2 Samuel 2 30

2 Samuel 2:30 kjv

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 2:30 nkjv

So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

2 Samuel 2:30 niv

Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were found missing.

2 Samuel 2:30 esv

Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David's servants nineteen men besides Asahel.

2 Samuel 2:30 nlt

Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 30 Meaning

This verse provides a precise casualty count for David's forces following the skirmish and pursuit at the Pool of Gibeon. It states that Joab, upon gathering his troops after the chase, discovered that nineteen of David's servants were missing, presumed dead. This count is explicitly given "besides Asahel," Joab's brother, whose death was detailed previously in the narrative. Therefore, David's side sustained a total of twenty casualties, comprising nineteen general soldiers and Asahel, a significant figure due to his lineage and swiftness.

2 Samuel 2 30 Context

2 Samuel chapter 2 initiates the civil war following Saul's death, establishing David's kingship over Judah while Abner, Saul's general, anoints Saul's son Ish-bosheth over the rest of Israel. The conflict begins with a seemingly ritualized combat at the Pool of Gibeon, which quickly escalates into a full-scale battle where David's men, led by Joab, gain a decisive victory. This particular verse comes after a desperate chase where Joab's swift brother, Asahel, pursued Abner and was tragically killed in self-defense by Abner. The narrative here signals the conclusion of the immediate battle and pursuit phase, allowing for a military assessment and casualty count among David's returning forces before the war pauses. It sets the stage for the deepening of the personal vendetta between Joab and Abner.

2 Samuel 2 30 Word analysis

• "Then Joab returned":
  • Joab (יוֹאָב, Yo'av): David's nephew and commander of his army. A skilled but ruthless military leader whose personal and political loyalties are often intertwined. His "return" signals the end of the immediate battle action and the shift to accountability.
• "from chasing Abner":
  • chasing (רָדַף, radaf): To pursue or hunt down, emphasizing the intensity of the pursuit that concluded the battle. This chase had personal significance for Joab as it involved Abner, the killer of his brother Asahel.
• "and when he had gathered":
  • gathered (קָבַץ, qavats): To assemble or collect. This act signifies the orderly re-formation of the army after disarray, a key military procedure for assessment and regrouping under a disciplined commander.
• "all the people together": Refers to David's soldiers who fought under Joab's command. This indicates a comprehensive accounting of the fighting force, not just a subset.
• "there lacked nineteen men of David's servants":
  • lacked (נִפְקַד, nifqad): The passive form of the verb paqad, meaning "to be missed," "to be wanting," or "to be absent when counted." In this context, it unequivocally implies these men were dead or casualties. This highlights the direct cost of the conflict on David's side.
  • nineteen men: This specific number underlines the historical precision and attention to detail within the biblical narrative, contrasting sharply with the casualties on the opposing side.
  • David's servants: Emphasizes the men's allegiance to David and, by extension, to the establishment of his divinely ordained kingship, marking the cost borne for his reign.
• "besides Asahel":
  • besides (לְבַד, levad): Meaning "apart from," "alone," or "except." This is a crucial distinction. Asahel's death was a pivotal moment, highly personal for Joab (his brother), and foreshadows the future unfolding of a blood feud. His separate mention highlights the unique sorrow and significance attached to his loss, not just as one casualty but as a prominent and deeply mourned figure.

Words-Group Analysis

• "Then Joab returned from chasing Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together": This phrase marks the critical transition from active combat and pursuit to post-battle consolidation. Joab, as the seasoned commander, is shown exercising control and initiating military accountability, reflecting both tactical skill and an immediate concern for his troops.
• "there lacked nineteen men of David's servants, besides Asahel": This core statement precisely articulates the immediate outcome of the intense conflict regarding David's forces. The distinct separation of Asahel's death from the other nineteen is pivotal. It not only provides an accurate total casualty figure of twenty but also emphasizes Asahel's personal importance to Joab and the brewing narrative of vengeance, underlining the individual human cost within a larger military and political conflict.

2 Samuel 2 30 Bonus section

• The meticulous enumeration of David's casualties contrasts sharply with the broader, less precise casualty counts often found in ancient battle reports. This detail suggests an underlying commitment to historical accuracy within the biblical account, highlighting the value of each individual life lost.
• The fact that Joab pauses to account for his men even after a victory, underscores not only his military leadership but also a cultural emphasis on accounting for all participants, whether for future tribal considerations or simply respecting the fallen.
• This verse contributes to a deeper understanding of Joab's character: disciplined in command, yet driven by an intense loyalty and ultimately, by vengeance, particularly as it relates to Asahel's death. This loss sets in motion a chain of events culminating in Joab's controversial killing of Abner and Amasa, shaping much of David's reign.

2 Samuel 2 30 Commentary

2 Samuel 2:30 concisely details the casualties among David's forces after their victory over Abner's men. While succinct, it conveys profound implications. The relatively low number of losses (twenty in total, including Asahel) compared to the enemy's three hundred and sixty (2 Sam 2:31) serves as a subtle testament to divine favor upon David, even amidst this brutal civil war. Joab's immediate action of gathering his troops for a precise headcount reveals military discipline and a commander's responsibility to account for his men. The unique emphasis on Asahel's death—enumerated separately from the general count—highlights its extraordinary impact. This distinction foreshadows the personal vendetta Joab harbors against Abner, transforming a military defeat into a personal blood-feud, demonstrating how individual tragedy can significantly shape the trajectory of larger conflicts. This cost accounting underscores that even divinely appointed victories involve human sacrifice, shaping future actions and character motivations within God's larger redemptive narrative.