New Living Translation
2 Samuel 2:14
14Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” “All right,” Joab agreed.
2 Samuel 2:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
- New International Version (NIV)Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.” “All right, let them do it,” Joab said.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
Context of 2 Samuel 2:14
12One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13About 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. Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” “All right,” Joab agreed. 15So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. 16Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.
Read all of 2 Samuel 22 Samuel 2:14 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְנֵר֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב יָק֤וּמוּ נָא֙ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וִֽישַׂחֲק֖וּ לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יוֹאָ֖ב יָקֻֽמוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:14
- 2 Samuel 2:17A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.
- Proverbs 10:23Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
- Proverbs 17:14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.
- Proverbs 20:18Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.
- Proverbs 25:8don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
- Proverbs 26:18Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Let the young men - play before us - 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Play - (Compare Judges 16:25; 1 Samuel 18:7). 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.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honour and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behaviour 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 Saviour to them. Abner meant, Let the young men fight before us, when he said, Let them play before us: fools…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14the young men: In ancient times, enemy armies sometimes picked individuals or small groups to fight as representative gladiators. This practice is often called champion warfare (see also 1 Samuel 17). compete: The Hebrew term usually suggests an element of play. A contest of champions might have been seen as a high-stakes game. In this case, it resolved nothing. The fighting grew into a much larger battle with more casualties (2 Samuel 2:17–32).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-178-17. Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host took Ish-bosheth--Here was the establishment of a rival kingdom, which, however, would probably have had no existence but for Abner. Ish-bosheth--or "Esh-baal" (1Ch 8:33; 9:39). The Hebrews usually changed names ending with Baal into Bosheth ("shame") (compare Jud 9:53 with 2Sa 11:21). This prince was so called from his imbecility. Abner--was first cousin of Saul, commander of the forces, and held in high…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 2:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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