📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 2 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 2:1 And it came to pass after this, that David Renquired 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 2:2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
2 Samuel 2:3 And Rhis men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
2 Samuel 2:4 And Rthe men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
2 Samuel 2:5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, RBlessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
2 Samuel 2:6 And now Rthe LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
2 Samuel 2:7 Therefore now Rlet your hands be strengthened, and Tbe ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
2 Samuel 2:8 But RAbner the son of Ner, captain of TSaul’s host, took TIshbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
2 Samuel 2:9 And made him king over RGilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
2 Samuel 2:10 Ishbosheth 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 2:11 And the RTtime that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
2 Samuel 2:12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from RMahanaim to Gibeon.
2 Samuel 2:13 And RJoab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met Ttogether by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
2 Samuel 2:14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and Rplay before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
2 Samuel 2:15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
2 Samuel 2:16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called THelkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
2 Samuel 2:17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and RAbner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
2 Samuel 2:18 And there were Rthree sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light Tof foot Tas a wild roe.
2 Samuel 2:19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he Rturned not to the right hand nor to the left Tfrom following Abner.
2 Samuel 2:20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
2 Samuel 2:21 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 RTarmour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
2 Samuel 2:22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: Rwherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
2 Samuel 2:23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under Rthe 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 2:24 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.
2 Samuel 2:25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
2 Samuel 2:26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the Rsword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
2 Samuel 2:27 And Joab said, RAs God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then Tin the morning the people had Tgone up every one from following his brother.
2 Samuel 2:28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
2 Samuel 2:29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all RBithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
2 Samuel 2:30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
2 Samuel 2:31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that Rthree hundred and threescore men died.
2 Samuel 2:32 And they took up Asahel, and Rburied him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 2:1–11 — David seeks guidance and becomes king in Judah
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David asks the LORD where he should go and moves to Hebron. Judah anoints him king, while Abner establishes Ishbosheth over Israel. David also honors the men who buried Saul. The divided kingdom shows that David’s promised kingship unfolds through a difficult period rather than an immediate, peaceful transfer.
Key Truth: Seeking God’s direction belongs at the beginning of a new responsibility.
Check What You Remember
1. To which city did the LORD direct David? (2 Samuel 2:1)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:1 (KJV).
2. Which house anointed David king? (2 Samuel 2:4)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:4 (KJV).
3. Whom did Abner establish as king? (2 Samuel 2:8)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 2:12–23 — Conflict at Gibeon and Asahel’s death
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The rival forces meet beside the pool of Gibeon. A deadly contest grows into battle. Asahel pursues Abner despite repeated warnings and dies when Abner strikes him. The passage describes the terrible cost of rivalry and pursuit; it does not present the violence as a pattern for Christian conduct.
Key Truth: A conflict can grow far beyond the intentions of those who begin it.
Check What You Remember
1. Beside which pool did the opposing forces meet? (2 Samuel 2:13)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:13 (KJV).
2. Who pursued Abner? (2 Samuel 2:19)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:19 (KJV).
3. What weapon did Abner use against Asahel? (2 Samuel 2:23)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:23 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 2:24–32 — The pursuit stops, but the losses remain
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joab and Abishai continue the pursuit until Abner appeals for an end to fighting among brethren. Joab sounds the trumpet and the pursuit stops. Both forces return with heavy losses, and Asahel is buried. Ending a fight matters, yet its consequences do not disappear when the fighting stops.
Key Truth: Seek peace before anger leaves lasting wounds.
Check What You Remember
1. Who appealed by asking whether the sword would devour for ever? (2 Samuel 2:26)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:26 (KJV).
2. What did Joab blow to stop the pursuit? (2 Samuel 2:28)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:28 (KJV).
3. In which town was Asahel buried? (2 Samuel 2:32)
Find it in 2 Samuel 2:32 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Romans 12:18 — Paul teaches believers to pursue peace as far as it depends on them.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where could you seek wise guidance before a disagreement grows? Think of one practical step toward peace that you can take without ignoring truth or justice.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does David choose his first destination after these events?
2. What act prompts David’s message of kindness to Jabeshgilead?
3. What contrast defines the divided kingship?
4. How does Abner attempt to stop Asahel before the fatal blow?
5. What argument brings the pursuit toward a halt?
Notes
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