2 Samuel 2
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 2
NJB (MT versing) David Made King Over Judah David Anointed King of Judah David Becomes King of Judah David Is Made King of Judah David Consecrated King at Hebron 2:1-4a 21:1-3 21:1-4a 21:1 21:1-4a 2:4-7 21:2-4a David's Message to the People of Jabesh 2:4b-7 2:4b-7 2:4b-7 2:4b-7 Ish-bosheth Made King Over Israel Ishbosheth Made King of Israel Ishbosheth Is Made King of Israel Abner Imposes Ishbaal As King of Israel 2:8-11 2:8-11 2:8-11 2:8-10a 2:8-11 2:10b-11 Civil War Israel and Judah War War with Israel Breaks Out War Between Israel and Judah War Between Israel and Judah, the Battle of Gibeon 2:12-17 2:12-17 2:12-17 2:12-14 2:12-13 2:15-16 2:14-16 2:17-20 2:17-23 2:18-23 2:18-23 2:18-23 2:21-23 2:24-29 2:24-29 2:24-28 2:24-26 2:24-28 2:27-28 2:29-3:1 2:29 2:29-3:1 2:30-32 2:30-3:1 Etc.
2 Samuel 2:1-4
2:1 "David inquired of the Lord" David wanted to follow YHWH's leadership. He sought guidance often from the Urim and Thummim of the High Priest (see notes at 1 Sam. 22:13; 23:2,4,9-12; 30:8; 2 Sam. 5:19,23; Josephus, Antiq. 7.1.2, says he inquired of the prophet not by the sacred lots). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM ▣ "to Hebron" This was one of the places David had camped. He gave them part of the spoil from the slaughter of the Amalekites (cf. 1 Sam. 30:31). David wanted to leave Philistia and return to Judah. It would be the place where he would be anointed King of Judah (cf. v. 4). At the time it was possibly the largest city in Judah. For more information on Hebron, see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 698-700. 2:3 "the cities of Hebron" David apparently did not stay in Hebron itself but resided in the surrounding villages. 2:4 "anointed David king" This is the second of three royal anointings. by Samuel (at Bethlehem) by Judah at Hebron by all Israel at Hebron SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE
2 Samuel 2:4-7
2:4b This paragraph describes David's blessing on the city of Jabesh-gilead, who buried Saul and his sons (cf. 1 Sam. 31:11-13). David's blessing is part of his attempt to unify all Israel under one king. Obviously Jabesh-gilead supported Saul. Saul is dead; David wants them to support him and not Ish-bosheth. Notice the elements of David's blessing (v. 5) lovingkindness (BDB 338 I, KB 336 II; NASB translates the same root as "kindness" in v. 5), 2 Sam. 2:6 truth (BDB 54, NRSV, "faithfulness") goodness (BDB 375 III) from David SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH, AND FAITHFULNESS (OT) 2:5 "because you have shown kindness to Saul" Even after Saul's terrible acts toward David, David still respected YHWH's anointed king. killed the Amalekite that claimed to have killed Saul (2 Samuel 1) blessed the city that showed kindness to Saul in his burial SPECIAL TOPIC: BURIAL PRACTICES
2 Samuel 2:8-11
2:8-11 David was anointed king of Judah (v. 4). Abner, Saul's military commander (and cousin or uncle, cf. 1 Sam. 14:50), anointed Saul's son, Ishbosheth, king over Benjamin and Israel. The dates given are very specific, not round numbers. The Hebrews were good historians. SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORIOGRAPHY COMPARED TO NEAR EASTERN CULTURES 2:8 NASB, NKJV, TEV, REB, JPSOA "Ish-bosheth" NRSV, NJB "Ishbaal" "Ashbashul" Originally "ba'al" was used of YHWH. But later, it must have been embarrassing for a king of YHWH's covenant people to be named "man of Baal" (the male Canaanite fertility god, cf. 1 Sam. 14:50; 1 Chr. 8:33; 9:39). So later Jewish editors, as they often did, altered the name to "man of shame" (Bosheth). Also note how Jonathan's son, Merib-baal (cf. 1 Chr. 8:33-34) was changed to Mephibosheth (cf. 2 Sam. 9:6). See NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 626 and vol. 4, p. 424, c. and p. 1298, 5. d. The UBS Text Project, p. 220, gives "Ishbaal" a "B" rating (some doubt). The name change would have been done by later scribes. It is possible that "Ishvi" of 1 Sam. 14:49 is also another name for this same person. 