And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
Study Helps
Interpretation
Abner appeals to Joab concerning the miserable consequences of a civil war. Those who make light of such unnatural contests, will find that they are bitterness to all concerned.
Read with
This thought runs through 2 Samuel 2:25-29.
Glossary
- Abner Person
- 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 ).
- Mahanaim Place
- Two camps, a place near the Jabbok, beyond Jordan, where Jacob was met by the “angels of God,” and where he divided his retinue into “two hosts” on his return from Padan-aram ( Gen. 32:2 ). Modern identification: Tell edh Dhahab el Gharbi.
- Arabah Place
- A name given to Abi-albon, or, as elsewhere called, Abiel, one of David’s warriors ( 2 Sam. 23:31 ; 1 Chr. 11:32 ), probably as being an inhabitant of Arabah ( Josh. 15:61 ), a town in the wilderness of Judah.
- Jordan Place
- Biblical river. Modern identification: Jordan River.