2 Samuel 2 14

2 Samuel 2:14 kjv

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

2 Samuel 2:14 nkjv

Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."

2 Samuel 2:14 niv

Then Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us." "All right, let them do it," Joab said.

2 Samuel 2:14 esv

And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."

2 Samuel 2:14 nlt

Then Abner suggested to Joab, "Let's have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us." "All right," Joab agreed.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 14 Meaning

This verse records Abner, commander of Saul’s remaining forces, proposing to Joab, King David’s commander, that a limited number of their young warriors engage in a combat before them. The term "play" used by Abner is a grim euphemism for a deadly trial by combat, an act that ignites the long and bitter conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David.

2 Samuel 2 14 Context

Following the death of King Saul and his sons in battle against the Philistines, David was anointed king over Judah in Hebron. Meanwhile, Abner, Saul's commander, established Saul's remaining son, Ish-bosheth, as king over the rest of Israel, primarily from Mahanaim. This led to a divided kingdom, with two competing claims to the throne. The two rival armies, led by Abner and Joab respectively, eventually converged at the Pool of Gibeon. This verse marks the crucial moment just before their armies would clash. Abner’s suggestion sets the stage for a representative combat meant to settle the conflict, but which instead escalates into a fierce civil war, deepening the enmity between David’s and Saul’s factions.

2 Samuel 2 14 Word analysis

• Abner: Hebrew: אַבְנֵר (Abner), meaning "my father is light." He was Saul's cousin and his experienced, influential general (1 Sam 14:50). He remained loyal to Saul’s house even after Saul's death, elevating Ish-bosheth and wielding significant political and military power, becoming a primary rival to David.
• Joab: Hebrew: יוֹאָב (Yo'av), meaning "YHWH is father." He was one of David's nephews (son of Zeruiah, David’s sister) and his appointed commander-in-chief (2 Sam 8:16). Joab was a formidable and often ruthless military leader, intensely loyal to David but also prone to independent and sometimes violent actions.
• young men: Hebrew: הַבַּחֻרִים (ha-bakhurim), literally "the chosen ones" or "the select ones." This term often denotes strong, prime-age men fit for battle, selected for their strength, agility, and martial skill. These were not ordinary youths, but picked warriors from each side, highlighting the nature of the upcoming duel as a contest of champions.
• arise: Hebrew: יָקוּמוּ (yakumu), Qal Imperfect from קוּם (qum), meaning "to stand up," "to arise," "to be established." Here, it signifies a decisive and deliberate action – to prepare for and initiate the proposed contest. It carries a sense of readiness and commitment to engagement.
• play: Hebrew: לְשַׂחֶק (l'sakhek), Infinitive Construct from שׂחק (sakhaq). The primary meanings are "to laugh," "to amuse oneself," "to play," or "to mock." In this context, given the opposing armies and the imminent conflict, "play" is a euphemism for a deadly skirmish or duel. It represents a morbid "game" or trial by combat, intended to settle the dispute through limited engagement rather than an all-out battle. The word choices are ironic, portraying a fatal contest as mere sport, trivializing human life.
• before us: Hebrew: לְפָנֵינוּ (lifaneinu), "in our presence," "before our eyes." This indicates that the contest was to be a public spectacle, observed by both Abner and Joab, and likely their armies. It implies a formal or agreed-upon engagement, meant to showcase strength and determine outcome for the spectators.

• "Let the young men now arise and play before us.": This phrase, seemingly light-hearted, functions as a direct challenge for a ritualized combat between champions. Abner proposes this as a preliminary skirmish, a test of strength or a 'trial by combat' to gain advantage or discern God's favor in the unfolding dynastic struggle. The phrasing tragically misrepresents the violent reality it immediately leads to. It suggests an underlying assumption that human conflict can be treated as a game with predictable rules, ultimately leading to fatal consequences.

2 Samuel 2 14 Bonus section

The "play" immediately escalated into an incident where twelve men from Abner's side and twelve from Joab's side simultaneously killed each other (2 Sam 2:15-16). This dramatic, symmetrical annihilation left no clear victor, perfectly illustrating the futility and senselessness of the contest and sparking a full-scale pursuit and battle between the two armies. This initial "game" laid the foundation for further revenge killings, most notably Asahel's death at Abner's hand, which eventually led to Abner's assassination by Joab. Thus, this seemingly small proposition was the trigger for a devastating civil war that ravaged Israel.

2 Samuel 2 14 Commentary

2 Samuel 2:14 serves as a grim prelude to one of the early tragic episodes in the prolonged conflict between the houses of David and Saul. Abner's seemingly casual proposal to "let the young men... play" masks a deadly intent for a ritualized duel between champions, aimed at establishing dominance. This chilling invitation reflects a prevalent view of war in some ancient cultures where such trials by combat were employed to avert large-scale battles. However, by reducing human lives to pieces in a "game," it tragically highlights human pride, short-sightedness, and the readiness to resort to violence instead of seeking a peaceful resolution or divine counsel. The very choice of the word "play" for such a lethal encounter underscores the inherent depravity in viewing conflict as mere sport, revealing a desensitization to the value of human life when power and ambition are at stake. This ill-conceived challenge only succeeded in escalating the animosity and the bloodshed.