2:8 "Mahanaim" This location is first mentioned and named in Gen. 32:2,10. Jacob recognized that his family was accompanied by angels and so named the place Mahanaim, "this is God's company" or "two companies" (BDB 334). The location seems to be on the eastern plain east of the Jordan River on the Jabbok River (border between Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, cf. Josh. 13:26,30), near the city of Penuel. David fled to this same area when he ran from his son Absalom (cf. 2 Sam. 17:24). 2:9 "over Gilead" This area was on the eastern bank of Jordan, northeast of the Dead Sea. The Philistines controlled most of the area west of the Jordan. ▣ "Ashurites" The MT has "Ashurites" (BDB 79). There have been several theories about this name, אשׁורי. the city of Ashur, אשׁור, Num. 24:24 the nation of Assyria, אשׁרי, cf. Gen. 2:14; 25:18; Ps. 83:8 (Targum) the tribe of Asher, אשׁיר, cf. Jdgs. 1:32 an Arab tribe, אשׁורם (BDB 78, plural) The JPSOA footnotes says "the meaning of the Hebrew uncertain." The other places mentioned are not close to Assyria, so #3 or #4 seems best. I think #3 fits the context best. Alfred Edersheim, The Bible History, p. 154 footnote and the NET Bible suggest an emendation to "Geshurites," גשׁורי (BDB 178, #2), following the Peshitta. They are mentioned in Deut. 3:14; Josh. 12:5; 1 Sam. 27:6. This too, would fit in with the other geographical names mentioned in the text. 2:10 The use of the number "forty" is often symbolic. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 496, says "the fortieth year is the prime of life, a good age for a new start." SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #7.
2 Samuel 2:12-17
2:12-17 This paragraph describes the rivalry between Judah and Simeon and the rest of the tribes. To moderns it seems a strange account but in the period it was not (i.e., Goliath, the Philistine champion, fights David, the Israelite champion). However, after the individual contest (v. 14), which was meant to designate the victor without a battle, the battle occurred anyway. The select warriors from each side approached an equal number. They each killed the other (v. 16). This civil war revealed YHWH's choice of David. 2:16 "by the head" This is an idiom for grabbing the hair so as to control a person's movement. Obviously these young soldiers on both sides were trained in the same fighting tactics. ▣ "Helkath-hazzurim" The Hebrew compound word means "the field of sword-edges"(BDB 324). JPSOA translates it as "the field of the flints (or blades)." Often places where major events occurred are named after the event (cf. v. 8, "Mahaniam").
2 Samuel 2:18-23
2:18-23 This describes the death of Joab's younger brother, Asahel, by Abner. This caused a blood-feud between them that would threaten David's plan to unite kingdoms of Judah and Israel (cf. 2 Samuel 3). 2:18 "Zeruiah" This was David's sister (cf 1 Chr. 2:16). 2:21 Abner is suggesting that Asahel kill another of Saul's soldiers and take all his valuables. 2:23 This is very specific information. It must have been seen by someone in Judah's army. It was probably oral tradition before being codified later. See John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture, which shows how oral cultures passed on their traditions.
2 Samuel 2:24-29
2:24-29 This paragraph describes how Abner warns Joab of the pending destruction of the Israeli tribes. A truce was needed! 2:27 "As God lives" This is an oath formula based on the covenant name for Israel's God, YHWH, from the Hebrew VERB "to be" (cf. Exodus 3). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. 2:28 "the trumpet" Israel used trumpets to communicate. Here, to call off the pursuit (cf. 2 Sam. 18:16; 20:1,22). SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL 2:29 NASB, NJB, REB "all morning" NKJV, JPSOA "all Bithron" "the whole afternoon" "the next morning" "the whole stretch of time ahead" "toward Geshur" The MT has "all the Bithron" (BDB 144), which makes it a proper name of a place. This name occurs only here in the OT. NET calls it "the whole region of Bithron" BDB suggests "a cleft" or "a ravine" on the eastern side of the Jordan (BDB 144, KB 167) KB also suggests (KB 167 III) a location southwest of Jerusalem
2 Samuel 2:30-32
2:30-31 Notice how one sided the victory was. 19 Judean soldiers killed 360 Israeli soldiers killed It does not state if these figures include the twelve pairs of vv. 15-16. 2:32 Families were buried together in family tombs. SPECIAL TOPIC: BURIAL PRACTICES SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?