2 Samuel Chapter 2
David and the War with Ishbosheth
A. Two Kings Over the People of God
(2 Samuel 2:1–4a) — “And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.”
David once again displayed one of the greatest marks of a godly man, he sought divine direction before acting. His inquiry of the LORD was not a mere formality but an earnest desire to align himself with the divine plan rather than pursuing his own ambition. This distinction separated David from Saul, who often moved without counsel from God. David’s humility and dependence upon the LORD reveal his restored relationship after his time of discouragement and compromise in Ziklag.
When David asked, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” he demonstrated sensitivity to the timing and manner of God’s will. He was still living among the Philistines in Ziklag, where he had fled in weakness and fear. Now, having been chastened and brought back into fellowship, he waited for God’s instruction rather than presuming upon His promises. The LORD answered clearly, directing him to Hebron, the ancient city associated with Abraham and the patriarchs, signifying divine heritage and covenant promise.
God’s response to David shows His faithfulness even after David’s season of failure. The LORD could have remained silent, yet He graciously answered. This demonstrates that restoration with God is complete when repentance is sincere. The LORD does not put His people on probation; He delights in guiding the humble.
Though David had been anointed by Samuel nearly two decades earlier, he did not force the fulfillment of the promise. Instead, he waited upon the LORD’s timing. This patient obedience shows that true faith trusts God not only for the promise but for its appointed time. As Proverbs 3:5–6 declares, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
When David arrived at Hebron, the men of Judah anointed him king. He did not grasp the crown through political maneuvering or violence, but by divine appointment. The recognition by the men of Judah confirmed that God was raising him in His own time. There is great wisdom in allowing God to exalt His servant rather than striving for self-advancement. As Psalm 75:6–7 teaches, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
This new anointing also represents a fresh work of the Holy Spirit in David’s life. The first anointing marked the promise, but this second affirmed the beginning of fulfillment. Likewise, believers must seek continual renewal of the Spirit’s anointing, not resting on past blessings. David’s relocation from Philistine territory to Hebron marked his spiritual realignment; he could not receive a new anointing while remaining in compromise.
(2 Samuel 2:4b–7) — “And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
David’s first act as king was not one of conquest or pride, but one of gratitude and righteousness. He commended the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had bravely recovered and buried the bodies of Saul and his sons after their defeat at Mount Gilboa. These men had risked their lives to honor Israel’s fallen king, displaying loyalty and courage in a time of national disgrace. David’s blessing upon them reflects his character—he respected Saul’s office as the LORD’s anointed even though Saul had treated him as an enemy.
David said, “Blessed be ye of the LORD,” recognizing their act as a reflection of covenant faithfulness. He promised that both the LORD and he himself would repay their kindness. This was wise leadership, for it both encouraged virtue and strengthened political unity. David also exhorted them, “Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant.” In other words, he called them to stand firm and courageous, acknowledging that Israel was entering a new chapter under his reign.
David’s message carried both grace and wisdom. While he was now king of Judah, the northern tribes had not yet accepted him. His words subtly invited the men of Jabesh Gilead, and by extension all Israel, to align themselves with the rightful king whom God had chosen. By showing respect for Saul’s memory and his loyal followers, David built bridges instead of divisions, demonstrating true godly statesmanship.
This passage reveals that David’s kingship began not in pride or vengeance but in humility, gratitude, and spiritual dependence. It was a model of godly leadership rooted in mercy and righteousness rather than ambition.
(2 Samuel 2:8–11) — “But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.”
Abner, the son of Ner, was Saul’s cousin and long-time commander of Israel’s army. 1 Samuel 14:50 reveals this connection: “And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.” Abner had been a key figure in Saul’s administration and military campaigns, and he was deeply loyal to Saul’s house. After Saul’s death, Abner took it upon himself to preserve Saul’s dynasty by setting up Saul’s surviving son, Ishbosheth, as king.
