Bible Chapter Summary
2 Samuel 2 Summary
David Made King Over Judah
David inquires of the LORD and is directed to Hebron, where the men of Judah anoint him king over the house of Judah. Meanwhile, Abner, captain of Saul's host, establishes Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, as king over Israel's northern tribes. A fierce battle erupts between David's forces under Joab and Ish-bosheth's forces under Abner at the pool of Gibeon. The conflict ends when Joab calls for peace, but not before Asahel, Joab's brother, is killed by Abner while pursuing him.
Key themes
Key verses
2 Samuel 2:1
“And it came to pass after this, that David inquired 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.”
2 Samuel 2:8-10
“But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth 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. Ish-bosheth 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.”
2 Samuel 2:19-23
“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.”
2 Samuel 2:27
“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.”
Read 2 Samuel 2 in full
Study the complete chapter with interlinear Hebrew & Greek, verse-by-verse, in the Gospel Daily reader.
Open the full chapter