2 Samuel 2:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill.

NIV: Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

NASB: And the sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and they stood on the top of a hill.

CSB: The Benjaminites rallied to Abner; they formed a unit and took their stand on top of a hill.

NLT: Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.

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

NKJV: Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill.

Abner had run for his life from the lost battle against David's forces at Gibeon. One man had refused to allow him to escape. Despite repeated warnings from Abner, Asahel kept chasing him down until Abner killed him (2 Samuel 2:17–23).

Asahel's two older brothers, Joab and Abishai, try to finish the job. The time that passes in between, though, gives Abner a chance to regroup with the survivors of his army. They now assemble themselves for a possible last stand on a hill called Ammah as Joab and David's forces approach at sunset.

Joab and his brothers fight for David, king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1–4). Abner fights for Ish-bosheth, Saul's son and the king of the remaining tribes (2 Samuel 2:8–10). But Abner's entire army is from their tribe of Benjamin. Israel is not a cohesive nation: it's a group of tribes that live largely autonomously.

Aside from God's will, this may be why Abner loses this battle so badly and will continue to lose. Benjamin is the smallest tribe in the nation; Judah is one of the largest. Benjamin doesn't have many people from which to form an army. Abner is a great general and has been a commander since before David fought Goliath. But in this battle, he loses 360 men to Joab's 20 (2 Samuel 2:30–31). That lopsided defeat will define the two-year civil war.

Second Samuel 2:24–28 records Abner calling for a truce. The armies of Israel, led by Abner, and Judah, led by Joab, have met in what seems to be their first battle. Israel is losing badly. During the fighting, Abner has killed Joab and Abishai's brother. As the sun sets, Abner reminds Joab that they are all brothers: Israelites. Joab agrees to suspend the hostilities. The two armies march all night to their homes (2 Samuel 2:29–32).

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.