This act was not led by divine guidance but by political ambition. Abner knew that God had already anointed David as king over Israel through the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:12–13), yet he resisted that divine decree to maintain his own influence. By establishing Ishbosheth as king, Abner effectively made himself the true ruler of Israel, using Ishbosheth as a puppet monarch. His decision to bring Ishbosheth to Mahanaim—on the east side of the Jordan River—suggests fear and caution, as that region was more defensible and removed from David’s base in Hebron. It also reflected the fractured state of Israel following Saul’s death and the Philistine incursions.
Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, is introduced here for the first time in Scripture. Saul’s other sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua—had perished at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:6). Ishbosheth’s absence from earlier narratives suggests that he was not a warrior or a man of influence. Many scholars believe he was the son of a concubine, which would make him a less legitimate heir. The name “Ishbosheth” means “man of shame,” which may have replaced his original name “Esh-baal” (“man of Baal”) to avoid association with the pagan deity after the fall of Saul’s house (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39).
It is worth remembering that David was also connected to Saul’s family by marriage, for he was the husband of Michal, Saul’s daughter (1 Samuel 18:27). Therefore, David had both divine anointing and familial legitimacy to rule. Yet despite these qualifications, Abner ignored the clear will of God, showing that political self-interest often blinds men to spiritual truth.
Abner “made him king,” emphasizing that the power originated not from God but from man. Ishbosheth’s reign was a façade sustained by Abner’s strength. The narrative portrays Abner as the architect of rebellion against God’s anointed king. His opposition to David mirrors the carnal heart that resists God’s authority, preferring control under human power rather than submission to divine rule.
Ishbosheth ruled for two years while David reigned over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months. These two years highlight David’s patience and submission to the LORD’s timing. David had every reason to take military action against Ishbosheth and Abner, yet he refrained. Instead of forcing the fulfillment of God’s promise, David trusted that God would remove the opposition in His own time. This restraint is a mark of true faith and spiritual maturity. David would not grasp the crown through bloodshed; he allowed the LORD to exalt him.
The fact that most of Israel initially followed Ishbosheth rather than David is a powerful reminder of human nature. Even after Saul’s failures, the people still clung to the familiar system rather than stepping out in faith to follow God’s chosen king. Fear of the Philistines may have played a role, for the text implies that much of the land was still under enemy control. Many likely reasoned, “We’ll just make the Philistines angry if we follow David.” This hesitation reflects the same spiritual timidity seen in believers who are reluctant to fully follow the Son of David, Jesus Christ, for fear of worldly disapproval.
David’s seven years and six months in Hebron symbolize a period of testing and preparation. He ruled over Judah alone while the rest of Israel followed a false king. This dual kingship foreshadows the spiritual conflict between Christ and the kingdoms of this world. Just as David did not force his reign upon Israel, so also the Son of David does not coerce mankind into submission. His kingdom is offered in grace, not imposed by force. Yet one day, as Philippians 2:10–11 declares, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Until that day, the believer must choose which king to follow. The kingdom of Ishbosheth represents the world’s substitute—built on pride, fear, and human power—while David’s kingdom represents the divine rule of God through humility and obedience. Those who, like David, wait patiently upon the LORD will inherit the true kingdom.
B. War Between the Tribe of Judah and the Other Tribes of Israel
(2 Samuel 2:12–17) — “And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 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. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.”
Here begins the tragic civil war between the house of David and the house of Saul. The commander Abner, loyal to Saul’s remaining son Ishbosheth, marched from Mahanaim to Gibeon, meeting Joab, David’s general, by the pool. Gibeon was a strategic location in the tribal territory of Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, and thus served as a symbolic battlefield for the divided nation.
Joab the son of Zeruiah was one of David’s nephews, the son of his sister Zeruiah (1 Chronicles 2:16). Along with his brothers Abishai and Asahel, Joab had fought beside David through his wilderness years, likely joining him at the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1–2). Joab was a seasoned and ruthless warrior, utterly loyal to David but often driven by his own ambition. His loyalty was fierce, but his methods were sometimes brutal, reflecting the violent nature of the age in which he lived.
