recover the land which was occupied by the Philistines.

2Sa 2:32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

They came to Hebron - Hebron would be about 14 miles from Bethlehem , or about five hours’ march.

the sepulchre of his father - not in the city of Bethlehem, but without it, on the south side of it; What was his father's name is not known, only his mother's name, Zeruiah, is mentioned in Scripture, a sister of David, and daughter of Jesse.

Joab and his men went all night - not the night following the battle, but the night following the next day, after he had been to Bethlehem, and buried his brother there; wherefore, lest David should think it long before he came, he travelled all night: