2 Samuel 2:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at 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.

NIV: Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

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

CSB: So Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s soldiers marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. The two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

NLT: About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

Abner had been the commander of Saul's army. He used his power and influence to declare Saul's son Ish-bosheth as the next king of Israel (2 Samuel 2:8–10). He and his men have traveled from Ish-bosheth's capital in Mahanaim to Gibeon, perhaps to persuade the Gibeonites to support Saul's son as the new king (2 Samuel 2:12).

It may be that David's military leader Joab was in Gibeon for the same reason. The support of Gibeon would have been strategic, in part, because the Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were descended from the Amorites (2 Samuel 21:1–3). Scripture later notes the Gibeonites' deep resentment against Saul for breaking a treaty established during the time of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:14; 2 Samuel 21:1). More likely, the armies want to take control of the tabernacle and the altar of God (1 Chronicles 16:39–40).

The Gibeonites were master engineers. Modern archaeologists have uncovered a spiral stepwell, dated to a time long before those found in India. The well is more than 82 feet, or about 25 meters, deep and 40 feet, or about 12 meters, wide, with a spiral staircase. The well protected the city from running out of water during a siege.

Commentators are certain that this is the pool where the fighting men of David and Ish-bosheth meet. It's unknown whether this is an arranged meeting at the well-known landmark or whether it happens by chance. In either case, the two sides sit down on either side of the pool.

Second Samuel 2:12–17 marks the beginning of a civil war. Upon Saul's death, David became king of Judah (1 Samuel 31:1–4; 2 Samuel 2:1–4). Despite five years of his diplomatic attempts (2 Samuel 1; 2:4–7), David hasn't managed to unite the Israelites under his rule. Abner makes Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over the rest of Israel (2 Samuel 2:8–10). For two years, the rival kingdoms fight: David's side growing stronger and Ish-bosheth's weaker (2 Samuel 3:1). The war begins with twelve duels.

David returns to Israel, where he is anointed king over Judah, and settles in Hebron. Abner declares Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over Israel. David blesses the men of Jabesh-gilead for burying Saul's remains. Abner, leading Ish-bosheth's men, faces off against Joab, leading David's fighters, at Gibeon. In a fierce, one-sided battle, Abner kills Joab's brother, but David's men overwhelm Abner's Benjaminite fighters, losing twenty but killing 360. Abner and the survivors prepare for a last stand on the hill of Ammah, but Joab calls off the battle when Abner pleads with him to stop. Both sides return home.

Saul and three of his sons are dead (1 Samuel 31:1–4). David becomes king of Judah, and Saul's son Ish-bosheth is king of the remaining tribes. When the two sides meet in battle, Ish-bosheth's army fares poorly. David continues to grow stronger over two years of fighting. Ish-bosheth's general Abner appears to make a futile attempt to take the crown from his king, then starts the work to peacefully hand David the crown of Israel (2 Samuel 3:1–12).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.