2 Samuel 2:9

_AND MADE HIM KING OVER GILEAD, AND OVER THE ASHURITES, AND OVER JEZREEL, AND OVER EPHRAIM, AND OVER BENJAMIN, AND OVER ALL ISRAEL._ Over Gilead - used in a loose sense for the land beyond Jordan. Their declaration in favour of the only remnant of Saul's house was soon followed by the adherence of the other tribes of Israel. ASHURITES - the tribe of Asher, in the extreme north. JEZREEL - the extensive valley bordering on the central tribes. OVER ALL ISRAEL. David neither could nor would force matters, but was content to wait God's time, and OVER ALL ISRAEL. David neither could nor would force matters, but was content to wait God's time, and studiously avoided any collision with the rival king until hostilities were threatened from that quarter....

Verse 2 Samuel 2:9. _MADE HIM KING OVER GILEAD_] These were places beyond Jordan; for as the Philistines had lately routed the Israelites, they were no doubt in possession of some of the principal towns, and were now enjoying the fruits of their victory. Abner was therefore afraid to bring the new king to any place where he was likely to meet with much resistance, till he had got his army well recruited. Who the _Ashurites_ were is not generally agreed; probably men of the tribe of Ashur....

THE ASHURITES - If the tribe of Asher, the verse indicates the order in which Abner recovered the different districts from the Philistines, and added them to the dominions of Ish-bosheth, beginning with Gilead, and then gradually adding, on the west of Jordan, first the territory of Asher as far as Carmel and the whole plain of Esdraelon, and then the country of Ephraim and Benjamin, being in fact all Israel, as distinguished from Judah; and this reconquest may have occupied five years. Ish-bosheth’s reign over Israel may not have been reckoned to begin until the conquest was complete....

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 HE MADE HIM KING OVER GILEAD,.... Which lay beyond Jordan, and included the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh; these he prevailed upon to acknowledge Ishbosheth, their king, and proclaimed him king over them: AND OVER THE ASHURITES: that is, those of the house or tribe of Asher, as the Targum, and indeed none else can well be thought of; some indeed read the Geshurites, as the Vulgate Latin version; but these were never expelled by the Israelites, and had at this time a king over them, 2 Samuel 3:3; see Joshua 13:13; AND OVER JEZREEL; the great plain which went along the borders of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali, and included these tribes: AND OVER EPHRAIM, AND OVER BENJAMIN: the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin:...

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

AND. Note the Figure of speech _Polysyndeton_ (App-6) in 2 Samuel 2:9....

Ish-bosheth set up by Abner as a rival to David 8. _Abner_ Both by his relationship of first cousin to Saul (1 Samuel 14:50, note), and by his office as commander of the army, Abner was marked out as the natural champion of Saul's house. _took_ Better, HAD TAKEN. The historian goes back to relate events immediately succeeding the battle of Gilboa. Abner had escaped from the fatal field and carried Ish-bosheth with him across the Jordan, whither it would seem there was a general retreat, while the country west of the Jordan was abandoned to the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:7). _Ish-bosheth_ Saul's fourth son, not previously mentioned, was a mere tool in the hands of Abner. His original name, as given in the genealogies in...

DAVID MADE KING OVER JUDAH, ISHDOSHETH OVER ISRAEL. ASAHEL SLAIN BY ABNER 1. Shall I go up?] The defeat and death of Saul had entirely changed David's position. He had, for some time to come, nothing to fear from Abner, who was occupied elsewhere (2 Samuel 2:8). The Philistines would not molest him, as he was their vassal. But even so, he asks God's wishes, before he takes the decisive step. HEBRON] There were several reasons which rendered Hebron suitable. It was fairly central, was a celebrated town, and David had friends there (1 Samuel 30:31). It was 14 m. distant from his birthplace, Bethlehem. No other town in Judah, while Jerusalem was still in Canaanite hands, had the same claim....