Abner and Joab—two hardened commanders—stood on opposite sides of the pool of Gibeon, representatives of two opposing houses. Abner proposed that young warriors from each side “arise and play before us,” a phrase that meant to engage in contest or combat for sport. This “play” quickly turned into slaughter. The twelve champions from each army seized one another and plunged their swords into each other’s sides so that all twenty-four fell dead together. The location was thereafter named Helkath Hazzurim, meaning “the Field of Sharp Swords.”
This bloody contest illustrates how pride and rivalry can quickly escalate to destruction. What began as a military display became a symbol of senseless civil strife. The nation of Israel, recently united under Saul, was now divided and shedding its own blood. The outcome was disastrous for Abner’s forces; the servants of David prevailed in a fierce battle. Yet even in victory, the cost was high, as brother fought against brother.
This passage reminds believers that division within the people of God is devastating. When pride, ambition, or personal loyalty supersedes submission to God’s chosen King, the result is always tragedy. As James 3:16 warns, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” The same principle applies to the Church today; unity under Christ must be guarded, for discord among brethren grieves the Spirit and weakens the witness of God’s people.
(2 Samuel 2:18–23) — “And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.”
Among David’s warriors were the three sons of Zeruiah—Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Though David’s nephews, they were close in age to him and shared his fighting spirit. Asahel, the youngest, was known for his incredible speed, described as being “as light of foot as a wild roe.” His swiftness became both his strength and his downfall.
In the chaos of the battle, Asahel fixed his pursuit on Abner, the seasoned commander of Ishbosheth’s army. This was a bold move, but also reckless. If Asahel had caught Abner, it would have been a great personal victory, but it would also have been an affront to the opposing army and a provocation of vengeance. Abner, seeing Asahel in pursuit, twice warned him to turn aside, urging him to take the armor of another soldier instead. Abner’s appeal was both tactical and moral. He did not wish to slay the young man, knowing that doing so would ignite an unending blood feud with Joab, Asahel’s older brother.
Nevertheless, Asahel refused to turn aside. His ambition overrode caution. Abner, likely running backward as he fled, turned his spear and struck Asahel with the blunt end beneath the fifth rib—a fatal blow that pierced through his body. The text emphasizes the violence of the act: the spear passed through Asahel, and he fell dead instantly. When other men came to the place where Asahel lay, they “stood still,” stunned by the death of one so swift and valiant.
Abner’s act was not murder but self-defense, as his words and reluctance made clear. Yet his fears proved justified, for Joab would later seek vengeance for this killing (2 Samuel 3:27). The blood of Asahel became a matter of bitter rivalry between Joab and Abner for years to come.
The death of Asahel stands as a solemn warning about the dangers of unchecked zeal. His determination was admirable, but without wisdom, it led to his ruin. The apostle Paul expressed a similar truth in Romans 10:2, saying of Israel, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” Zeal, divorced from discernment, becomes destructive.
This incident also highlights the futility of civil war among God’s people. The conflict between the house of David and the house of Saul reflected not only political ambition but spiritual resistance against the will of God. Division and pride cost the nation dearly, and though David’s men would ultimately prevail, it came through pain and loss.
(2 Samuel 2:24–28) — “Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.”
As the sun began to set, the intensity of the battle reached its height. Joab and Abishai, both furious and grieving over the death of their brother Asahel, pressed forward in relentless pursuit of Abner. Their cause was no longer only for the kingdom of David but had become deeply personal. The chase carried them as far as the hill of Ammah near Giah, on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. There, the remaining Benjamites rallied to Abner’s defense and formed a tight formation atop a hill, preparing for a final stand.
