2 Samuel 2 16

2 Samuel 2:16 kjv

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 Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2:16 nkjv

And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2:16 niv

Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.

2 Samuel 2:16 esv

And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is at Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2:16 nlt

Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other's side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 16 Meaning

The verse describes a specific, violent event during the early civil war between the house of David and the house of Saul. It narrates how twelve young men from David's side (under Joab) and twelve from Saul's side (under Abner) engaged in a deadly, symmetrical combat at the pool of Gibeon. Each warrior simultaneously grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into the opponent's side, resulting in all twenty-four men falling down dead together. This horrific, mutual destruction led to the naming of that location "Helkath Hazzurim," meaning "Field of Sides" or "Field of Blades," serving as a lasting memorial to the complete and shared tragedy.

2 Samuel 2 16 Context

This verse is situated in a pivotal moment of Israel's history following the death of King Saul. The nation is divided: Judah has anointed David king in Hebron, while the northern tribes, under the influence of Abner, Saul's former commander, have declared Saul's son Ish-Bosheth king in Mahanaim. Chapter 2 opens with Joab, David's military commander, and Abner, Ish-Bosheth's commander, encountering each other at the Pool of Gibeon. Abner, seemingly to assert dominance or perhaps for a desperate trial by combat, suggests that young men from both sides should "arise and play" before them. This challenge, interpreted as a mock battle or duel, escalated into deadly earnest. The specific detail of "twelve for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth... and twelve of David's servants" emphasizes the equal participation. Verse 16 describes the horrifying conclusion of this initial engagement where all 24 combatants killed each other simultaneously. This event served as the bloody catalyst for the much larger and devastating civil war that immediately followed (2 Sam 2:17ff).

2 Samuel 2 16 Word analysis

• וַיַּאֲחִזוּ (wayya'akhizu) - "And they seized/grasped." From the root אחז (akhaz), meaning "to grasp, take hold of firmly." This indicates a deliberate and secure grip, signifying intent and control over their opponent, vital for delivering a precise fatal blow.
• אִישׁ (ish) - "a man," or distributively, "each man." Emphasizes individual action and the direct engagement of each combatant with their counterpart.
• בְּרֹאשׁ (b'rosh) - "by the head." ראש (rosh) means "head." Holding the head immobilized the opponent, ensuring the attack on the side would be effective and simultaneously mutual. It signifies a total submission of the opponent's will and capacity for resistance.
• רֵעֵהוּ (re'ehu) - "his opponent/companion/neighbor." From רֵעַ (rea'), typically meaning "friend, companion, neighbor." The use of "companion" or "neighbor" is ironic here, highlighting the tragedy of Israelites killing fellow Israelites in civil strife. It underscores the shared identity despite their enmity.
• וְחַרְבּוֹ (v'charbo) - "and his sword." חרב (cherev) is "sword," the primary weapon for close-quarters combat. The mention of each warrior's sword emphasizes the tool of mutual destruction.
• בְּצַד (b'tzad) - "in the side." צד (tzad) means "side, flank." This specifies the target of the fatal thrust, a vulnerable area of the body. The naming of the place ("Field of Sides") directly relates to this precise location of injury.
• וַיִּפְּלוּ (vayyippelu) - "and they fell." From נפל (naphal), "to fall, fall down." Implies sudden, immediate collapse and death.
• יַחְדָּו (yachdav) - "together, at the same time." This adverb is critical as it highlights the absolute simultaneity and reciprocity of their demise. It's not a victory for one side but a complete, synchronized destruction for all participants.
• עַל-כֵּן (al-ken) - "Therefore," or "For this reason." A transitional phrase establishing a direct causal link between the event and the naming of the place, common in biblical narrative for etiology.
• קָרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם (qara shem-hammaqom) - "was called the name of the place." A standard biblical idiom for naming a geographical location after a significant event, ensuring its remembrance.
• הֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִים (Helkath Hazzurim) - "Helkath Hazzurim."
  • הֶלְקַת (Helqath): "plot, portion, field." Suggests a delimited area where the specific event occurred.
  • הַצֻּרִים (Hatzzurim): The precise meaning is debated but rooted in צור (tsur) "rock, flint." Interpretations include:
    • "Field of Flint/Knives/Blades": Reflects the sharp weapons used.
    • "Field of Adversaries/Foes": From a related root indicating hostility.
    • "Field of Sides": Directly linked to the specific location of the wounds ("b'tzad") described in the verse, perhaps referring to the simultaneous stabbing into the sides, making it a vivid and macabre memorial. This interpretation aligns most strongly with the preceding detailed action.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "So they each seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side": This phrase meticulously details the gruesome choreography of the mutual killing. It's an image of a deadly, synchronized embrace, where vulnerability and aggression merge into one final act. The grip on the head ensures immobility for the fatal thrust into the side, showcasing an intentional and coordinated act of destruction by both parties against their peer.
• "and they fell down together": This powerful culmination underscores the absolute and equal destruction. It’s not about victory or defeat for either side but shared devastation. This perfect synchronicity emphasizes the futility of such conflict when engaged upon by those who should be united. It signifies the tragic reality that in a civil war, winning for one party often means the profound weakening and loss for the broader collective.
• "Therefore, that place was called Helkath Hazzurim": This etiological phrase immortalizes the horrific event. The naming acts as a somber monument to the tragic folly of internal division. "Helkath Hazzurim" encapsulates the bloody outcome – whether "Field of Blades," signifying the sharp, deadly instruments of destruction, or "Field of Sides," emphasizing the symmetrical, fatal body blows, it stands as a grim reminder of where brothers turned swords on brothers with equally fatal results for all.

