2 Samuel 2:24

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.

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Word by word — the Hebrew

Word	Hebrew	Strong’s	Meaning
Joab	יוֹאָ֥ב yo.'Av	H3097	Joab · proper noun, a man's name
Abishai	וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י va.'a.vi.Shai	H52	Abishai · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
pursued	וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֛וּ vai.yir.de.Fu	H7291	to run after (usually with hostile intent · conjunction + verb, qal sequential imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural
after	אַחֲרֵ֣י 'a.cha.Rei	H310	properly · cardinal number, masculine plural construct
Abner	אַבְנֵ֑ר 'av.Ner	H74	Abner · proper noun, a man's name
sun	וְהַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ ve.ha.She.mesh	H8121	the sun · conjunction + definite article + noun, common both genders singular absolute
down	בָּ֔אָה Ba.'ah	H935	to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) · verb, qal perfect, 3rd person feminine singular
come	בָּ֚אוּ Ba.'u	H935	to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) · verb, qal perfect, 3rd person common plural
hill	גִּבְעַ֣ת giv.'At	H1389	a hillock · noun, common feminine singular construct
Ammah	אַמָּ֔ה 'a.Mah	H522	Ammah · proper noun, a place name
before	פְּנֵי pe.nei-	H6440	the face (as the part that turns) · noun, common masculine plural construct
Giah	גִ֔יחַ Gi.ach	H1520	Giach · proper noun, a place name
way	דֶּ֖רֶךְ De.rekh	H1870	a road (as trodden) · noun, common both genders singular construct
wilderness	מִדְבַּ֥ר mid.Bar	H4057	a pasture (i.e. open field · noun, common masculine singular construct
Gibeon	גִּבְעֽוֹן giv.'on	H1391	Gibon · proper noun, a place name

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 2:18-24

We have here the contest between Abner and Asahel. Asahel, the brother of Joab and cousin-german to David, was one of the principal commanders of David's forces, and was famous for swiftness in running: he was as light of foot as a wild roe (Sa2 2:18); this he got the name of by swift pursuing, not swift flying. Yet, we may suppose, he was not comparable to Abner as a skilful experienced soldier; we must therefore observe, I. How rash he was in aiming to make Abner his prisoner. He pursued after him, and no other, Sa2 2:19. Proud of his relation to David and Joab, his own swiftness, and the success of his party, no less a trophy of victory would now serve the young warrior than Abner himself…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 2:19

ASAHEL SLAIN. (Sa2 2:19-32) Asahel pursued after Abner--To gain the general's armor was deemed the grandest trophy. Asahel, ambitious of securing Abner's, had outstripped all other pursuers, and was fast gaining on the retreating commander. Abner, conscious of possessing more physical power, and unwilling that there should be "blood" between himself and Joab, Asahel's brother, twice urged him to desist. The impetuous young soldier being deaf to the generous remonstrance, the veteran raised the pointed butt of his lance, as the modern Arabs do when pursued, and, with a sudden back thrust, transfixed him on the spot, so that he fell, and lay weltering in his blood. But Joab and Abishai contin…

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Adam Clarke on 2 Samuel 2:21

Take thee his armor - It seems Asahel wished to get the armor of Abner as a trophy; this also was greatly coveted by ancient heroes. Abner wished to spare him, for fear of exciting Joab's enmity; but as Asahel was obstinate in the pursuit, and was swifter of foot than Abner, the latter saw that he must either kill or be killed, and therefore he turned his spear and ran it through the body of Asahel. This turning about that he might pierce him is what we translate "the hinder end of his spear." This slaying of Asahel cost Abner his life, as we shall find in the next chapter.

Dictionary and topics

Abner — Father of light; i.e., “enlightening”, the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul’s army (1 Sam. 14:50; 17:55; 20:25). He first introduced David to the court of Saul after…
Ammah — A cubit, the name of a hill which Joab and Abishai reached as the sun went down, when they were in pursuit of Abner (2 Sam. 2:24). It lay to the east of Gibeon.
Cord — Frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent (Ex. 35:18; 39:40), yoking animals to a cart (Isa. 5:18), binding prisoners (Judg. 15:13; Ps. 2:3; 129:4), and measuring ground (2 Sam. 8;2;…
Giah — (a waterfall), a place named only in (2 Samuel 2:24) to designate the position of the hill Ammah.
Ish-bosheth — Man of shame or humiliation, the youngest of Saul’s four sons, and the only one who survived him (2 Sam. 2-4). His name was originally Eshbaal (1 Chr. 8:33; 9:39). He was about forty years of age…
Joab — Jehovah is his father. (1.) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign (2 Sam. 2:13; 10:7; 11:1; 1 Kings 11:15). His father’s name…
Abishai · Pursues and kills Abner — Pursues and kills Abner
Abner · Loyalty of, to the house of Saul — Loyalty of, to the house of Saul
Ammah · A mountain — A mountain
Asahel · 1. Nephew of David, and one of his — 1. Nephew of David, and one of his
Deserts · Mentioned in scripture: Gibeon — Mentioned in scripture: Gibeon
Giah · A place on the way to the wil

2 Samuel 2:24

Word by word — the Hebrew

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 2:18-24

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 2:19

Adam Clarke on 2 Samuel 2:21

Dictionary and topics

2 Samuel 2:24

Word by word — the Hebrew

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 2:18-24

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 2:19

Adam Clarke on 2 Samuel 2:21

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on 2 Samuel 2:24

Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Samuel 2:24

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Samuel 2:24

Rashi on 2 Samuel 2:23