Abner, seeing that his forces were cornered and facing destruction, called out to Joab with a plea that carried both military prudence and moral weight: “Shall the sword devour forever? Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?” He appealed to the futility of continued bloodshed, reminding Joab that both armies were brethren. This was a subtle admission that the conflict was unnatural, being a war between Israelites—men who served the same God and shared the same covenant heritage. Abner’s timing was strategic; his men were cornered, and he now sought mercy. His plea, though politically convenient, contained a timeless truth about the ruin of civil strife among God’s people.
Joab replied with a sharp and somewhat bitter acknowledgment: “As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.” In other words, Joab recognized that the call for peace came late—after much blood had already been spilled. Yet, despite his anger, Joab showed restraint and wisdom. He sounded the trumpet, signaling a cease-fire. At once, the men halted their pursuit, and the fighting ceased. The text says, “All the people stood still,” demonstrating that Joab held firm command and that David’s forces were disciplined even in the heat of vengeance.
Joab’s decision likely reflected both exhaustion and prudence. The battle had cost many lives, and a prolonged conflict would only further weaken Israel. Still, the peace that followed was temporary and uneasy, for deep wounds remained unhealed. Abner’s plea for peace was born out of necessity, not repentance, and Joab’s truce was born out of control, not reconciliation. This fragile pause in the conflict merely delayed what would become a protracted war between the house of Saul and the house of David.
This scene offers a profound lesson about the destructive nature of division among God’s people. Abner’s question, “Shall the sword devour forever?” echoes through the ages. Division within the body of Christ always leads to bitterness in the end. As Galatians 5:15 warns, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” True unity cannot be achieved through compromise or expedience, but only through submission to the will of God and acknowledgment of His rightful King.
(2 Samuel 2:29–3:1) — “And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. 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. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.”
When the fighting ceased, Abner’s surviving men retreated under cover of night, crossing the Jordan River and returning to Mahanaim—the stronghold of Ishbosheth’s rule. They were a defeated and demoralized force, retreating eastward away from Judah’s territory. Joab gathered David’s men, counting their losses. Only nineteen men had fallen, plus Asahel, while Abner’s army had lost three hundred and sixty. The stark difference in casualties reveals how decisively David’s forces prevailed. The LORD’s favor was clearly with the anointed king, confirming that David’s rise was ordained and unstoppable.
Asahel’s body was brought home to Bethlehem, his father’s burial place, showing that despite his impulsive death, his valor was honored. This act of burial also preserved the bond of family loyalty that would later fuel Joab’s vengeance against Abner. After burying Asahel, Joab and his men returned to Hebron at daybreak—Hebron being both the political and spiritual center of David’s early reign.
The narrative concludes with a statement that frames the entire next phase of David’s rise: “Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.” This verse summarizes the slow but inevitable unfolding of divine sovereignty. God had already chosen David, and His purposes were being fulfilled in His own time, despite resistance from Saul’s remnants.
The mention of “long war” underscores that the cease-fire at Gibeon did not produce lasting peace. It was, in fact, a temporary lull in a deeper spiritual and political conflict. The houses of Saul and David represent two opposing principles: the kingdom of the flesh versus the kingdom of the Spirit. The same struggle continues within believers today. As one commentator observed, “In many Christian lives there is raging a civil war—the flesh, the kingdom of Saul, struggling with the spirit, the kingdom of David.” The believer who seeks to maintain both kingdoms within his heart will experience turmoil until full surrender to Christ, the Son of David, is made.
When Joab accepted the cease-fire, it may have seemed the wise thing to do, but it prolonged the inevitable. There could be no lasting peace between the rightful king and the pretender, just as there can be no peace between the rule of Christ and the rule of self. Compromise between the two only guarantees a drawn-out spiritual battle. As Romans 8:7 declares, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” The only solution is complete submission to the rightful King, Jesus Christ.
Ultimately, David’s strength continued to increase, not through ruthless ambition but through steadfast faith and obedience. From the moment God anointed him, David’s rise was assured, because 1 Samuel 16:13–14 records, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.” The Lord had decreed the outcome long before, and time only revealed the unfolding of His sovereign plan.