2 Samuel 2 16 Bonus section

• The detail of exactly twelve men from each side suggests a formal duel, though it immediately devolved into chaotic and mutual slaughter. The number twelve could be symbolic, representing a "full contingent" from each tribe or side, thereby emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the mutual destruction.
• The phrase "young men arose and play" (לשחק - lesacheq) (2 Sam 2:14) initiated the conflict. The Hebrew verb sahaq* can range in meaning from joyful playing to mock fighting, and even cruel sport. Here, the immediate and fatal outcome of their "playing" serves as a stark warning about the potential for trivialized conflict to turn deadly.
• The grim efficiency of the mutual killing – a grip on the head, a thrust into the side – suggests a desperation in the fight, rather than formalized, honorable combat. This raw, desperate struggle likely became legendary due to its unusual, perfectly synchronized outcome, earning its permanent place name.
• This specific event functions as a microcosmic representation of the larger civil war that follows (2 Sam 2:17). The small-scale, mutual destruction foreshadows the widespread and tragic bloodshed that will afflict the entire nation until David's kingship is fully established and recognized.

2 Samuel 2 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 2:16 encapsulates a brutal truth about internal conflict: when those who should be united turn against each other, the result is often mutual devastation. The casual initiation of the "play" by Abner swiftly escalates into a full-scale massacre, highlighting the grave danger of trivializing hostilities among God's people. The striking image of "twenty-four falling together" is a vivid commentary on the ultimate futility and shared loss inherent in civil war; there is no true victor when all parties are equally consumed by violence. The naming of the place as "Helkath Hazzurim" (Field of Sides/Blades) serves not only as a historical marker but as a lasting theological caution. It is a memorial to the inherent self-destructiveness of human pride, rivalry, and a failure to seek true peace and reconciliation.

• Example 1: Modern church divisions often escalate from seemingly minor disagreements into full-blown schisms, where both sides lose credibility and congregants, illustrating "falling together."
• Example 2: Conflicts within families, when allowed to fester and escalate without resolution, can lead to the "death" of relationships, where no one emerges unscathed.
• Example 3: Political tribalism can reach points of mutual antagonism where all parties engage in self-destructive actions, harming the broader society without any real advancement.