2 Samuel 2:18

_AND THERE WAS A VERY SORE BATTLE THAT DAY; AND ABNER WAS BEATEN, AND THE MEN OF ISRAEL, BEFORE THE SERVANTS OF DAVID._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

18-24 Death often comes by ways we least suspect. We are often betrayed by the accomplishments we are proud of! Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed so much upon, did him no service, but hastened his end....

Verse 2 Samuel 2:18. _ASAHEL_ WAS AS _LIGHT OF FOOT AS A WILD ROE_] To be _swift_ _of foot_ was deemed a great accomplishment in the heroes of antiquity; ποδας ωκυς Αχιλλευς, _the swift-footed Achilles_, is an epithet which Homer gives to that hero no less than thirty times in the course of the Ilias. It has a qualification also among the Roman soldiers; they were taught both to _run swiftly_, and to _swim_ _well_....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 2:1 UNTO HEBRON. As soon as David had assuaged his grief, his thoughts would naturally turn towards his country. Fuller news would reach him every day respecting the movements of the Philistines, who, after so decisive a victory, would quickly overrun all the central districts of Palestine, where the battle had been fought. And very bitter must David's feelings have been. Had he continued in Israel, he and his six hundred men would now have hastened to the rescue, and all the braver warriors of the land would have gathered round them. As it was, he was too entangled with the Philistines, and too much distrusted by the northern tribes, to be of much use. Still, we learn from 1 Chronicles 12:1; that brave men did continually

AND THERE WERE THREE SONS OF ZERUIAH THERE,.... In the battle, JOAB, AND ABISHAI, AND ASAHEL; Joab was the general of the array, Abishai was he who went into Saul's host at night, and took away his spear and cruse of water at his head, 1 Samuel 26:6; and it is for the sake of the third, Asahel, that the account is given, the story of his death being about to be told. AND ASAHEL [WAS AS] LIGHT OF FOOT AS A WILD ROE: swiftness of foot, as well as courage, for which this man was famous, 1 Chronicles 11:26; was a very great qualification for a warrior e. So Achilles, in Homer f, is often said to be swift of foot, and others of his heroes are commended for their swiftness. Harold son of King Canutus, was from his swiftness g called Harefoot; as here this man fo

3. ABNER'S REVOLT AND THE WAR WHICH FOLLOWED CHAPTER 2:8-32 _ 1. Abner makes Ish-bosheth king over Israel (2 Samuel 2:8)_ 2. The defeat of Abner (2 Samuel 2:12) 3. Abner and Joab and Joab's victory (2 Samuel 2:18) God's king began his reign in quietness, and opposition and open revolt followed at once. Abner, who had been the captain of Saul's host, took a son of Saul by the name of Ish-bosheth and made him king in Gilead. The original name of this son was “Esh-baal,” which means “the fire of Baal” (1 Chronicles 8:33). “Ish-bosheth” was his other name; it means “man of shame.” He seem

2 SAMUEL 2-6. (J). APART FROM MINOR ADDITIONS AND CHANGES, IT IS VERY COMMONLY HELD THAT THESE CHAPTER S FORM A CONTINUOUS NARRATIVE FROM THE SAME SOURCE. 2 Samuel 2:1 to 2 Samuel 3:5. Civil War between David, ruling at Hebron, and Ish-bosheth, ruling at Mahanaim (J). 2 SAMUEL 2:1. David occupies Hebron (Judges 1:10 *, p. 31), and is anointed king by the men of Judah, doubtless with the consent of the Philistines, and as their vassal. He thanks the men of Jabesh-gilead for their loyalty to Saul. 2 SAMUEL 2:8. Abner makes

AS. WILD ROE. as one of the gazelles which are in the field....

The Death of Asahel 18. _three sons of Zeruiah_ The standing designation of David's nephews, to shew their relationship to him (1 Chronicles 2:16). _as a wild roe_ The wild roe or GAZELLE, which still abounds in Palestine, is celebrated for its swiftness, grace, beauty, and gentleness. Cp. 1 Chronicles 12:8; Proverbs 6:5. See Tristram's _Nat. Hist. of the Bible_, p. 127....

AND ASAHEL WAS AS LIGHT OF FOOT AS A WILD ROE— Asahel was a gallant man, and one of David's twelve captains, remarkably valiant, but more remarkably swift; _light of foot as a roe in the field._ See 1 Chronicles 12:8. Hasselquist's Travels, p. 190 and Shaw's Travels, part 2: p. 414....