2 Samuel 2:14

Israel and Judah at War

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to ^aGibeon.

13 And ^aJoab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by ^bthe pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

15 So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

16 And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called¹ the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.

17 So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 Now the ^athree sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was ^bas fleet of foot ^cas a wild gazelle.

19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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2 Samuel 2:14

Let 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.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing 2 Samuel 2:14:**

2 Samuel 2:27

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2 Samuel 2:15 >>

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