2 Samuel 2:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.

NIV: They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

NASB: And they carried Asahel away and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men traveled all night until the day dawned at Hebron.

CSB: Afterward, they carried Asahel to his father’s tomb in Bethlehem and buried him. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at dawn.

NLT: Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

The first battle of the civil war between Israel and Judah has ended. It began when the armies of Ish-bosheth and David met in Gibeon. This was a neutral, Gentile city in the middle of Israelite territory. A show of strength between the two sides devolved into a fierce battle. One side has called for a truce, and the other agrees. The armies now march all night to reach their respective homes. Joab, David's nephew and general, takes his army to Bethlehem to bury his brother before they continue to Hebron.

The next two years will be civil war. Sadly, it didn't have to be that way. David never wanted war with Ish-bosheth's father Saul, and he went out of his way to avoid it. The players now aren't so circumspect.

David was welcomed by Judah to be their king shortly after Saul died (2 Samuel 2:1–4). God's intention is that he be king over all Israel. But the other tribes didn't follow Judah's example.

Saul's general Abner knew God chose David to be king after Saul. Instead of respecting that choice and convincing the other tribes to follow David, Abner took Saul's son Ish-bosheth and crowned him, instead (2 Samuel 2:8–10).

When Abner met David's army under Joab, he suggested the two sides choose twelve men each to duel. All of them killed their opponents (2 Samuel 2:12–16). Abner and Joab could have taken that as a sign that fighting against fellow Israelites is futile. Instead, they enjoined the battle.

As Abner fought, Joab's brother Asahel caught sight of him and chased after the general. Abner tried to convince Asahel to break off the pursuit. If Asahel had listened, Abner wouldn't have killed him, and the battle would have turned into a fierce desire for Joab to avenge his brother (2 Samuel 2:19–24).

God's plan always comes to fruition. Humans often make up their own minds how things should be. In this case, choosing personal preferences instead of God's will result in a two-year civil war and countless, needless deaths. Despite human struggles and resistance, David will be king.

Second Samuel 2:29–32 begins a description of David's increasing power. The army of Saul's son Ish-bosheth has gone to battle against David's men and lost. The numbers given here illustrate how badly the attempt went. Throughout the civil war, David will continue to grow stronger. This not only applies to his army and power, but also to his family: he will add three wives, including a princess, and several sons (2 Samuel 3:1–5). After two years, Ish-bosheth's general will defect and give David all of Israel (2 Samuel 3:6–21).

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).